94. We can, however, assume the
Easter Islanders were well aware of how at the time
of the Bull the Pleiades had marked the beginning of
the change of season from harsh winter (in
straw) to mild summer (in leaf). There were 129 (Castor) - 72 (Alcyone)
= 57 (= 3 * 19) days from MARCH 13 to APRIL 29:
BABYLONIAN ECLIPTIC CONSTELLATIONS: |
0 |
1-iku |
Field measure |
τ
(Anunitum)
Piscium |
16.5 |
April 6 (96) |
96
- 64 = 32 |
FEBR 1 |
1 |
Mahrū-sha-rishu-ku |
Front of the Head of Ku |
β (Sheratan),
γ (Mesarthim) Arietis |
27.4 |
April 17 (107) |
107 - 64 = 43 |
2-12 |
2 |
Arku-sha-rishu-ku |
Back of the Head of Ku |
α (Hamal)
Arietis |
30.5 |
April 20 (110) |
110 - 64 = 46 |
2-15 |
3 |
Temennu |
Foundation Stone |
η (Alcyone)
Tauri |
56.1 |
May 16 (136) |
136 - 64 = 72 |
MARCH 13 |
4 |
Pidnu-sha-Shame |
Furrow of Heaven |
α (Aldebaran)
Tauri |
68.2 |
May 28 (148) |
148 - 64 = 84 |
3-25 |
5 |
Shur-narkabti-sha-iltanu |
Star in the Bull towards the north |
β (El Nath)
Tauri |
80.9 |
June 9 (160) |
160 - 64 = 96 |
APRIL 6 |
6 |
Shur-narkabti-sha-shūtū |
Star in the Bull towards the south |
ζ (Heavenly Gate)
Tauri |
84.0 |
June 13 (164) |
164 - 64 = 100 |
4-10 |
7 |
Maru-sha-pu-u-mash-mashu |
Front of the Mouth of the Twins |
η (Tejat Prior)
Gemini |
93.4 |
June 22 (173) |
173 - 64 = 109 |
4-19 |
8 |
Arkū-sha-pu-u-mash-mashu |
Back of the Mouth of the Twins |
μ (Tejat Posterior)
Gemini |
95.4 |
June 24 (175) |
175 - 64 = 111 |
4-11 |
9 |
Mash-mashu-sha-Risū |
Twins of the Shepherd (?) |
γ (Alhena)
Gemini |
103.8 |
July 2 (183) |
183 - 64 = 119 |
4-19 |
10 |
Mash-mashu-Mahrū |
Western One of the Twins |
α (Castor)
Gemini |
113.4 |
July 12 (193) |
193 - 64 = 129 |
4-29 |
11 |
Mash-mashu-arkū |
Eastern One of the Twins |
β (Pollux)
Gemini |
116.2 |
July 15 (196) |
196 - 64 = 132 |
MAY 12 |
12 |
Arkū-sha-nangaru-sha-shūtu |
Southeast Star in the Crab |
δ
(Ascellus Australis)
Cancri |
131.4 |
July 30 (211) |
211 - 64 = 147 |
5-27 |
13 |
Rishu A. |
Head of the Lion |
ε (Ras Elaset Australis)
Leonis |
146.6 |
Aug 14 (226) |
226 - 64 = 162 |
JUNE 11 |
14 |
Sharru |
King |
α (Regulus)
Leonis |
152.7 |
Aug 20 (232) |
232 - 64 = 168 |
6-17 |
15 |
Maru-sha-arkat-Sharru |
4th Son behind the King |
ρ (Shir)
Leonis |
158.9 |
Aug 26 (238) |
238 - 64 = 174 |
6-23 |
16 |
Zibbat A. |
Tail of the Lion |
β (Denebola)
Leonis
|
178.3 |
Sept 15 (258) |
258 - 64 = 194 |
JULY 13 |
17 |
Shēpu-arkū sha-A |
Hind Leg of the Lion |
β (Alaraph)
Virginis |
178.6 |
Sept 15 (258) |
258 - 64 = 194 |
d:o |
18 |
Shur-mahrū-shirū |
Front or West Shur (?) |
γ (Porrima)
Virginis |
191.5 |
Sept 28 (271) |
271 - 64 = 207 |
7-26 |
19 |
Sa-Sha-Shirū |
Virgin's Girdle |
α (Spica)
Virginis |
202.7 |
Oct 9 (282) |
282 - 64 = 218 |
AUG 6 |
And
according to Makemson the Polynesians down in the southeast may well have observed
the stars in the early mornings instead of
in the evenings:
... Whatever may have been the reason for
the preëminence of the Pleiades cluster -
and it was probably a combination of several
reasons - it is certain that when men became
increasingly alert ot the annual cycles of
celestial phenomena, the changing altitudes
and azimuths of the Sun, the lengthening and
shortening of days and the corresponding
variation in temperature, the slow march of
the constellations across the sky, and
realized the need of choosing a day on which
to begin the yearly cycle of the calendar,
they turned to the Pleiades for guidance.
Undoubtedly the Polynesians carried the
Pleiades year with them into the Pacific
from the ancient homeland ... With but few
exceptions they continued to date the annual
cycle from the rising of these stars until
modern times. In the Hawaiian, Samoan,
Tongan, Society, Marquesan, and some other
islands the new year began in late November
or early December with the first new Moon
after the first appearance of the Pleiades
in the eastern sky in the evening twilight.
Notable exceptions to the general rule are
found in Pukapuka and among certain
tribes of New Zealand where the new year was
inaugurated by the first new Moon after the
Pleiades appeared on the eastern horizon
just before sunrise in June. Traces of an
ancient year beginning in May have been
noted in the Society Islands, but there is
some uncertainty about the beginning of the
year in native annals generally, at least as
reported by missionaries and others, due
perhaps to the desire to make the Polynesian
months coincide with the stated months of
the modern calendar.
In view of the almost universal prevalence
of the Pleiades year throughout the
Polynesian area it is surprising to find
that in the South Island and certain parts
of the North Island of New Zealand and in
the neighboring Chatham Islands, the year
began with the new Moon after the yearly
morning rising, not of the Pleiades, but of
the star Rigel in Orion. Such an important
difference can be explained only on the
assumption that the very first settlers ...
brought the Rigel year with them ... from
some other land 10° south of the equator
where Rigel acquired at the same time its
synonymity with the zenith.
Colonists who arrived in New Zealand from
Central Polynesia during the Middle Ages and
intermarried with the tangata whenua,
'people of the land', found themselves
between the horns of a calendrical dilemma.
They must either convert the aborigines to
the Pleiades year beginning in
November-December or themselves adopt the
Rigel year [together with heliacal rising
observations] and bring down the wrath of
their ancestors on their own heads.
That there resulted a long and passionate
struggle on the part of both the invaders
and the invaded to retain their own the
integrity of the sacred year of their
traditions can hardly by doubted. The
outcome of the conflict proved that the
institution of the land was too firmly
established to be changed. While some tribes
retained the Rigel year in its entirety
others effected a compromise by retaining
the Pleiades year but commencing it in June
...
MARCH 11 |
12 |
13 |
3-14 (73 = 365 / 5) |
|
|
|
|
Cb2-4 (420 = 392
+ 28) |
Cb2-5 (129 = 124 + 5) |
Cb2-6 |
Cb2-7 |
te ua |
koia ra |
kua tuku ki to mata - ki
tona tukuga |
e kiore - henua - pa rei |
May 14 (*54) |
TAU-ONO |
Temennu |
MENKHIB = ζ Persei |
|
|
|
31 |
Cb2-8 (424 = 300 + 124) |
Cb2-9
(133 = 124 + 9) |
Cb2-10 |
Niu |
moe te goe |
May 18 |
19 (*242 - 183 = 2 * 29½) |
20 (60) |
November 17 (321) |
(*242 = 355 - 33 - 80) |
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
Cb3-16 (457) |
Cb3-17 |
Cb3-18 |
Cb3-19 (68) |
Cb3-20 (24 + 45) |
henua kua hoi |
kua ka te ahi o te henua |
o te henua kua hoi |
ko te henua kua vero te
ahi |
kiore - henua |
INVISIBLY CLOSE TO THE SUN (helical dates): |
SOLSTICE
(*92) |
22 (173) |
23 |
ST JOHNS
DAY |
June 25 |
"May 11 |
12 |
13 |
14 (*54) |
15 (135) |
CLOSE TO THE FULL MOON (and nakshatra dates): |
SOLSTICE (355) |
22 |
23 (*277) |
CHRISTMAS
EVE |
December 25 |
"November 10 (314) |
11 |
12 (*236) |
13 |
14 |
Ahi
Fire; he-tutu i te ahi
to light a fire. Ahiahi = evening;
ahiahi-ata, the last moments of light
before nightfall. Vanaga. 1. Candle, stove,
fire (vahi); ahi hakapura,
match; ahi hakagaiei, firebrand waved
as a night signal. P Mgv.: ahi, fire,
flame. Mq.: ahi, fire, match,
percussion cap. Ta.: ahi, fire,
percussion cap, wick, stove. 2. To be night;
agatahi ahi atu, day before
yesterday. 3. Pau.: ahi, sandalwood.
Ta.: ahi, id. Mq.: auahi, a
variety of breadfruit. Sa.: asi,
sandalwood. Ha.: ili-ahi, id.
Ahiahi, afternoon, night; kai ahiahi,
supper. P Pau., Mgv., Mq., Ta.: ahiahi,
afternoon, evening. Ahipipi (ahi
1 - pipi 2) a spark, to flash.
Churchill. |
Hoki
To return, to
go back, to come back; ka hoki ki
rá, go back there! ana oho koe ki
Hiva, e hoki mai ki nei, if you go to
the mainland, do come back here again.
Vanaga. 1. Also, what; ki ra hoki,
precisely there; pei ra hoki,
similitude, likeness; pei ra hoki ta
matou, usage. P Pau.: hokihoki,
often. Mgv.: hoki, also, and,
likewise. Mq.: hoi, surely. Ta.:
hoi, also, likewise. 2. To return, to
turn back, to draw back, to give back, to
tack; mau e hoki mai, to lend;
hoki hakahou, to carry back; hoki
amuri, to retrograde; hakahoki,
to bring back, to send back, to carry back,
to restore, to renew, to revoke, to remove,
to dismiss, to pay, to pardon, to compress;
hakahokia, given up; hakahokihaga,
obligation. P Pau.: hokihoki, to
persist, to insist; fakahoki, to give
back. Mgv.: hoki, to return, to
retrace one's steps; oki, to return,
to come back. Ta.: hoi, to return, to
come back. Ta.: mahoi, the essence or
soul of a god. Churchill. |
Possibly a compromise between the
northern perception of summer solstice in June in
contrast to June as the month for the midwinter
solstice was described by the curious contrasts:
North |
Descending from midsummer: |
6
+ 7 = 13 |
6 +
26
= 32 |
|
1 |
|
June 22 (173) |
"May 14 (*54) |
kua ka te ahi o te henua |
ko te henua kua vero te
ahi |
South |
Ascending from midwinter: |
9 + 10 = 19 |
|
1 |
|
henua kua hoi |
o te henua kua hoi |
"November 10 (314) |
"November 12 (*236) |
26º (Antares)
- 8º (Rigel) = 18º and 24º
(Pleiades) + 8º (Rigel) = 32º (= 214 - 182).
Counting the tresses from right to left: |
1 |
26 |
6 * 13 |
1 |
29 |
90 |
2 |
26 |
2 |
30 |
3 |
26 |
3 |
31 |
78
+ 90 = 168 (= 7 * 24) |
4 |
25 |
8 * 13 |
4 |
34 |
124
|
5 |
26 |
5 |
31 |
6 |
27 |
6 |
30 |
7 |
26 |
7 |
29 |
104 + 124 = 228 (= 12 * 19 = 168 + 60) |
Total 182 (= 13 * 14) + 214
(= 364 - 150) = 396 |
Total
396
= 60 + 336 =
168 +
228
= 7 * 24 +
12 * 19 = 2 * 168 + 60 |
... In Plato's Timaeus, it
is explained that the two bands that form the
soul of the world cross each other like the
letter Χ ...
|