5. Suppose the creator of the G text had meridian crossings in his mind rather than heliacal risings. The position of Regulus could then primarily be described as 61 days beyond solstice (and not as 153 days beyond equinox). According to our own calendar day number 61 beyond solstice should be around 61 - 9 (= 365 - 356) = 52 days counted from January 1. But on Easter Island Regulus is rising heliacally 153.7 - 92 = 61.7 days beyond winter solstice in June. North of the equator this becomes 242.7 - 61.7 = 181 days (equal to the distance from Aldebaran to Antares) beyond winter solstice:
61.7 - 9 (days in June) = 52.7 and July (31) + August (21) = 52. Winter solstice should be around June 21 and Regulus around August 21:
We should consult Antares in the matter - it is the star which ought to rule Easter Island because of its position (26º S). Counting beyond August 21: 186 - 89 = 97 and 97 - 10 (in August) = 87. September (30) + October (31) + November (26) = 87. Antares should be around November 26:
The above was only an exercise. But we should keep in mind the possibility that at some point we should 'tilt our heads in the opposite direction', because there are more glyphs than necessary for a single year. It is therefore not impossible to have November in two places:
Suppose we wish to apply our own calendar also to the part of the text which according to my idea has Antares at Ga7-16. Counting backwards from the π glyph (314) we will then have Aldebaran in January 5:
Antares would be connected with another date than November 26, viz. with July 5:
Counting beyond Aldebaran: 26 (January) + 28 (February) + 31 (March) + 30 (April) + 31 (May) + 30 (June) + 5 (July) = 181. This model has Aldebaran at January 5 and Antares at July 5, which is quite interesting because 5 means 'fire' and it can be interpreted to mean that Sun is arriving at the beginning of January and leaving with Antares. Once again, this was only an exercise in order to make us aware of possibilities. I prefer to have Antares in November 26, to tilt my head and look at the sky from the other direction. It must be underlined that the map of the star positions, which I suggest is embedded in the G text, is neutral as regards to when the stars should be observed. The map can in principle be used at any time and at any place, given that one of the glyphs is connected to one of the stars. North of the equator the heliacal setting of Antares at the horizon in the west should mark the end of summer, but on Easter Island the simultaneous heliacal rising of Antares at the horizon in the east should mark the arrival of summer. And the name of the month should neither be November nor July because it would lead our minds into thinking of late autumn instead of late spring respectively of high summer instead of midwinter. |