10. Reversed hau tea in Gb5-1 comes 33 glyphs beyond reversed hau tea in Gb4-1 (b4 is the only line on the tablet with 33 glyphs). If Gb5-1 should be at January 27 (derived from counting mechanically backwards from March 21 at Gb6-25), then Gb4-1 ought to be 33 days earlier, in December 25:
If March 21 was intended to be at Gb6-26, then Gb5-1 ought to be at January 26 and Gb4-1 at Christmas Eve. Winter solstice would be at Gb3-28 and day 354 at Gb3-27. I find this variant attractive, e.g. could 32 * 8 = 256 allude to stars rising heliacally 229 days beyond June 20:
The kava glyph in Gb5-25 (where 52 * 5 = 260) can be said to indicate 'Candlemas' according to the creator of the G text - a rare place in the text where the meaning seems obvious:
The date at Gb5-25 would be February 19 if Gb8-30 is counted only once. And March 21 would be at Rogo in Gb6-26 (instead of at Gb6-25). The night between February 19 and 20 could define when the kava ceremony should be held. ... One of the effects of drinking kava is to enhance the sensitivity of the eyes - light appears to be growing ... .... For when the ruler drinks the sacred offering, he is in the state of intoxication Fijians call 'dead from' (mateni) or 'dead from kava' (mate ni yaqona), to recover from which is explicitly 'to live' (bula). This accounts for the second cup the chief is alone accorded, the cup of fresh water. The god is immediately revived, brought again to life - in a transformed state ... |
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