4 Ajaw 13 Pax. Drawing by Jorge Pérez de Lara.
The nature of Classic Maya writing was explained using examples taken directly from the stelae. This was followed by study of the calendar system, including the Long Count, the Tzolk’in (Stxolilal Q’inale’ in Q’anjob’al) and the Haab.
To better explain the calendars, exercise activities were done showing how the calendars worked. To understand the Cholq’ij (Tzolk’in) the participants formed two circles, one representing the 20 day-names and the other the numbers 1-13. The idea was the students learned how at the point where the two circles came together they were creating a single date; in effect the students themselves became a living calendar of 260 days!
An exercise to practice the numbers in Q’anjob’al directed by Igor.