Tzolk'in

The Tzolkin calendar is a part of the Mayan calendar, which the Maya used for ritual purposes and may have inherited from the Olmecs. In the Tzolkin ( count of days) each day ( Kin) is designated by the combination of a number with a protective deity. A date in the Tzolkin Calendar So for example, has the form: 6 Edznab.

Days Count

In the days counting the numbers run cyclically from 1 to 13 ( months of the Tzolkin ) and at the same 20 day names ( guardian gods ) in the order: Imix, Ik, Akbal, Kan, Chicchán, Cimi, Manik, Lamat, Muluc, Oc, Chuen, Eb, Ben, Ix, Men, Cib, Caban, Etznab, Cauac, Ahau. The icons of the 20 gods correspond to the 20 days a month, their number also corresponds to the sum of the fingers and toes of a person. The 13 is the number of main joints of a human body again, thus composed arm and leg joints and the neck of six together. This would allow all 260 days of the cycle clearly present in body characters. Similarly in the Haab, the solar year which has 18 months of 20 days = 360 1 month with 5 days and is linked to the Tzolkin for the " Long Count ".

  • Standardglyphen for days

Ik

Akbal

Kan

Chicchán

CIMI

Manik

Lamat

Muluk

OK

Chuwen

Eb

Ben

Men

Kib

Kaban

Etznab

Kawak

Ahau

Ca

Ox

Kan

Ho

Vac

UUC

Uaxac

Bolon

Lahun

Buluk

Laka

Oxlahun

This results in the following sequence of day names, the (up Ahau Imix ) is 20 days out of 13 times and repeated after 260 days.

As above scheme is seen between days with the same name and consecutive number (eg, 5 and 6 Etznab Etznab ) every 40 days.

Origin of the 260 day cycle

In the construction of the 260 day cycle astronomical and mythological realities with the agricultural period of maize are intertwined. For this, the Tzolkin was originally anchored ( 6 February to 23 October Gregorian ). According to the statements of the authors Krygier and Rohark the first four days correspond with the days of creation, the fourth day was 4 K'an. After a further 40 days for 2x20 = Spring Equinox at 21.3. was the slash and burn of Milpa on day 5 K'an. After a further 40 days to the first zenith passage of the sun at 30.4. found the first sowing place on Day 6 K'an. Then went 52 = 4x13 days to prepare for the second sowing. After another 52 days for the second zenith passage of the sun, the corn on the cob the first Milpa were bent. Finally it came on the last day, ie after 73 days to harvest. The fact that several times the day K'an results is due to the multiples of 20 Interesting detail: K'an means " corn ".

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