Dresden Codex. Credit: NOVA/PBS
The Dresden Codex (also known as the
Codex Dresdensis)
is a Maya codex from the pre-Columbian era of 11th-12th century; and as
such is considered as a copy of an older, original document that was
possibly compiled in 8th century AD. In spite of the ‘derivative’
feature, the Dresden Codex is the oldest book written in the Americas
known to historians, with its fascinating content of astronomical
tables, including the Lunar Series and Venus table. Pertaining to the
latter mentioned part, while the Venus table has intrigued researchers
and historians over the years, the scope of its analysis has been mostly
limited to numerology denominations. But this time around, researcher
Gerardo Aldana, a professor of anthropology at UC Santa Barbara, has
made a new case for the table, and his study links the astronomical and
historical attributes of the Venus table that were possibly achieved by
an early Maya scientist. In essence, the table might have alluded to an
incredible astronomical discovery related to Venus more than a thousand
years ago.
To that end, Aldana made use of epigraphy (study of hieroglyphics)
combined with archaeology and astronomical records, and this ambit hints
at how a correction in the ancient text relates to to the movements of
Venus. The equation was probably made during the period between 8th-10th
century (also known as Terminal Classic period) in the Mayan city of
Chich’en Itza, (possibly) under the patronage of K’ak’ U Pakal K’awiil,
the ruler/high-ranking official of the settlement. Aldana has this to
say about the scribe who made this change in the Venus table –
