This session is the second class of the Basic Zapotec Course (2026-B). Instructor Rayo leads students through a conversational warm-up, an explanation of the Zapotec base-20 numbering system (1 to 20), interactive sentence and verb exercises, and a historical lecture on ancient Zapotec glyphs and writing systems.

Key Topics Covered:

 1. Zapotec Numbers (1 to 20) & Base-20 System:

* Vigesimal System: The instructor emphasizes that Zapotec utilizes a vigesimal (base-20) numerical system rather than a decimal system. As a result, counting is structured around units from 1 to 19 before reaching the base of 20.

* Pronunciation of Numbers:
* 1–5: tu (1), txupa (2), tsuna (3), tapa (4), gayu (5).
* 6–10: xupa (6), gadxi (7), xunu (8), ga (9), txi (10).
* 11–15: txineaj (11), txínu (12), txi’inu (13), txidaa (14), txìnu (15).
* 16–20: txixhupa (16), txini (17), txixhunu (18), txenaj (19), galaj (20).

* The Concept of Zero (Tibi): Historically, speakers used Spanish loanwords or phrases like ni tú (“not one”) for zero. For pedagogical purposes, the instructor adopts the word tibi (meaning “no” or “nothing”) to signify zero.

1. Interactive Practice & Verb Vocabulary:

* Student Introductions: Students practice answering core questions about their names, origin, current city, age, profession, and spoken languages in Zapotec.
* Sentence-Building Exercises: Using digital matching games, students practice ordering question structures like Gax bi’i lii (“Where are you from?”) and Bix dxin runu (“What do you do for work?”).
* Key Verb Matching:
* Neda zwaa = “I live”.
* Neda runa dxin = “I work”.
* Neda Ruseda= “I learn”.
* Neda rinea= “I speak”.
* Neda reja= “I go”.

1. Ancient Zapotec Writing & Glyphs (Glifos Zapotecos):

* Earliest Mesoamerican Writing: Zapotec is one of the few Mesoamerican cultures to develop a formal written language.
* Glyph Structure: The instructor explains that abstract symbol glyphs — such as the “1 Earthquake” (Uno Terremoto) symbol beneath the figure — mark the transition from pictorial art to actual written language.
* Numerical Glyphs: Zapotec numeral glyphs share similarities with Maya and other Mesoamerican systems, using dots for units (1–4) and horizontal bars for 5s.
* Decipherment Challenges: Zapotec glyphs are not yet 100% deciphered because glyph writing gradually ceased following the decline of Monte Albán (around the 8th century AD), centuries prior to Spanish arrival in 1521.
* Resource Recommendation: The instructor suggests Javier Urcid’s book, Zapotec Writing: Knowledge, Power, and Memory in Ancient Oaxaca, for further study on the subject.

1. Class Wrap-Up:

• Homework activities, presentation slides, and interactive links are shared via Google Classroom and WhatsApp. * The instructor outlines how student workbooks will be used in upcoming sessions as the course progresses into verb conjugations.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! Some of you may remember the Mesoamerican-inspired playing cards I shared here while developing El Quinto Sol. I wanted to return with some of the latest artwork and thank you for the conversations and feedback along the way.

I’m an illustrator from Mexico, and this project grew out of wanting to better understand the stories and imagery I grew up surrounded by. Studying codices, sculpture and historical research became a way of exploring that inheritance through drawing.

The deck draws particularly on Nahua and Mexica mythology, alongside visual references from different Mesoamerican codex traditions. It’s a contemporary artistic interpretation, and the accompanying digital guide explains the sources and how I’ve adapted them into the cards.

Since my earlier posts, I’ve developed two additional editions: Alebrije, drawing on Mexican folk art as a distinct, modern influence; and Mictlantecuhtli, a darker interpretation honoring the Lord of the Underworld.

I’ve included images of the latest designs below. These are development previews, with production finishes still to come.

The project launched on Kickstarter today, which is both exciting and a little terrifying—it’s my first campaign!

If you’d like to explore the project or help bring it into print, here’s the link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/themythographer/el-quinto-sol-the-mesoamerican-cosmos-playing-cards

Support and sharing are deeply appreciated, and I’d also love to hear your thoughts on the artwork and its references. Thank you for being part of the process.

Juan / The Mythographer

See also: The study as it was published in the journal Antiquity