244
instead that of a 6-month group could have ceased this shifting for a while (Bricker
& Bricker, 2011: 283, Figs. 9–17). After finishing the first round, another series of
three dates start with different Long Count and haab’ dates:
9.16.4.10.8 12 Lamat [1 Muan] + 11,960 days = 9.17.17.14.8 12 Lamat [16 Yax]
9.16.4.11.3 1 Ak’bal. [16 Muan] + 11,960 days = 9.17.17.15.3 1 Ak’bal. [11 Sak]
9.16.4.11.18 3 Etz’nab [11 Pax] + 11,960 days = 9.17.17.15.18 3 Etz’nab [6 Kej]
However, the cycle of eclipse seasons moves backward by (at least) 1 day per cycle.
Contrary to the suggestions of other scholars, Bricker and Bricker (2011: 291–292)
proposed to retain the starting point on 12 Lamat but instead to shift 1 day backward
the start of the eclipse season. The first recycling and the inception of eclipse season
start on 12 Lamat. The second round starts with 12 Lamat again; however, the
eclipse season begins a day before, on 11 Manik’ (Bricker & Bricker, 2011: 292).
The second recycling of the Table will be important here because it leads to the date
of the solar eclipse displayed on Stela 3.
The second round starts with the count of 6, 6, and 5 months (177, 177, and
148 days, respectively) corresponding to the numbers in columns 1 (=70), 2 (=71),
3 (=72). Moving on, and crossing the drawing, we reach the next column of 177 days
(6 months), summing up to 679 days from the start (see Fig. 2). It is necessary to
subtract 1 day from 2 Manik’ to arrive at [9.17.19.12.6] 1 Kimi [4 Mol] to find out
the eclipse season. This date begins the eclipse season which moves twice 15-day
periods forward:
[9.17.19.12.6] 1 Kimi [4 Mol] + 15 = [9.17.19.13.1] 3 Imix [19 Mol] + 15 = [9.17.19.13.16]
5 Kib 14 Ch’en
In other words, using the layout of the Eclipse Table and following the rules suggested by Bricker and Bricker, it is possible to find out that the date displayed on
Stela 3 at Santa Elena Poco Uinic indicates eclipse possibility. It is important to
Fig. 2 Scheme of eclipse computations on Dresden 53a (after Villacorta, Antonio, & Villacorta,
1976: 116)
S. Iwaniszewski
instead that of a 6-month group could have ceased this shifting for a while (Bricker
& Bricker, 2011: 283, Figs. 9–17). After finishing the first round, another series of
three dates start with different Long Count and haab’ dates:
9.16.4.10.8 12 Lamat [1 Muan] + 11,960 days = 9.17.17.14.8 12 Lamat [16 Yax]
9.16.4.11.3 1 Ak’bal. [16 Muan] + 11,960 days = 9.17.17.15.3 1 Ak’bal. [11 Sak]
9.16.4.11.18 3 Etz’nab [11 Pax] + 11,960 days = 9.17.17.15.18 3 Etz’nab [6 Kej]
However, the cycle of eclipse seasons moves backward by (at least) 1 day per cycle.
Contrary to the suggestions of other scholars, Bricker and Bricker (2011: 291–292)
proposed to retain the starting point on 12 Lamat but instead to shift 1 day backward
the start of the eclipse season. The first recycling and the inception of eclipse season
start on 12 Lamat. The second round starts with 12 Lamat again; however, the
eclipse season begins a day before, on 11 Manik’ (Bricker & Bricker, 2011: 292).
The second recycling of the Table will be important here because it leads to the date
of the solar eclipse displayed on Stela 3.
The second round starts with the count of 6, 6, and 5 months (177, 177, and
148 days, respectively) corresponding to the numbers in columns 1 (=70), 2 (=71),
3 (=72). Moving on, and crossing the drawing, we reach the next column of 177 days
(6 months), summing up to 679 days from the start (see Fig. 2). It is necessary to
subtract 1 day from 2 Manik’ to arrive at [9.17.19.12.6] 1 Kimi [4 Mol] to find out
the eclipse season. This date begins the eclipse season which moves twice 15-day
periods forward:
[9.17.19.12.6] 1 Kimi [4 Mol] + 15 = [9.17.19.13.1] 3 Imix [19 Mol] + 15 = [9.17.19.13.16]
5 Kib 14 Ch’en
In other words, using the layout of the Eclipse Table and following the rules suggested by Bricker and Bricker, it is possible to find out that the date displayed on
Stela 3 at Santa Elena Poco Uinic indicates eclipse possibility. It is important to
Fig. 2 Scheme of eclipse computations on Dresden 53a (after Villacorta, Antonio, & Villacorta,
1976: 116)
S. Iwaniszewski