next page previous page home

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 ...