3. My original idea that mago in Ga7-16 corresponds to the star Antares has been confirmed by evidence which we do not need to reiterate.
In my astronomy book Antares is positioned at 16h 26m (a few minutes earlier than the current value according to Wikipedia - cfr at Camp 9). We can convert 16h 26m to day number according to our calendar: First we count (16 * 60 + 26) / (24 * 60) * 365¼ = 250.1 and then we must add 80 (corresponding to the number of days from January 1 to spring equinox in March 21). 80 + 250 = 330 is the day number for November 26:
The position of mago in Ga7-16 can be described in many ways. We could say its current position is 64 + 186 = 250 glyphs beyond Gb6-25:
If each glyph corresponds to a day and if March 21 should be at Gb6-25, then mago in Ga7-16 will be in the position of November 26. I suggest it could have had an earlier position when the G tablet was created. If for instance Antares rose heliacally 1 day earlier at that time, then its position would have been November 25, day 329 in our calendar. March 21 would then have been represented by Gb6-26. The glyphs in this part of the G text can be put in parallel with the days in our calendar from March 21 to the heliacal rising of Antares:
I have here counted puo in Gb8-30 twice to make it fit with a current equinox at Gb6-25. The number of glyphs on the G tablet is 471 and 16 * 29.53 = 472.48, which suggests we may have to count one of the glyphs twice. If we should extrapolate forward beyond mago in Ga7-16 in order to reach February 2 (Candlemas), we will first pass winter solstice (December 21) and Christmas Day (December 25) and then, in January, the day of Knut (13) before reaching the kindling of new fires. Let's take it step by step:
We can notice not only how the last day of November has a number which is 1000 less than the number of glyphs on the Tahua tablet but also how my planetary colours has a Moon-day at Ga7-20. Beyond the 20th glyph in line a7 will come December:
When the G tablet was created Antares could have risen heliacally in November 25 (day 329) and if so, then Rei in Ga7-22 would have corresponded to December 1 (day 335). The glyph numbers (counted from puo in Gb8-30) are at present 144 less than the day numbers in our calendar, e.g. is the position of ika hiku in Ga7-27 corresponding to our day 197 + 144 = 341 (December 7). |