WhyweusetheAztecMyth(Leyenda delos Soles)toExplainMayaCreations

ThesurvivingaccountsoftheMayaCreationMythare fragments,tatters.Muchmoreismissing thanisthere. Theearliestsurvivingfragmentsappearonthe monumentsofIzapa(andneighbors)andthenewly discoveredMurals ofSanBartolo (ca.100BCE). Asifthroughakeyhole,weglimpsearich,intricate cosmologyconnectingtime,spaceandpersonalities.It relatesthecardinaldirectionstocolors,speciesoftrees andgame,thecalendar,myths,andwhoknowswhatelse.

Eightcenturieslater,ClassicMayavasepainters illustrateafewotherMythicscenes,someinvolvingthe HeroTwins.AfewClassicstoneinscriptionsconnect Creationwithhousebuilding. Sixcenturieslater,oneofthecuriositiesCortez presentedtotheEmperor,abookwecalltheDresden Codex,recountsseveralarcaneeventswhichoccurred on4Ajaw 8Kumku. Laterstill, aQuichMayascribeintheimpoverished andconqueredGuatemalanhighlandscopiedoutthe Popol Vuh,connectinghiscaciquesancestorsbacktothe CreationsoftheWorld(ca.1700).ItdwellsontheHero Twins,whopreparedtheworldforitsfinalCreation ourCreation.

ThoughitisclearthattheMayaconceivedadizzying, intricatelyinterconnectedcosmology,wehavedifficulty workingoutitsdetails.Thisispartlyduetothe fragmentarynatureofourevidence,butitisalso increasinglyclearthatthestoriesvariedsubstantially fromcitystatetocitystate.(Notunliketheconflicting versionsofAbrahamsSacrifice:IntheBiblicalversion, thesonisIsaac,whogoesontofathertheIsraelites.In theIslamicversion,thesonisIshmael,fatherofthe Arabs.Thesedivergentstoriesrepresenttheinfinite varietyfoundinallmythictraditions.)

TheAztecadaptedtheirFiveCreations stories(called theFiveSuns)fromMayaandotheraccounts.Our knowledgeoftheAztecmythsismuchmorecomplete thanthatoftheirantecedents.Ifweproceedwith caution,keepinginmindthattheychangedthingsat will,itwillbeinstructivetoexaminetheAztecCreation cycleasareflectionoftheolderMayatradition. ThoughvariousversionsoftheAztecCreationmyth existed1,thecanonicalstoryislaidoutinthecentral sectionofthefamousAztecCalendarStone, also knownastheSunStone andAltarofAxayacatl.The symbolismseentherecorrespondstothemostcoherent AztecaccountofthefiveCreations,calledtheFive SunsintheLeyenda delosSoles2.

1 2

evenaftertheywerehomogenizedunderTlacalel LegendoftheSuns theAztecscalledeachCreationaSun.

TheAztec Calendar Stone

or Stoneof Axayacatl Notethe eight triangular signs representing raysofthe Sun.

Originalcolors.

Dated(attop) 13Reed (13Acatl) = 1479AD.

ASunrayfromtheStoneofAxayacatl.

Thisray signisthesamesignincorporatedintotheAO or trapezeandray,alsoknownastheMexicanYearSign, whichwesawinPart4.

Xiuhuitzolli,symbolofEast1Flint=North

ThisCalendar Stone (showninits originalcolors)isso calledbecauseofits centralsection. HereAztecpriests, liketheMaya, combinedtimeand spaceina symmetrical, complex iconography.
1Rain,symbolofSouth7Monkey =West

Xiuhuitzolli,symbolofEast1Flint=North

1Rain,symbolofSouth7Monkey =West

Thefouremblems tuckedintothetopand bottomrepresentthe fourcardinaldirections. East(upperleft)is Xiuhuitzolli,theimperial headdressissuinga speechscroll(theAztec emperorsofficialtitle wasTlatoani,Speaker). Theotherthree directionalemblemsare alsodates holydays sacredtothegodswho ruledthedirections. Thisconnectssacred Spacetosacredcyclesof Time.

Xiuhuitzolli,symbolofEast1Flint=North

1stSun: 4Jaguar (956BC 250BC)

1Rain,symbolofSouth

7Monkey =West

Theupperrightarmof thecentralsigncontains thedate4Jaguar,the beginningandtheend dateoftheFirst Creation,whichthe AztecLeyenda delos Soles tellsusbeganon thatdayin956BC.It lastedprecisely13 cyclesof52years(676 years),endingon another4Jaguardayin theyear280BC.The primitiveinhabitantsof thisCreationwere,in theend,eatenby jaguars.

Xiuhuitzolli,symbolofEast1Flint=North 2ndSun: 4Wind; Lasted 364yrs

1stSun: 4Jaguar (956BC 250BC)

Anunspecifiedinterval elapsedbeforethenext Creationbeganand endedon4Wind (upperleftarm).This onelastedseven52 yearcycles(364years), beforeendingyou guessedit ina hurricane.Theslightly improvedinhabitantsof thisworldturnedinto turkeys.

1Rain,symbolofSouth7Monkey =West

Xiuhuitzolli,symbolofEast1Flint=North 2ndSun: 4Wind; Lasted 364yrs

1stSun: 4Jaguar (956BC 250BC)

Likewise,afteraperiod inlimbo,theThird Sun started(and ended)on4Rain, lastingsix52year cycles,or312years (lowerleft).Itendedin arainoffire sometimeinthelate fourthcenturyAD. 3rdSun: 4Rain; Lasted 312years 1Rain,symbolofSouth7Monkey =West

Xiuhuitzolli,symbolofEast1Flint=North 2ndSun: 4Wind; Lasted 364yrs

1stSun: 4Jaguar (956BC 250BC)

3rdSun: 4Rain; Lasted 312years 1Rain,symbolofSouth7Monkey =West

(Lowerright):The FourthSun, 4Water, beganwitha52year Flood,thenlasted13 more52yearcycles(676 years).Theentire world,thoughmuch improvedoverprevious ones,waswashedaway inanothercatastrophic flood,anditspeople turnedintofish.This bringsusuptoatleast theendoftheeleventh 4thSun: centuryAD(likelyto 4Water; sometimeafter1125 52yearsof AD.) Flood,then 676years.

EachoftheseCreationswasdescribedasinherently unstable,ruledbygodsinconstantconflict.Each associatedwithacardinaldirection North,South, EastorWest butours,theFifthSun,theCreation oftheCenter,isfundamentallydifferent.

TheCreationinwhichwelivebeganon4Movement (or4Earthquake)ina2Reedyear(probablyin1143 or1195AD).Thegodsmadeabloodsacrificetoset theSuninmotion.Thuswastheinsatiableneedfor bloodestablished;theSunneedscontinued nourishmenttokeepmoving.However,unlike previousSuns,thisCreationisinbalance;itcould last forever.

Xiuhuitzolli,symbolofEast1Flint=North 2ndSun: 4Wind; Lasted 364yrs

1stSun: 4Jaguar (954BC 258BC)

5thSun: 4Movement. (simpleformabove) Began(atearliest) 1125AD.

3rdSun: 4Rain; Lasted 312years 1Rain,symbolofSouth7Monkey =West

Thelargecentralsignis itselfagiantdate.This 4thSun: erawillendwith 4Water; cataclysmicearthquakes, 52yearsof anditisthelastCreation. Flood,then Therewillbenoother. 676years. (Center:Tonatiuh,the SunGod)

PointsontheAztecCalendar
Aztecderived fromthesamesource astheMaya. Similarityofdates (4Movement,4Jaguar,etc.,&4Ajaw) Similarityofrhetoricalstructure totheMayaPopol Vuh BothdescribeeachCreationasimproving onthe previous Bothaccountsclearlysaythislatestcreationisthe ultimate MotivationfortheMayaPopol Vuh destructions:gods displeasedwiththeirCreation,aswithNoahsFlood. However,noneoftheAztecCreationdatesare4Flower, whichwouldcorrespondexactlyto4Ajaw,sotheAztecs eitherreceivedacorruptedaccountoftheMayaCreation, ordeliberatelychangedit.Notedabove,theyalso changedQuetzalcoatlsbirthdayfrom9Windto1Reed.

PointsontheAztecCalendar
Aztecaccount muchmorecompleteandclear and contrived thanMaya.
ThefiveCreationsareruledbyfivedifferentgodsinturn. EachCreationlastsaprecisemultipleof52years 13x52,7x 52,6x52 thereforeeachbeginsandendsonthesameday.Note thattwooftheseearlierCreationslast13x52years,andtheother twoaddupto13x52years. EachCreationhasaspecificcolor anddirection,ruledbya differentgod. Theaugury ofeachCreationscalendardatepredictsitsend:for example,
4JaguarpeoplewereeatenbyJaguars, 4WindCreationwasblownawaybyWind,etc.; This one(4Motion)willendinamassiveearthquake.

ThereareonlyfiveDirections:N,S,E,W,andCenter,each associatedwithaCreation.Thelastwasunique:itpossesseda stabilitythefirstfourlacked.Butmostimportantly,theAnnalsof Cuauhtitlan explicitlytellusthatoursisthefinalCreation.There willbenoothers.AsLenPortilla putsit,Therewouldbeone finalearthquakeonesopowerfulthatwiththisweshallperish. (LenPortilla,p.56,note39,citingLehman1938,p.62)

Ironically,accordingtothisreckoning,ifEarthlings weresomehowtoachievegenuineworldpeace,our universewouldcomecrashingdownaroundusina finalearthquake,ona4Movementdayina2Reed year. ThenextopportunityfortheAztecEnd i.e.,thenext 4Movementina2Reedyear,arrivesin2027(asI notedabove;thenextafterthatin2079). TheLeyenda delosSoles explicitlytellsusthatthis Creationwillbethelast;thereisnoprovisionfora SixthSun.ButIguess,thewaythingsaregoing,it lookslikewewillbesatisfyingthegodsbloodlustfora longtimetocome.

TheAztecCalendarStone,despiteitsvisualappeal,is notreallyanappropriatesymboloftheMaya Calendars.Itwouldbecomparabletoportrayingthe ColosseumwhentalkingaboutClassicalAthens.

Sowhatdo AncientMaya recordssayabout2012?

WhatdoAncientMayarecords sayabout2012? 1.

Prophecy 1 Book of Cham Balam

Thequetzalshallcome,thegreen birdshallcome. AhKantenal (Heoftheyellowtreeplace) shallcome.Bloodvomitshallcome

(AsitdidinthelastKatun 4Ahau,thekatun just beforetheConquest).

Kukulcan (FeatheredSerpent) shallcome withthemforasecondtime.The wordofGod.TheItza (aMayapeople) shallcome.

Above:Translationfromp.53theChilam Balam of Chumayel,awrittenbetween1775and1800AD/CEin theMayavillageofChumayel,Guatemala.Itisoneof severalChilam Balam manuscriptsoriginallypreserved invariousvillages.Eachpurportedlycontainsthe pronouncementsofareknowned Mayaprophet, thougheachbookalsoemphasizeslocalhistoryand issues.(TheChilam Balam ofNaa,forexample,hassome interestingnativemedicinalrecipes.)

Chilam Balam ofChumayel,17751800 f.16r. Herethemanuscriptdescribeseclipses. Thefirstandthirdlinesonthispage areinSpanish;therestofthepageand themaintextofthebookisinYucatec Mayan. ThissectionoftheChilam Balam manuscriptincorporatesastronomical informationlearnedfromthe Conquistadors.Itisapparenttoany viewerthatthequalityofMaya drawingdeclinedinthecenturiessince theCollapse,andespeciallysincethe Conquest.
PreviousSlide: Chilam Balam ofChumayel,Folio53r, containingKatun ProphecyforCanAhau Katun (Katun 4Ajaw),translatedabove,the20yeareras endingca.1500,1756,and2012.(Thelowerhalfof thepagehasthefollowingCabil Ahau Katun [Katun 2Ajaw]prophecy.)
(PhotodownloadedfromthewebsiteofPrincetonUniversitys Library,wheretheoriginalmanuscriptishousedintheGarrett Collection.)

WhatdoAncientMayarecords sayabout2012?

Prophecy Tzuhtz(a)joom u(y)uxlajuun pik 2 (ta)ChanAjaw ux(te)Uniiw. Uhtoom Ek?Yem(al)?? Tortuguer Bolon Yookte(Kuh)ta ?. o TheThirteenthBaktun willend (on)4Ajaw, Monument the3rdofUniiw (a.k.a3Kankin). 6 ??willoccur. (Itwillbe)thedescent(?)
oftheNineSupport?(God(s))tothe?.
FinalphraseofTortuguero Monument6,TranslationbyDavidStuart

2.

This(Tortuguero Monument6,showninnextslide) istheoneandonly ClassicMayadocumentthatrefersexplicitlytothedate13.0.0.0.04Ajaw 3Kankin,equaling21(or23)December2012. Itsaysthe13thPik/Baktun willend,thatagodorgodscalledBolon Yokte willdescend,buttowhere,andwhatBolon Yokte willdooncehegets there,ironicallythosetwoglyphsarebroken. ThiswecallMurphysLawofEpigraphy.
Bytheway,theeminentepigrapherSteveHoustondoesnotaccept thisinterpretation,saying,Isuspect thestructuresimplyrelatestheBolon (many?)Yoktetothefinalhistoricaldateonthemonument. [privatecommunication,March2008]

Bolon Yokte (otherinterpretations:NineSupport[Gods],Many StridesGod,NineDogTree,orManyRootTree)isagodofchange, ofdestruction,andofPeriodendings(modernepigraphystermfor MayaLongCountdateswhichendinlotsofzeroes,suchas9.16.13.0.0or 9.0.0.0.0.Theseroundnumberdateswereveryimportanttothe ancientMaya.)Unfortunately,heisrarelymentioned,andweknow relativelylittleabouthim,orthem.Althoughmentionedonceortwicein theDresdenCodex,hewasnotsufficientlyimportantforthemtoillustrate him,thoughtheydiddrawdozensofothergods.
ThankstoChristianPrager andMarkusEberl fordelineatingthisobscuredeity.

Drawingofthis monument,theoddly TshapedTortuguero Mon.6,whichmostly recordstherecent historyofthekingwho erecteditaroundthe year700AD/CE.The symmetricalupperleft wingofthe monument,containing theLongCount,is missing.
DrawingbySvenGronemeyer.Present locations:PortionsA,C,D,andGinCivic Museum,Villahermosa.PortionBisinthe MetropolitanMuseum,NewYork.PortionsE andFareinaprivatecollection.

Acloseupofthesegmentattheend,whichcontains,initslast twelveglyphs,the2012text.Weshallreturntothisfrustrating inscriptionaftercomparingsomerelatedtextsdealingwiththe Creationinwhichwelive,thatof3114BC/BCE.

13.0.0.0.0Creationstorieson Monuments Quirigua

Quirigua StelaeEand D,thelargestMayamonolithsevererected.TheseandotherQuirigua stelae formaforestofmonumentalinscriptionswhosetextsaresubtlyinterconnected.

PhotosbyLindaSchele

Mostimportantforourpurposeshereistheeasttexton StelaC(775CE),whichprovidesthemostcomplete descriptionofthe4Ajaw 8Kumku Creation(3114BC)on anymonument. Thenextslidedisplaysadrawingofthewholetext,with anenlargementoftheLongCountandfirstsentence

Whathappenedatthe last13.0.0.0.0Creation
givesusaclueastowhatwas expectedatthenextone. TheCountoftheYears(is) 13Pik,0Winikhaab, 0Haab,0Winik, 0Kin.(On)4Ajaw, onthe8thdayofKumku, (thehearth)wasmanifested,
Quirigua StelaCeast,dedicated 29December775CE
DrawingsofQuirigua MonumentsbyProf.MattLooper, enlargementoftheLongCountandfirstsentenceatright.

Imgoingshowyoualittlehowdeciphermentworks,so youknowwhereweepigraphersarecomingfrom. Byrearrangingthetextintoourreadingformat: horizontalrows,wecanuseaprocesscalleddistributed analysis,atechniqueofcomparingparalleltextswhich hasbeenveryproductiveinunderstandingMaya hieroglyphicinscriptions. WellusetheQuirigua StelaC Creationstoryasan example,becauseitmirrorsthe2012event:they (apparently)sharethesameLongCountdate13.0.0.0.0.

Whathappenedatthelast 13.0.0.0.0Creation, Part1

(Thehearth)wasmanifested, threestoneswerebound. (1)TheJaguarPaddler andthe StingrayPaddler plantastone atNahHoChan;theJaguarStone. (2)EkNahChak??plantsastone attheBig?/Banner???ma; theSerpentStone. OneofthemostcommonMaya hieroglyphsishighlighted,the wordforstone, toshowhowit canvaryfromonepositionto another.
Quirigua StelaC,dedicated29December775CE

Thetext continues,and hereisa photographof partofit.The original carvingis hardlyeroded andquiteclear. Thetoothless guywiththe spinethrough hisnoseis knownasthe Stingray SpinePaddler. Heandhis twin,the Jaguar Paddler,pilot soulsinthe canoetothe Underworld. Heretheyplay arolein Creation

Whathappenedatthelast13.0.0.0.0Creation...

(1)Theyplantastone,theJaguarPaddlerandtheStingray Paddler,atNahHoChan(Great5Sky);(itis)theJaguar ThroneStone.

Inthisglimpseofthestory,Creationislikenedtobuildinga house.Abuildersfirstpriorityistomakeaplacetocook:a firepit surroundedbythreestones,onwhichonerestsa griddletocooktortillasandtamales.Everyonemustbefed, evenbeforethehouseiscompleted.

Whathappenedatthelast13.0.0.0.0Creation...

(2)Heplantsastone,EkNahChak??,attheBig?/Banner??? ma;(itis)theSerpentThroneStone. Thisgod,whosenamemeanssomethinglikeBlackHouse GreatSomebody,isbarelyknownelsewhere.Theplacehe plantshisstonestartswiththeglyphLakam,whichmeans eitherBigorBanner;(Inscriptionsrefertoastelaasa lakam tuun,BannerStoneorBigStone.)

Whathappenedatthelast13.0.0.0.0Creation...

(1)Theyplantastone,theJaguarPaddlerandtheStingray Paddler,atNahHoChan(Great5Sky);(itis)theJaguar ThroneStone. (2)Heplantsastone,EkNahChak??,attheBig?/Banner??? ma;(itis)theSerpentThroneStone. Splittingandspreadingtheglyphssotheylineupinparallel, onecanseethatthefirstandsecondsentencesareidentical exceptforthenamesoftheactorsandthedesignationsofthe particularstones.Eachstone,theJaguarStone andtheSerpent ThroneStone,isplantedinaspecificcelestiallocation,by differentgods.

Whathappenedatthelast13.0.0.0.0Creation...

(3)Andthenhetiedastone,Itzamnaaj (GodD),(itis)the WaterThroneStone.

Thethirdsentenceisalmostthesamestructure,butthelocationisnot named(untilthenextline),andtheverbistiedorwrapped rather thanplanted.ApparentlytheCreationreenactmentceremonyofthe ThreeStonesinvolvedplantingandthenwrapping.Itzamnaaj a.k.a.GodD,isahighranking,wrinkledOldGod,ubiquitousinMaya art,usuallyrulingoverothergods.Occasionally,ashere,God D appearsasaserpenthead.

Whathappenedatthelast13.0.0.0.0Creation...

(4)IthappenedattheEdgeoftheSky First3StonesPlace; SixSkyLordoversawtheendingofthe13Pik (bundles of years).

ThenextphraseinthemaintextnotesthelocationoftheThird Stone,whichwemissedinthe previoussentence.Thenthelastthreeglyphsstatethat13Pik (bundlesofyears,i.e.,13x 400years)ended,andthewholeaffairwasoverseenbyoneSixSkyAjaw.Thismysterious supervisorappearsrarely,butdoesoccasionallyactinsomeothercontexts.Perhapsthisisa pseudonymforGodL,orsomeotherdeitywhosenamewecannototherwiseread.

Whathappenedatthelast13.0.0.0.0Creation...

(1)Theyplantastone,theJaguarPaddler andtheStingrayPaddler,at NahHoChan(Great5Sky);(itis)theJaguarThroneStone. (2)Heplantsastone,EkNahChak??,attheBig?/Banner???ma;(itis)the SerpentThroneStone. (3)Andthenhetiedastone,Itzamnaaj (GodD),(itis)theWater ThroneStone. (4)IthappenedattheEdgeoftheSky First3StonesPlace; SixSkyLordoversawtheendingofthe 13Pik (bundles ofyears).

MoststonemonumentsrefertoCreationonly in termsofthe3Stonesstory;theyusethesame verb(tzap) todescribetheCreationofthe Hearthastheyusetodescribetheerectionof themonumentsthemselves. Thatis,whentheMayaputupastonemonument, theywerereenactingapartoftheCreationstory. WhenevertheMayabuildanewhouse,theystart withthehearth,thusalsoreenactingthispartof thestory. Twopaintedvasesillustrateadifferenteventof theCreationstory.
Theglyphinthebackgroundisutzapaw,wasplanted.

Whathappenedatthelast13.0.0.0.0Creation,Part2

K2796:TheVaseoftheSevenGods:Godsinthedark,withlotsofstarearth,presided overbyGodLonaJaguarThroneinsideamountain. Photo:JustinKerr

Whathappenedatthelast 13.0.0.0.0Creation Part2:

K7750:TheVaseoftheElevenGods: isa secondcopyofpreciselythesamesceneas K2796:godsinthedark,withlotsofstar earth,presidedoverbyGodLonaJaguar Throneinsideamountain.(herebya differentartist,polychromeversusblack andwhite,onasquarevesselinsteadofa cylindricalone,andwiththegods rearrangedsomewhat.
(Right:K2796:Vaseof7Gods.) Photos: http://research.famsi.org/kerrmaya.html

Thetwo godsin thefront ranks,one with jaguar features andthe other looking likea skeletal horse, each confronta wrapped bundle labeled 9Ek Kab, Lotsof StarEarth (stuff), theraw material of Creation.

Whathappenedatthelast 13.0.0.0.0Creation,Part2:
K2796:Vaseof7Gods(black): On4Ajaw 8Kumku,theywereputin order:TheBlackitsCenterGod,theSky PlaceGod,theEarthGod,ManyStrides GodBolon(y)okteKuh), TheThreeBornTogetherGods(Oxluti Kuh), 20??TreeDeer?God (Kalna?/ya?Te chi Kuh);TheJaguar(Paddler?)the Tree(God?)(Thesetwoglyphsappear onlyonthisvase,andprobablynamethe firsttwocharactersinthetoprow.But theyareanomalous,notfittingthe rhetoricalpatternofthepreviouslist.) K7750: Vaseof11Gods (red): Startsthesameasaboveandcontinues onwith: 20??TreeDeer?God (Kalna?/ya? Techi Kuh);ithappenedintheEast? (Kinchiyi?Kinnichili) (nextcolumn):??isthecherishedone (child)ofLady??,LadyJaguarTail, Lady??ba??Ajaw,West??. Heisthesonofthe4winikhaab(=60 80yearold)incenser, KakTiliw (FireTapir),9thin succession,WhiteMonkey?Lord? The3glyphsabovethebundle areascribalsignature: Itishis painting,LooseFlintDeathShark.

Itisdifficulttoassignwhichnamegoeswithwhichgod. Theproblemiscomplicatedbythefactthatinthetext,the listofgodskeepsthesameorderinbothvases,whilethe illustrations appeartomixthemup.Theremay bea correlationbetweenthenamesofthegodsandtheir pictures,butthispuzzleisnotyetresolved,andisanother exampletowarnusnottoflatterourselvesthatwehave anythingnearcompleteunderstandingoftheancientMaya mind.Moreimportantly,noneofthenamesinthelist matchtheknownnamesofthefewrecognizablegods.
(Thelasttwogodsonthebottomrowofthe[blackandwhite]Vaseof7Gods, GodGIandaDeathGod,arepromotedtotheendofthetoprowonthe [polychrome]Vaseof11Gods,evenkeepingpreciselythesameposes.I respectfullydisagreewithChristianPrager andMarkusEberls connectionof GodGItothemysteriousBolon YokteKuh whoistheactoronthe2012Stela fromTortuguero [Mon.6],onwhichmorelater.)

Whathappenedatthe last13.0.0.0.0Creation, Part3 Thenextexample, Coba Stela1,though badlyeroded, providesyeta differentglimpseof the4Ajaw 8Kumku Creation(13.0.0.0.0).
PhotobyIanGraham(CMHIVol.7)

Coba Stela 1

13.0. 0.0. 0,4 Ajaw G9,F 3E,5C B,X

30A, 8Kum ku Mani fested, the ?? Ended 13pik? 8??, ???

Thoughbadlyworn,wecanreadthatthedate13.0.0.0.0, insteadofjustfivevigesimal digits,isanabbreviation;the fullversiontheyrenderedwithanextra19digits. Creationsdateishererendered 13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.0.0 .0.0.Theunitsoftimeareeachtwentytimeslargerthan thefollowingperiod:the13Pik (Baktuns)areequivalentto 5125.366years,thenextdigitupis13Piktuns,or102,507.3 years.Abovethat,13Kalabtuns,is2,050,146.45years.And soon. AfewMayatextsemploycalculationsinvolvinghuge bundlesofyearslikethis,andthesevastnumberscount notonlytimemuchearlierthanthe4AjawCreation,but farexceedingtheageofourknownuniverse.

Coba Stela 1

13.0.

0.0. 0,4Ajaw

G9,F 3E,5C

B,X 30A, 8Kumku Manifested the ?? Ended13 pik? 8??,???

ThenormallastfivedigitsofthishugeLongCountappearenlargedatright,withtherestoftheInitialSeriesdate,followedbythe Creationeventitself.Inthemiddleistheequivalenttextwejustsaw,fromQuirigua St.C:thecrossedplanksverbJalaj,Itwas manifested,the??

Coba Stela 1

13.0.

0.0. 0,4Ajaw

G9,F 3E,5C

B,X 30A, 8Kumku Manifested the ?? Ended13 pik? 8??,???

andTzutzya/It ended

Coba Stela 1

13.0.

0.0. 0,4Ajaw

G9,F 3E,5C

B,X 30A, 8Kumku Manifested the ?? Ended13 pik? 8??,???

the13thPik (Baktun)Thenextphrasecouldtellusmoreabouttheeventsonthis fatefulday, buttheyaretooerodedtoread.

Likewise,thetenglyphsthatbeginthenext doublecolumnaretantalizinglyillegible.Again! Afterthem,thetextjumpsaheadtothe(then) present,signalingRealitywithanotherLong Count. This,too,isveryrare;thenumberofinscriptions containingtwoLongCountscanbereckonedon thefingersofonehand.Colorcodingindicatesthe parallelsentencesinthetwomonuments.

Hereisa drawing ofthe entire Initial Seriesof Coba Stela1.

Whathappenedatthelast13.0.0.0.0Creation, Part4
TheDresdenCodex (ca.1500AD/CE)givesusalittlemoreinformationaboutthelast Creation,inthiscasetheinventionofTimeitself. Italsomentionsanimportantevent34,000yearsbefore Creation.(Perhapsinvolving Neanderthals?)

Dresden Codex Example

Herearethetwointroductorypassages fromtheDresdenCodex,theupperparts comparedontheleftandthelowerhalves ontheright.

Onecanseethat thetwoupper passages(pre Creation)are identical,butfora fewspelling differences.The lowersections (afterCreationand countingbackto9 Kan 12Kayab) aresimilarbut exhibitminor differences.The twowerewritten bydifferent scribes,which accountsforsome ofthespellingand otherdifferences. Ihavealsocopied a13Piktun glyphfromthe Coba Stela,soyou canseethePiktun ismentionedat leasttwiceineach passage.


ThelastfourglyphsbeforetheEraDate4Ajaw 8Kumku sayHetheWinal (theperiodof20days)was formed(pataj).Inthepreviousslide,thesamepataj verbreferstothePiktun glyphsabitearlierinthe inscription,sowecanconcludethatthattimeperiod(20Pik/20Baktuns)wasalsocreatedinthispreCreation limbo.Inotherwords,TimeitselfwasinventedjustbeforethisCreationwassetinmotion.
(DecipheredbyCarlCallaway)

AnotherCreationeventonp.70,abitmorepuzzling,saysthatgodsoftheEastandWest paused(intheirtravels)on4Ajaw 8Kumku.Thereareseveralothermentionsofthisdate intheDresden,butmostaredamagedorevenmoreobscurethanthis.

PanelFragment7th centuryAD/CE 8Wo, (Haab Date)

Whathappenedatthelast 13.0.0.0.0Creation,Part5
0Days,16* Winik (DistanceNumber)
*(written0Days,18Winik,whichissurelyanerror)

iuut Andthenitwas

4Ajaw (Tzolkin Date)

8Kumku (Haab Date)

ilahiiy /Hisfirstappearance

Yax Koj

Ahk,(royalname)

ChakKuh Ajaw, HolyAjaw of Chak

9Pik/Baktuns (aDN) (9.0.0.0.0) iuut andthen

PhotobyJustinKerr

PanelFragment7th centuryAD/CE 8Wo, 0Days,16* Winik passed, andthenitwas 4Ajaw

*ThisDistanceNumberishighly anomalous.Itseemstoberead18 Days,zeroWinik,butanormalDN wouldjustsay,18days. (Oneneversays,Illbethereinzero hoursand13minutes.) However,ZeroDays,18Winik violatesanotherrule:thecoefficientof Winik neverexceeds17;anintervalof 18Winiks wouldbewritten1Haab. Thedistancefrom8Wo to8Kumku is sixteen,not18Winik.Herethecarver erred,misreadingthe(painted)hollow spacefillersona16()forsolid dots,andcarvedan18().

8Kumku Hefirstappeared,

Yax Koj Ahk,

ChakKuh Ajaw 9Pik/Baktuns

(passed?)andthen
PhotobyJustinKerr

8Wo, 0Days,16* Winik passed, andthenitwas 4Ajaw

TranslationbyMarcZender,who believesthatthistextdoesNOT refertoaCreationevent,buttothe historicaldate9.9.16.0.0(629AD), whichalsofellona4Ajaw 8 Kumku. Ibelieveheisprobablyright, thoughanyceremonyona4Ajaw 8Kumku iscertaintorecall and perhapsreenact partofthe Creationstory,justasaChristian sermononChristmasEvewill alwaystakesomeaspectofChrists birthasitstheme. Theeventhere,inanycase,isnot theusualPlantingThreeStones thatwefindonothermonuments. itrecordstheappearanceofa Chak Kuh Ajaw nameYax Koh Ahk; e.g.,ofaGreatHolyLordnamed GreenMaskTurtle.

8Kumku Hefirstappeared,

Yax Koj Ahk,

ChakKuh Ajaw 9Pik/Baktuns

(passed?)andthen
PhotobyJustinKerr

Whathappenedatthelast13.0.0.0.0Creation,Part6

Theearliestexplicitmentionwehaveofthe4Ajaw Eradateiscarvedonthebackofan unprovenienced greenstonemask(probablyfromRioAzul).Itdatesfromthe4thormore likelytheearly5thcenturyAD/CE.

Distributive Analysis of 4-Ajaw Texts: Comparing 4-Ajaw Dates

Ive divided thesix column textinto double column reading order

DrawingbyMikeCarrasco

4Ajaw
Hul?ya,arrived?(at),

EarthGod

Edgeofthesky, New3Stones Place GIYax Waybil (versionofChaak, themaskitself)

UKabji (directedby)

?????? (Personages?) & SixSkyLord

???arrived AtaCave?/ Spring? place

SkyGod

?? UKabji (directedby royalperson.)

AndtranslatedtherelevantCreationpassageinthefirsttwodoublecolumns.Somefamiliar facesappear:SkyGodandEarthGod,6SkyLord.Asusual,6SkyGuyissupervisingthe activities,butheisinturnsupervisedbyachildof(father),whoisapparentlyarealperson, possiblythedenizenofthetombfromwhichthemaskwastaken.

4-Ajaw Dates

cf. 4-Ajaw dates cf. 4-Ajaw dates

Comparingsidebysidethesixtextswehavejustseen,youcanfindthe4Ajaw 8 8 Comparingsidebysidethesixtextswehavejustseen,youcanfindthe4Ajaw Kumku dates,usuallytheopeningphrase(4Ajaw 3Kankin ontheTortuguero Kumku dates,usuallytheopeningphrase(4Ajaw 3Kankin ontheTortuguero monument.),commontoallsix. monument.),commontoallsix.

13-Pik Period Endings

Referencestotheendof13Pikappearinthreeofthetexts. Referencestotheendof13Pikappearinthreeofthetexts.

Sky God, Earth God

TheSkyGodandEarthGodalsomakethreeappearances.

Edge-of-Sky, New 3-Stone Place

TheEdgeofSky,New3StonesPlaceismentionedintwovenues. TheEdgeofSky,New3StonesPlaceismentionedintwovenues.

Verbs

Theverbs inthesecontextsarealldifferent,andsomearenotyetprecisely deciphered.Theysay:(They)wereputinorder(yellow),(They)arrived(?)(red), (ThreeStones)wereplantedandtied,(TheHearth)wasmanifested,13Pik ended,TheKoj (image?)changedover,(turquoise),andthefuture,Hewillcome downand(green).(Morenextpage)

9-Ok-Te God

Themysteriousgodorgods 9(Y)OkTe appearattheearthandskystuff Themysteriousgodorgods 9(Y)OkTe appearattheearthandskystuff manufacturingpartyontheVases,andinthesingleprophetictextfromTortuguero. manufacturingpartyontheVases,andinthesingleprophetictextfromTortuguero.

U-Kab-ji-ya 6-Sky Lord

TheOverseer6SkyLord ismentionedtwice(uKabjiya,Heoversawit,). TheOverseer6SkyLord ismentionedtwice(uKabjiya,Heoversawit,).

TheQuich MayaPopol Vuh (copiedabout1700AD/CE)describesthefourCreations.Note similarityherebetweennamesofgods CreatoroftheGreenEarthand CreatoroftheBlue SkywiththeClassicerapair SkyGod and EarthGod;And(perhaps) HeartofSky with Lord6Sky.

Hereweshallgatherthemanifestation,thedeclaration,theaccountofthesowing andthe dawning by theFramer andtheShaper, SheWhoHasBorneChildrenand HeWhoHas BegottenSons alongwithHunahpu Possum andHunahpu Coyote, GreatWhitePeccary andCoati, Sovereign andQuetzalSerpent, HeartofLake andHeartofSea, Creatorofthe GreenEarthand CreatoroftheBlueSky, astheyarecalled. THISISTHEACCOUNTofwhenallisstillsilentandplacid. Allissilentandcalm. Hushed andemptyisthewombofthesky. THESE,then,arethefirstwords,thefirstspeech.Thereisnotyetoneperson,oneanimal, bird,fish,crab,tree,rock,hollow,canyon,meadow,orforest. Allalonetheskyexists.The faceoftheearthhasnotyetappeared.Aloneliestheexpanseofthesea,alongwiththe wombofallthesky.Thereisnotyetanythinggatheredtogether.Allisatrest.Nothingstirs. Allislanguid,atrestinthesky.Thereisnotyetanythingstandingerect.Onlytheexpanseof thewater,onlythetranquilsealiesalone. Allalonearethey, Luminoustheyareinthewater, wrappedinquetzalfeathersandcotinga feathers. ThustheyarecalledQuetzalSerpent. Intheiressence,theyaregreatsages,greatpossessorsofknowledge. ThereisalsoHeartofSky,whichissaidtobethenameofthe(chief)god. Creationtexts,Part7:thePopol Vuh, translatedbyAllenChristenson

NotethatalthoughthePopol Vuh parallelsthe5 AztecCreations,itprovidesno dates. Italsoexpoundsquiteabitoneventsbetween Creations,particularlytheHeroTwins preparingthewayforthelatestCreation.This involvesalotofactionwithblowgunsandthe Ballgame,andatrickymagicactinXibalba,the Underworld. Toreturnto2012,hereagainisTortuguero Monument6.

Tortuguero Mon. 6 reprise

Tortuguero Monument6, 7thCenturyAD

Tortuguero Monument6,upperrightwing.With therelevanttextinadrawingand(partly)in photograph,youcanassesstheextentofthe damagetothemissingtwoglyphs.

AbovedrawingbySvenGronemeyer,photobyDonald Hales

Tzuhtz(a)joom u(y)uxlajuun pik(ta)Chan Ajaw ux(te)Uniiw. Uhtoom Ek??Yem(al)Bolon (Yo)okte (Kuh) tachakma???. Itwillhavebeencompleted,the ThirteenthBaktun (on)4Ajaw,the3rdof Uniiw (a.k.a.3Kankin). Itwilloccur,thewitnessing/attendingof thedisplayofBolonYokte(theMany Strides?*) inthegreat?(or red?) impersonation(?). Translationofthefinalphraseof Tortuguero Monument6 byDavidStuart, Additions/emendations byMarkVan Stone. BecauseMayanisrifewithhomonyms, thetranslationofthisdescendinggod couldbe 9dogtree,manyroots, manysupports;Usuallyhisname includestheepithetKuh,god(s),aswe sawontheVasesofthe7 and11Gods.

StephenHoustonhasrecentlyupdatedhisinterpretationofthisprophetic text(WhatWillNotHappenin2012 athttp://decipherment.wordpress.com/). HecomparesittosimilarlyphrasedfuturestatementsfromNaranjoandLa Corona.Ofonehesays,Thetext situatesitselfinpresenttime,leapstoa futurepresentedinhighlyschematicterms,andthenrevertstothepresent. Then, ThefinalpassagesoftheLaCoronapaneldomuchthesame Fromabase date of9.12.5.7.44Kan 7Mak,(JulianOct.24,AD677).,theinscription lurchesforward almostinyoyoeffect to9.13.0.0.0(JulianMarch15,AD 692),oneofthemostvividtimesfortheClassicMayabecauseofitsevocationof a13thcycle.Therelevantpartofthetextterminatestheinscription:iuti/tu?4 Kan 7 Mak.TheparallelwithTortuguero Monument6 isclear,inthatafuture datejoltsbacktothepresentasmarkedbyaphrasebeginningwithi. (This datealsohasa13.) Heconcludes,

WhateverMonument6 hastotelluspertainstothededicationofthe buildingassociatedwiththesculpture.Ithasnothingtodowith prophecyorthesupposed,dreadeventsthatawaitusinAD2012. AboutthattheMayaarenotablysilentor,truthbetold,abitboring.

Inotherwords,thepartaboutBolon Yokte comingdown referstothededicationofabuildingbackintheseventh century.Inthisinterpretationthemonumenttellsuseven less about2012thanwethought.Houstonfinallyadds: Note 9Yookte (Bolon Yookte)isanenigmaticexpression. Whenpostfixed byKUH,itappearstoidentifysome collectivetotalityofgods. Inotherwords,thegod mentionedhereascomingdown isactuallyninegods.

ThereisabitofevidencethatshowsthatalthoughtheMaya resettheLongCountatthelast13.0.0.0.0,theydontplanto doitagain.Theyseemtohavethoughtthattherewouldbe nomorerecreationsafterthisone.After13.0.0.0.0would come14.0.0.0.0,and15.0.0.0.0,andonup. Thefirstiscarvedonastep inYaxchilan.Thesecondis fromPalenque,whereevents inPakals lifeareconnected toeventsinthedistantpast andthefarfuture.Thethird comesfromTikal,andhasa higherorderLongCount withacoefficientof19.

Calendar Doesnt Stop at 13

Picture:aerialviewofPalenques Palace[foreground] andTempleofInscriptions[behind].

ThisstepfromaHieroglyphicStairwayatYaxchilan showstwodwarvesplayingball.TheLongCountabove themishistorical,thatis,itdatesaneventinthethenpresent(9.15.13.6.9),but,liketheLongCountsatCoba,it includeslargertimeperiods,eightordersofthem.OntheCreationdate13.0.0.0.0, allthehigherorderswerealso setat13.OnewouldexpectthatwhenthePik/Baktun clickedoverfrom13to1,thenexthigherorder(Piktun) wouldhaverisento14,likeanodometer.Butitdidnt.Apparently,thoughthelowerfiveordersoftheLong Countrunsmoothlyandreasonably,thehigherorderswereconsidered,atleastatYaxchilan,entirelysymbolic.

Translation of Yaxchilan Stairway by Linda Schele & Carolyn Tate, 1991

ComparingthehigherordersofthisLongCountwith thatofCoba Stela1,weseethat,althoughwehavelost thenamesoftheordersabove206 tuns,thattheMaya mathematicianswereprettyconsistent(thoughthe209 and2010 ordersappearreversedinthetwodates).

headvariants

Onceweenterrealtime,however,thetwotextsdifferconsiderably.TheYaxchilan dateuseshead variantsofthetimeperiodglyphs,whileCobas artistschosetheeasiest,mostabstractversionsofthesame glyphs.Finally,Iwishtodrawyourattentiontothepictorial glyphforballcourtaballbouncingdown steps.

Palenque TempleofInscriptions:WestPanel(finalthirdoftext)

ThelongestintactMayainscriptiongoesintosomedetailaboutPalenques history,especiallythatwhich occurredunderthepurviewofPakal theGreat,whoisburiedundertheTempleoftheInscriptions,thepyramid thatcarriesthislongtext.ThefullnameofLordPakal,themostfamousPalenque ruler,wasKinich Janahb Pakal,ResplendentFlowerShield.

Itsfirst four double columns also connect thereign ofPakal with period endings inthe future, and anniver saries in boththe pastand future.

Pakals coronationdatewaslinkedtothe10.0.0.0.0Periodending,whichatthattimewas137 yearsinthefuture.

Likewise, itwas then linkedto theendof thePiktun, some4100 years awayat thetime. Itisnot a Piktun of 13 Baktuns, butone containing 20 Baktuns.

AtPalenque,atleast,theastrologerpriestsdidnotbelievethatthenext13.0.0.0.0wouldbefollowedagainbya 1.0.0.0.0,butby14.0.0.0.0,andthen15.0.0.0.0,andonuptill,at20,itclickedovertozeroandpresumablyraised thePiktun coefficientto14.OrmaybefromZeroto1.

Thenthey were linkedto adatefar, farinthe past, some 1,247,000 yearsago.

Interestingly,thesearenotpropheciesinthestrictestsense;theeventtheyforetell(orrecall)onthesedates arealmostalwaystrivial:Asiftosay,Onthe21stofJune,2051,itwillbeaFriday,andtheLords100thbirthday willbecelebrated.

Attheveryleast,thisimpliesthatthe ancientMayaexpectedthestatusquo to continueatleast4000yearsintothefuture. Thats2760yearsafter2012. Theyexpectednointerruption.

Acloseup ofthe drawingofthelarge DistanceNumber, leadingbacktothis dateoveramillion yearsago.Ioverlaidit withitsphotograph, showinghow shallowlythesculptors workedonthis inscription.

PhotographbyLindaSchele

AtTikalthereisadate(fromanother era,perhapsfarinthefutureorusinga differentLongCountCalendarthanwe haveseensofar)whichhasaPiktun coefficientof19.Apparently,the higherordersofTikals LongCount Calendarwerenot,asatYaxchiln, stuckat13.Itseemsthatdifferent schoolsoftimereckoningexistedin differentcitystates.Thesewere proud,squabblingpolities,constantly jockeyingforpowerlikeAthensand Sparta.Whenonethinksaboutit,it seemsmuchmorelikelythatthey wouldhavecompetingmythologies andscientificsystems,thanthatthey wouldhavebeenofoneaccord. 19Piktun

PhotographbyLindaSchele

MuchevidencesuggeststhatMayacity stateshadmoredifferencesbetweentheir mythologiesthansimilarities,muchasthe variousMixtec politiespracticedafew centurieslater(see JohnPohlsMesoamerica: http://www.famsi.org/research/pohl/).

ThisisagoodreasonnottointerpretMayapropheciesas iftheywereBiblicalorscientific,orinanywaylike predictionsofourday.Mayapropheticliterature,asfaras wecandiscernfrombadlyshreddedevidence,wasas diverseasthecitiesarchitectureorartstyles.Forexample, TikalalonehasKatunDoublePyramidgroups,clustered intheinnercity,and(likeCopnandCalakmul)bristles withstelae.Palenqueignoredstelae,adorningbuildings withvoluptuousstuccoreliefsandlowreliefpanels.The cityofTonin isvirtuallyasinglebuildingcoveringa mountainside,anditssculptors,uniquely,carved sculpturesintheround.Yaxchilns artistsleftus50 carvedstonelintels,whilenearlyeveryoneelsemadethem ofwood.Potterystyleswereevenmorelocallydiverse.

Anindicationoflocalcitiespeculiar mythologiesistheirpatrongods.The HeroTwins,socommononClassicMaya paintedvases,arealmostcompletelyabsent fromClassiccarvedmonuments.(Oddly, theubiquitousheadvariantglyphsfor AjawandNineareportraitsofthese two,butthatisalmosttheirentirerolein carvedinscriptionssofarasweknow. Seenextslide.)

ThewellknownPalenqueTriadPatron Gods(GI,GII,andGIII)appearuniquelyat thatcity.OthercitieshaveTriadGods,but theyareadifferenttrioineachplace(see nextslide).Thesegangsseemtohave nothingincommonfromcitytocity,save theepithetOxlutiKuh,theThreeBorn TogetherGods.Thistitlealsoappears amongthecastofCreationCharacterson theVasesofthe7and 11Gods,thoughthe threeindividualsarenotspecified.

Insummary,
The13.13.13.13.13.0.0.0.0LongCountdatesimplythattheMaya consideredthisCreationtobeunique.Itsenormoustimespans(billionsof billionsoftimeslongeragothantheBigBang),willnever againallline uptobeall13s.

(Mayaperiodendingmonumentsfavored13sinthelowerordersaswell:wefind
disproportionatementionsof9.13.0.0.0,or9.17.13.0.0,forexample,butoddly,discoverno monumentsextollingadatelike9.13.13.13.13,orthefiveofakind13.13.13.13.13.Why not?ApparentlyMayanumerologistsdidnotconsider13sandzeroesasequivalent.)

ThePalenque Mayadidnotexpect2012tobetheendofdays. Theycalculateapiktunendingwithapiktun of20baktuns.Thiscouldnot happenifthebaktun resetagainafteritreached13. ItwasimportanttothemtoconnecteventsinPakals lifewithlikeevents inpreviousCreationsandfutureeras(eventhoughtimeitselfseemsnotto existinanycoherentwaybetweenCreations). Themostimportantconnectionbetweeneventsseemstohavebeenthat theyoccuronthesameCalendarRound.