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Bogotá, D.C., Colombia, South America, August 19th 2010

Dear Mayanists, Archaeoastronomers, and Researchers on History of Science:

It seems that there are some parallel 37,960-day structures, applied to (or based on) the
parallel kingships of Janaab' Pakal of Palenque, and Bahlam Ahaw of Tortuguero.

Please take a look at this:

Let’s compare the starting point of “my” 37,960-day structure (9.5.10.8.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak)
with the date 9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u (Wayeb Notes No.34, page 46)

o 9.5.10.8.0 + 2,920 days = first stationary position of Mercury

o 9.10.11.3.10 + 2,920 days = first stationary position of Mercury

o 9.5.10.8.0 + (2 x 2,920 days) = second stationary position of Mercury

o 9.10.11.3.10 + (2 x 2,920 days) = second stationary position of Mercury

o 9.5.10.8.0 + (4 x 2,920 days) = mid-point between first and second stationary

position of Mercury (theoretical Superior Conjunction)
o 9.10.11.3.10 + (4 x 2,920 days) = mid-point between first and second stationary
position of Mercury (theoretical Superior Conjunction)

o 9.5.10.8.0 + (6 x 2,920 days) = first stationary position of Mercury

o 9.10.11.3.10 + (6 x 2,920 days) = first stationary position of Mercury

And so on.

Reference date for Mercury: 9.9.9.16.0 - ½ x 584 days = Transit of Mercury =

Inferior Conjunction of Mercury [Barrera A., Entorno, 2010]

The above parallels are possible, in terms of Mercury, because:

(9.10.11.3.10 – 9.5.10.8.0) = 5.0.13.10 = 36,270 days = 313 synodic cycles of Mercury.

But 36,270 days are also five typical cycles of conjunctions Jupiter-Saturn of 7,254 days.

(Please compare this cycle to the following modern math formula)

(398.88 x 378.08) / (398.88 – 378.09) = 7,254.09 days

How did ancient Maya found that value?

Well, perhaps this way:

o 5 x (7,280 – 26) days, or

o 20 x 1,820 days – 130 days
Being 130 days = ½ Tzolk’in Calendar

36,270 days also equals ½ x 93 x 780 days (Mars).

In addition:

o 36,270 days = 11 x 3,276 days + (2 x 117 days) and,

o 9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u = second stationary position of Mars + (2 x 117 days)

(According to Thompson, 117 days, represents the cycle of rain.)

Reference date for Mars: 9.13.11.3.16, 1 Kib 9 Sip = [Eph.819d + 520d] =

Second stationary position of Mars = multipurpose astronomical reference
[Barrera A., Entorno, 2010]

Therefore, the above equivalence could be stated as follow:

o 9.5.10.8.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak + (11 x 3,276 days) = second stationary position of Mars
o 9.5.10.8.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak + (11 x 3,276 days) = summer solstice (June 20th 643) =
o 9.10.10.9.16, 1 Kib 9 Xul = astronomical reference for Mars and the solar year

Now, let’s find a date 1 Ok within “my” 37,960-day structure of the Dresden Codex:

9.5.10.8.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak + 584 days + (236 + 90) days = 9.5.12.17.10, 1 Ok 3 Wo

But:

9.5.12.17.10, 1 Ok 3 Wo + 37,960 days – 2,600 days = 9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u

(Wayeb Notes #34: On 9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u, Bahlam Ahaw sat into rulership)

And:

o 9.5.10.8.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak = Inferior Conjunction of Venus

o 9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u = Greatest Western Elongation of Venus

Reference date for Venus: 9.9.9.16.0 + 113,880 days = MFIRST

[Barrera A., Dos Posibles Soluciones, 2007: Lounsbury Solution]

Other possibility:

o 9.5.12.17.10, 1 Ok 3 Wo + 33,280 days + 2,600 days =

o 9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u + 520 days = 9.10.12.11.10, 1 Ok 13 Yaxk’in

Let’s see what happens on the dates (9.5.10.8.0 + 520 days) and (9.10.11.3.0 + 520 days),
in terms of Venus and Mercury.
(Please note the parallels between these two structures):

o 9.5.10.8.0 + 520 days = Greatest Eastern Elongation of Venus

o 9.10.11.3.10 + 520 days = MFIRST of Venus

o 9.5.10.8.0 + 520 days = Greatest Western Elongation of Mercury

o 9.10.11.3.10 + 520 days = Greatest Western Elongation of Mercury

o 9.5.10.8.0 + 520 days – 2,920 days = mid-point between Greatest Western and
Eastern Elongation of Mercury (theoretical Inferior Conjunction)
o 9.10.11.3.10 + 520 days – 2,920 days = mid-point between Greatest Western and
Eastern Elongation of Mercury (theoretical Inferior Conjunction)

o 9.5.10.8.0 + 520 days – (2 x 2,920 days) = Greatest Eastern Elongation of Mercury

o 9.10.11.3.10 + 520 days – (2 x 2,920 days) = Greatest Eastern Elongation of
Mercury

o 9.5.10.8.0 + 520 days + (5 x 2,920 days) = Greatest Western Elongation of Mercury

o 9.10.11.3.10 + 520 days + (5 x 2,920 days) = Greatest Western Elongation of
Mercury

And so on. Now:

As we know, the main lub of the Venus Table of the Dresden Codex is the date 9.9.9.16.0,
1 Ahaw 18 K’ayab.

But: 9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 K’ayab + 21 tropical years = 9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u =

Tortuguero Date

This happens because (9.10.11.3.10 – 9.9.9.16.0) = 1.1.5.10 = 7,670 days = 21 x 365.24

days

Moreover:

9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kayab’ – 13.0.0 (4,680 days) = 9.8.16.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Wo

(Calendar Round found on page 24 of the Dresden Codex)

And:

9.5.10.8.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak + 584 days + (236 + 90) days = 9.5.12.17.10, 1 Ok 3 Wo

Interestingly:

(9.8.16.16.0 – 9.5.12.17.10) = 3.3.16.10 = 23,010 days = 63 x 365.24 days

So: 9.5.12.17.10, 1 Ok 3 Wo + 63 tropical years = 9.8.16.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Wo

Other possibilities:

o 9.8.9.12.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kumk’u + 37,960 days = 9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kayab’ + 84

tropical years
o 9.8.9.12.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kumk’u + 37,960 days = 9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u + 63
tropical years

This is possible because: 9.8.9.12.0 + 37,960 days = 9.13.15.2.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kumk’u, and:

o (9.13.15.2.0 – 9.9.9.16.0) = 4.5.4.0 = 30,680 days = 84 x 365.24 days

o (9.13.15.2.0 – 9.10.11.3.10) = 3.3.16.10 = 23,010 days = 63 x 365.24 days

So here we have another good parallel between these structures, in terms of the tropical
year:

o (9.8.16.16.0 – 9.5.12.17.10) = 3.3.16.10 = 23,010 days = 63 x 365.24 days

o (9.13.15.2.0 – 9.10.11.3.10) = 3.3.16.10 = 23,010 days = 63 x 365.24 days

Please allow me to continue with Mars, Jupiter and Saturn:

9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u = [Eph.819d + 208d]

So: 9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u – 208 days = 819-day station

(This is the same 819-day station of Kan Joy Chitam’s Birth:)

9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in

On the other hand, on 9.8.9.12.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kumk’u (the 819-day station of Pakal’s
Birth), Saturn is located on its first stationary position, and Jupiter, on its second stationary
position [Barrera A., Series de Serpiente, 2009].

And: 18 x 819 days = 39 x 378 days (Saturn) = 37 x 398.43 days (Jupiter)

Then: 9.8.9.12.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kumk’u + (18 x 819 days) = 9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in

Therefore,

o 9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in = first stationary position of Saturn

o 9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in = second stationary position of Jupiter

So, we have a new reference point for Jupiter and Saturn, and we can predict dates like
these:

o 9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in + ½ x 33,280 days = first stationary position of Saturn

o 9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in + ½ x 33,280 days = first stationary position of
Jupiter
 o 9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in + ½ x 33,280 days + 520 days = second stationary
position of Saturn
o 9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in + ½ x 33,280 days + 520 days = second stationary
position of Jupiter

o 9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in + (11 x 3,276 days) + 260 days = first stationary

position of Saturn
o 9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in + (11 x 3,276 days) + 260 days = second stationary
position of Jupiter

About Mars:

9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in = Opposition of Mars + 64 days =

Second Stationary Position of Mars + 26 days

Reference date for Mars: 9.13.11.3.16 = second stationary position

[Barrera A., Entorno, 2010]

Personal Interpretation:

64 days = 584 days – 520 days

584 days is the cycle of Venus, and 520 days, the time it takes to Jupiter and Saturn to
transit between the first stationary position of the current cycle, and the second stationary
position of the next cycle [Barrera A., Ciclos, 2009].

64 days after a MFIRST, Venus will be at its Greatest Western Elongation. In other words:

MFIRST of Venus – 520 days = Greatest Western Elongation of Venus

In addition, 9.5.10.8.0 = [Eph.819d – 26d] = origin of “my” Venus structure of 37,960

days.

So these two numbers (64 and 26) seem to have any mathematical sense.

By the way, this (9.10.10.11.2, 1 Ik 15 Yaxk’in) is the same synodic position of Mars
present on the date:

9.10.15.16.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak + 520 days + (18 x 819 days) =

9.12.18.4.19, 11 Kawak 17 Yaxk’in (Temple of the Inscriptions) + 3 days

The above is due to the following equality:

9.10.15.16.0 + 520 days + (18 x 819 days) – 9.10.10.11.2 = 22 x 780 days

As a matter of fact: ½ x 33,280 days + 520 days = 22 x 780 days

This is what happens on the date 9.12.18.5.2, 1 Ik 0 Mol = Split Ratio [780 : 39]d =
9.10.15.16.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak + 520 days + (18 x 819 days) = [Eph.819d + 780d]:

9.12.18.5.2, 1 Ik 0 Mol = Superior Conjunction of Venus + 378 days =

Greatest Western Elongation of Venus = Inferior Conjunction + 86 days =
MFIRST of Venus + 260 days – 178 days = MFIRST of Venus – 502 days

MFIRST of Venus + 263 days = last day of visibility as morning star (MLAST)
MFIRST of Venus + 263 days – 177 days = MFIRST of Venus + 86 days

MFIRST of Venus + 264 days = first day of invisibility of Venus after MLAST
MFIRST of Venus + 264 days – ½ x 364 days = Inferior Conjunction + 86 days

Being 177 days, 178 days and 502 days, typical intervals between eclipses, 364 days, one
computing-year, and 378 days, the canonic cycle of Saturn.

Reference date for Venus: 9.9.9.16.0 + 113,880 days = MFIRST

[Barrera A., Dos Posibles Soluciones, 2007: Lounsbury Solution]

9.12.18.5.2, 1 Ik 0 Mol = Second Stationary Position of Jupiter =

Second Stationary Position of Saturn

Reference date for Jupiter and Saturn: 9.8.9.12.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kumk’u =

First Stationary Position of Saturn = Second Stationary Position of Jupiter

Analysis for the Moon:

9.10.11.3.10, 1 Ok 3 Kumk’u + (2 x 2,920 days) = 9.11.7.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Kumk’u

(As we recall, on this date Mercury was on its second stationary position and Venus on its
Greatest Western Elongation)

But also, on the date 9.11.7.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Kumk’u, the phase of the Moon was opposite to
that of 9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kayab’:

This happens because (9.11.7.7.10 – 9.9.9.16.0) = 1.17.9.10 = 13,510 days = ½ x 915

lunations

Accordingly:

o 9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kayab’ = New Moon + 1 day

o 9.11.7.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Kumk’u = Full Moon + 1 day (and penumbral eclipse + 1 day)

So we can attempt to propose the following analogies between the “old” structure, and this
“new” structure:

o 9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kayab’ – 7,280 days = 9.8.9.12.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kumk’u = Full

Moon. (This date is located 15 days after an annular eclipse)
 o 9.11.7.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Kumk’u – 7,280 days = 9.10.7.3.10, 4 Ok 3 Wayeb = New
Moon (Solar eclipse; max. magn. = .210 = MFIRST of Venus – 208 days. This date
is also located 15 days after a total umbral eclipse)

o 9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kayab’ + 9,360 days = 9.10.15.16.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak = New

Moon. (This date is located 14/15 days after a parcial umbral eclipse)
o 9.11.7.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Kumk’u + 9,360 days = 9.12.13.7.10, 4 Ok 13 Sak = Full Moon
(Autumn equinox, MFIRST of Venus – 502 days, and penumbral eclipse, located 15
days after an annular/total eclipse when Venus was at Greatest Western Elongation)

In terms of Venus:

o 9.10.15.16.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak = MFIRST of Venus

o 9.12.13.7.10, 4 Ok 13 Sak = First days after Greatest Western Elongation of Venus,
(9.12.13.7.10, 4 Ok 13 Sak + 502 days = total umbral eclipse = MFIRST of Venus)

o 9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kayab’ – (13 x 2,200 days) = 9.5.10.8.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak =

Full Moon + 1 day (Penumbral eclipse + 1 day, located 16 days after an
annular/total eclipse)
o 9.11.7.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Kumk’u – (13 x 2,200 days) = 9.7.7.17.10, 4 Ok 13 Sak = New
Moon + 1 day (Annular eclipse + 1 day, located 16 days after a partial umbral
eclipse)

In terms of Venus:

o 9.5.10.8.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak = Inferior Conjunction of Venus

o 9.7.7.17.10, 4 Ok 13 Sak = Greatest Western Elongation

o 9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kayab’ – 4,680 days = 9.8.16.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Wo = Full

Moon + 1 day (This date is located 16 days after a total solar eclipse)
o 9.11.7.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Kumk’u – 4,680 days = 9.10.14.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Sip = New Moon
+ 1 day (Solar eclipse + 1 day; max. magn. = .391, located 16 days after a total
umbral eclipse, and 15/16 days before the Greatest Western Elongation of Venus)

o 9.8.16.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Wo – (2 x 11,960 days) = 9.5.10.8.0, 1 Ahaw 8 Sak = Full

Moon + 1 day (Penumbral eclipse + 1 day, located 16 days after an annular/total
eclipse)
o 9.10.14.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Sip – (2 x 11,960 days) = 9.7.7.17.10, 4 Ok 13 Sak = New
Moon + 1 day (Annular eclipse + 1 day. This date is located 16 days after a partial
umbral eclipse)

o 9.9.9.16.0, 1 Ahaw 18 Kayab’ + 4,680 days = 9.10.2.16.0, 1 Ahaw 13 K’ank’in =

Full Moon (This date is located 15 days after an annular eclipse)
o 9.11.7.7.10, 4 Ok 3 Kumk’u + 4,680 days = 9.12.0.7.10, 4 Ok 18 K’ank’in = New
Moon (Solar eclipse; max. magn. = .373. This date is located 15 days after a total
umbral eclipse)
In terms of Venus:

o 9.10.2.16.0, 1 Ahaw 13 K’ank’in = ELAST of Venus (& MLAST of Sirius)

o 9.12.0.7.10, 4 Ok 18 K’ank’in = Greatest Western Elongation of Venus

Some Possible Conclusions:

o The 37,960-day structure of the pages 24, and 46 to 50 of the Dresden Codex would
be a master structure useful to track all Solar System objects, not only Venus.
o The synodic positions of Mercury and Venus could have been the astronomical
references (or constants) used by the Maya to develop these master structures.
o The original records of the 37,960-day structure of the Dresden Codex might be
traced back to Palenque and Tortuguero.

All the best!

Ing. Carlos Barrera Atuesta

Bogotá, D.C. – Colombia
2004 – 2010 ©

PS/ Other possible parallel (among many more):

o Bahlam Ahaw was born on 9.8.19.9.16, 8 Kib 4 K’ank’in = [Second stationary

position of Mars – 240 days]
o 9.13.0.0.0, 8 Ahaw 8 Wo = [819-day station – 240 days] = [Eph.819d – 240d]

[Reference date for Mars: 9.13.11.3.16, 1 Kib 9 Sip = Second stationary position of Mars]