New interpretation of the table of eclipses in Dresden Codex: Intercalated numbers as fractions

Abstract

A review to the introductory pages of the Table of Eclipses of the Dresden Codex is made. In particular, the section of three intercalated Maya numbers in columns A, B, C, of page 52a and the list of thirteen 13’s (two bars and three points) present in column D of the same page are studied and interpreted as a way to construct the sequence of 69 eclipse prediction numbers for a total period of 11.958 days. Those intercalated numbers (red & Black) in the codex represent big numbers that are multiples of the 11.960-day period. In combination with the draconic month (as studied by Chinese culture (27,2122)), the sequence of 177, 178, 148 days, intervals can be reproduced. The consequent conclusion is that these intercalated numbers could represent numerical fractions.