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The Maya 819-Day Count and Planetary Astronomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 April 2023

John H. Linden*
Affiliation:
2365 Del Monte Street, Livermore, California 94551, USA
Victoria R. Bricker*
Affiliation:
5000 SW 25th Boulevard, #1102, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA
*
Corresponding author: John H. Linden, (lindenjh@comcast.net), (vbricker@tulane.edu)
Corresponding author: John H. Linden, (lindenjh@comcast.net), (vbricker@tulane.edu)

Abstract

Arguably the most enigmatic of the Maya calendar cycles, the 819-day count has challenged modern scholars for decades. Even today it is not completely explained and there are several areas for further research, including its relationship with the synodic periods of the planets visible to the naked eye. Earlier research has demonstrated a four-part, color-directional scheme for the 819-day count such that each of the calendar stations progress in increments of 819 days in cycles of 4 × 819 days. Although prior research has sought to show planetary connections for the 819-day count, its four-part, color-directional scheme is too short to fit well with the synodic periods of the visible planets. By increasing the calendar length to 20 periods of 819-days a pattern emerges in which the synodic periods of all the visible planets commensurate with station points in the larger 819-day calendar.

Resumen

Resumen

Posiblemente el más enigmático de los ciclos del calendario maya, la cuenta de 819 días ha desafiado estudiosos modernos durante décadas. Incluso hoy en día no está completamente explicado y hay varios áreas para futuras investigaciones, incluida su relación con las períodos sinódicas de los planetas visibles a simple vista. Investigaciones anteriores han demostrado un esquema direccional de cuatro colores para el conteo de 819 días, tal que cada una de sus estaciones de calendario avance en incrementos de 819 días en ciclos de 4 × 819 días. Aunque investigaciones anteriores han buscado mostrar conexiones planetarias para la cuenta de 819 días, su esquema direccional de cuatro partes de color es demasiado corto para encajar bien con los períodos sinódicos del planetas visibles. Al aumentar la longitud del calendario a 20 períodos de 819 días surge un patrón en que las órbitas sinódicas de todos los planetas visibles en consonancia con los puntos de estación en el calendario más grande de 819 días.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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