Tool to convert to/from Mayan numbers system. The Maya numeral system uses a mix of base 20 (vigesimal) and base 5 (and also 360) numerals
Mayan Numerals - dCode
Tag(s) : Numeral System, History, Symbol Substitution
dCode is free and its tools are a valuable help in games, maths, geocaching, puzzles and problems to solve every day!
A suggestion ? a feedback ? a bug ? an idea ? Write to dCode!
In the Maya culture, numbers consist of simple glyphs/symbols: the dots . and the - (horizontal) lines.
The mathematical peculiarity of Maya numeration is the writing of numbers in base 20 (called vicesimal or vigesimal base) contrary to the writing in base 10 usual nowadays.
In the Maya civilization, the writing of numbers is generally vertical (the units are placed under the tens/twenties, under the (four-)hundreds etc.)
In Mayan culture, numbers are written in base 20 (called vigesimal base). The 20 Mayan digits are composed of simple glyphs/symbols that can be added: dots . associated to value $ 1 $ (units) and horizontal bars - associated to value $ 5 $. The mayan civilization used a vertical writing for the numbers (units under tens/twenties, under (four-)hundreds, etc.).
Example: The number $ 14 $ (English/hindu-arabic numeral in base 10) is written in Mayan (2 bars and 4 dots: $ 2 \times 5 + 4 \times 1 = 14 $)
Example: $ 26 $ is written (in 2 rows: 1 dot on the first line: $ 1 \times 20 = 20 $ and 1 dot and 1 bar on the second line $ 1 + 5 = 6 $, total $ 20 + 6 = 26 $)
Example: $ 0 $ (zero) is noted (originally a shell shape, but some say an egg or an American football/rugby ball)
From 360, the writing of Mayan numbers diverges. The written traces show 2 notations, including a specific rule, a modified vigesimal system particularly when they spoke of dates. The variant takes place at the third tier/line, which then stops at $ 360 $ (base 10).
Converting Mayan numerals to English/Arabic numerals is made by counting dots and bars symbols on each rows and treat it as base 20 writing, before converting it to base 10.
Example: a single row with 2 dots and 3 bars: $ 2 \times 1 + 3 \times 5 = 17 $
Example: A number on two rows with 1 dot then (under) 2 dots: $ 1 \times 20 + 2 \times 1 = 22 $
For numbers that are greater than or equal to 360, be sure to know the variant used.
The dates in Maya are based on the kin (plural kinob), which is 1 day, then the uinal (plural unialob) which is 20 days, the tun, an 18 uinalob period which is therefore 360 days, about 1 year (365.24 days), then the katun (20 tunob = 7200 days = about 20 years), then the baktun (20 katunob, 144000 days = about 394 years). Day 0 seems to match August 11, 3114 BC of our era (precision to be relativised with the Gregorian / Julian calendar chosen)
To write a birthdate or anniversary date in a contemporary way, dCode recommends to use the values of the 3 numbers (day, month, year) written in Maya and separated by a dash - or a bar / (slash), the year with the font changed to 360.
Today, for counting, base 10 is used, up to 9, the 10 digits 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 use only one character/symbol /glyph, beyond 9, it is necessary to use 2 symbols/numbers to write 10 (a 1 and a 0). Similarly, the Mayan numeral uses base 20 to count, so beyond 19 it is necessary to use 2 symbols/glyphs.
It is assumed that men today count in base 10 because they have 10 fingers on their hands. It is likely that the Maya considered a process including the toes, or 20 fingers.
It's mostly unusual and confusing so avoid it. It's a bit like asking the question why not write 10 with a new symbol, like Ɒ, some may understand, some may not.
Maya numeration uses generally stacked lines and dots.
The Mayan civilization lived in Central America around -2000 BC as their pyramids testify.
Although there are similarities, the Mayan civilization is different from the Aztecs or the Incas.
Any reference to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador or Honduras (current areas where the Mayans lived) are clues.
dCode retains ownership of the "Mayan Numerals" source code. Except explicit open source licence (indicated Creative Commons / free), the "Mayan Numerals" algorithm, the applet or snippet (converter, solver, encryption / decryption, encoding / decoding, ciphering / deciphering, breaker, translator), or the "Mayan Numerals" functions (calculate, convert, solve, decrypt / encrypt, decipher / cipher, decode / encode, translate) written in any informatic language (Python, Java, PHP, C#, Javascript, Matlab, etc.) and all data download, script, or API access for "Mayan Numerals" are not public, same for offline use on PC, mobile, tablet, iPhone or Android app!
Reminder : dCode is free to use.
The copy-paste of the page "Mayan Numerals" or any of its results, is allowed (even for commercial purposes) as long as you cite dCode!
Exporting results as a .csv or .txt file is free by clicking on the export icon
Cite as source (bibliography):
Mayan Numerals on dCode.fr [online website], retrieved on 2023-09-27,