Plate 53 lower left and Plate 54.

Five sets of numbered icons with associated paintings.

The numbered icons are in a sequence which demonstrates a rhythm which uses the day icons as a basic metronome for the rhythm. Plates 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8 are a timing key.

I am searching for a connection with cycles of Venus since that is the most obvious object in the sky that shows cycles. I am quoting here from a web site.

" Additionally, phenomenon of Venus occur in steps of thirty-six days or in multiples of thirty-six. Maximum brightness occurs thirty-six days after the inferior conjunction; the next step, maximum elongation occurs thirty-six days later; and the superior conjunction occurs 216 days (or 6 x 36 days) after maximum elongation. In the evening star phase, maximum elongation occurs 216 days after the superior conjunction; maximum brightness takes place thirty-six days following maximum elongation and thirty-six days more brings the inferior conjunction. " The total cycle from inferior conjunction to the next inferior conjunction is 36+36+216+216+36+36=576. This site provides many hints for astrologers.

Another web site says:
"The ancient Maya tracked the morningstar risings of Venus, which occur every 584 days."
Codex Borgia has five similar figures on Plates 53 and 54 so I am looking for a count of 5x115=575 or 5x116=580; 115 or 116 days per figure.

I have not found any relation to the cycles of Venus.

I will now try to interpret the instructions on the figures, with no prejudged purpose.

Starting from lower right numbered icon on Plate 53 and counting days from lower right row of Plate 1, there are 21 icons passed before Lizard appears in column 8 of Plate 4 in agreement with the next numbered icon on Plate 53. This agreement continues between the tonalpohoalli on Plates 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8 and the numbered icons on Plate 53 until column 7 of Plate 6 leaving 20 more days until the tonlpohualli ends. The three icons in Plate 53 are then the three after Lizard has been skipped in a repeating tonalpohualli.

The sequence continues in the tonalpohualli to the icon Snake in column 5 which agrees with number 5 Snake in the lower right quadrant of Plate 54. The agreements continue between tonalpohualli days and numbered icons in Plate 54. Continuation of painted icons after Snake is represented by icons for Death, Deer, and Rabbit.

The sequence continues in the tonalpohualli to the icon Water in column 9 which agrees with number 9 Water at the lower left qudrant of Plate 54.

This agreement continues between tonalpohualli and Plate 54 until the number 10 Movement ant the last three icons of a complete ritual calendar.

This seems to be another demonstration of detail figures associated with five cycles of tonnalpohualli. There is a remaining mystery, why is there no painting to represent the repeating Alligator, Snake, Water, Reed, and Movement when the sequence of tonalpohualli is started anew five times?

There is this evidence of a cycle related to Venus by another alternate approach:

9*13=117 days per figure to yield 5*117=585days for one Venus cycle. The cycle of numbered icons needs to be counted nine times. Or 5*13=65 by counting each numbered icon in the five figures and repeating the count 9 times 9*65=585 days for one Venus cycle.

Where is the indication of 9 repetitions?

Or 45*13=585 but where is the instruction to count 45 sets of numbered icons? Each tonalpohualli has 20 sets and two tonalpohualli would have 40 sets but what gives instruction to count two sets and 5 more sets? I still have no answers.