Mayan numbers were made using just three symbols: a dot and a bar . One dot represented 1, two dots 2 and so on up to 4. The number 5 was shown by one bar, two bars made ten, and three for 15.

The third symbol, for zero, was a shell shape . For numbers higher than 20, a new row was started above the first. To show an empty row, the shell symbol for zero is used. For 20, you make a shell symbol on the first row with a dot on top representing one set of 20. The number 41 would be made using a single dot for 1 on the first row, with two dots on the second row:

These two dots do not mean 2, but mean two sets of 20. So the number would be read this way: second row (20+20=40), plus the first row (just a single dot, 1), with the total adding to 41.

The Mayas could write huge numbers. The highest number you make on the second row is 400 (20 sets of 20, or 20x20). A third row of symbols represents sets 400. A fourth row would be for sets of 8000 (20x20x20), and so on. The number 100,000 is written like this:

The fourth or top row means 12 sets of 8000 (12x8000=96,000), plus 10 sets of 400 (10x400=4000). The first and second rows are empty, shown by the shell symbols for zero.

Back to Map

Back to Timemachine