3. "The time to the fourth series of epochs draws to a close,"
4. "In which shall be ushered in the day of the true God." Also,
8. "Such is the prophecy of Nahau Pech, the priest,
9. "At the time of the fourth great cycle (Ahau Katun).
10. "In the commencement actual of the series of epochs."[1]
The rendering of Katunil, here translated "series of epochs," is uncertain. In Stephens's translation of the Perez Manuscript it is sometimes rendered "Katunes," sometimes "Katun"; in Brasseur's translation, "periods," "cycle," and in Lizana's, "edades" or ages The definition of the word as given in Brasseur's lexicon (it is not found in full in Perez's lexicon) is "Ensemble des époques ou cycles."
It is true that "Ahau Katun" is sometimes used as equivalent to "Ahau," but this is very rarely, if ever, found in the few Maya documents that remain to us. The true rendering appears to be "Grand or Great Cycle," as given in the 9th line of Nahau Pech's prophecy. If this interpretation, which is that given by Abbe Brasseur, is the correct one, we then find here the number of one of the great cycles. To suppose that the number here refers to the Ahau will carry this prophecy back to the year 1470-'71, which is improbable.
The prophecy of Chilam Balam commences with Ox lahun ahau u hedzinil katun, the literal translation of which is, according to Brasseur, "The thirteenth Ahau its foundation of the Katun"; probably equivalent to Lizana's Spanish "In the end of the thirteenth age."
It is obvious from the contents of this prophecy that it was made after the arrival of the Spaniards in that country, and after their appearance and religion became known; hence, as it was delivered in the 13th Ahau, it must have been between the years 1518 and 1541. It is not probable that
- ↑ Dr. Brinton, following Lizana, translates the whole prophecy as follows:
1. "What time the sun shall brightest shine,
2. Tearful will be the eyes of the king.
3. Four ages yet shall be inscribed,
4. Then shall come the holy priest, the holy god.
5. With grief I speak what now I see.
6. Watch well the road ye dwellers in Itza.
7. The master of the earth shall come to us.
8. Thus prophecies Nahau Pech, the seer,
9. In the days of the fourth age,
10. At the time of its beginning."
