The Mayans and Mayan Code
The Mayans were an ancient civilization that lived in Mesoamerica (present-day Mexico and Central America). They were skilled in astronomy, mathematics, art, writing and architecture. They developed several calendars to keep track of time and plan their religious and social activities.
The most famous Mayan calendar is the Long Count, which counts the days from a mythical starting point of August 11, 3114 BCE. The Long Count has cycles of 5,125 years, called baktuns. The last baktun ended on December 21, 2012 CE, which some people believed was a prophecy of the end of the world.
The Mayans also used two other calendars that worked together: the Tzolkin and the Haab. The Tzolkin was a 260-day cycle based on 13 numbers and 20 day names. It was used for divination and rituals. The Haab was a 365-day cycle based on 18 months of 20 days each, plus a five-day period called Wayeb. It was used for agricultural and seasonal purposes. The combination of the Tzolkin and the Haab formed a 52-year cycle called the Calendar Round.
The Mayan calendars reflect their sophisticated knowledge of the movements of the sun, moon, planets and stars. They also show their connection to nature and their cosmology. The Mayans believed that time was cyclical and that each day had a sacred meaning and influence.
The Mayan calendars can still be relevant to life and a person now, depending on their beliefs and interests. Some people may use the calendars to learn more about the Mayan culture and history, or to appreciate their scientific and artistic achievements. Some people may use the calendars to explore their spirituality and personal growth, or to connect with nature and the cosmos. Some people may use the calendars to celebrate important dates and events, or to honor their ancestors and traditions.
The Mayan Code
A Mayan code can refer to different things, depending on the context. One possible meaning is a Mayan codex, which is a folding book written by the ancient Mayans in their hieroglyphic script on bark paper. The codices contain information about various aspects of Maya life, such as astronomy, calendar, religion, history and rituals. Unfortunately, most of the codices were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors and Catholic priests in the 16th century. Only four codices are known to survive today: the Dresden Codex, the Madrid Codex, the Paris Codex/Grolier/Selden Codex.
Another possible meaning is a Mayan code that was used to decipher their hieroglyphic script. The Maya script was one of the most complex writing systems in the world, and it remained a mystery for centuries until modern scholars managed to crack it. The breakthroughs involved many clues and discoveries, such as finding bilingual texts, identifying phonetic signs, analyzing patterns and symbols, and collaborating with experts and indigenous people. The decoding of the Maya script has revealed many insights into their culture and history.
A third possible meaning is a Mayan code that refers to their numerical system. The Maya used a base-20 system with three symbols: a dot for one, a bar for five and a shell for zero. They wrote their numbers vertically, with the lowest place value at the bottom and the highest at the top. They also used a special notation for dates based on their Long Count calendar. The Maya numerals have been encoded in Unicode since 2018.
Here is an example of a Mayan codex. This is page 9 of the Dresden Codex, which is the most complete and best preserved of the four surviving codices. It contains information about astronomy, calendar and almanacs. The image shows a table of lunar eclipses and a series of gods and animals associated with them.
Insights from Decoding the Maya Script
The Maya had a complex and sophisticated civilization that spanned over 3,000 years and covered a vast area of Mesoamerica. They had city-states, dynasties, wars, alliances, trade networks, art, architecture, science and religion.
The Maya had a rich and diverse literary tradition that recorded their history, mythology, rituals, astronomy, calendar, mathematics and poetry. They also used their script to decorate their monuments, pottery, jewelry and other objects.
The Maya had a unique worldview and cosmology that influenced their culture and society. They believed in multiple levels of existence, cyclical time, sacred directions, deities, ancestors and supernatural forces. They also had a close connection to nature and the environment.
The Maya had a dynamic and resilient culture that adapted to different challenges and changes over time. They faced droughts, famines, epidemics, invasions, rebellions and collapses. They also interacted with other cultures, such as the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Toltec and Aztec.
The Dresden Codex
The Dresden Codex is one of the most important surviving Mayan books, named after the city where it is currently housed, Dresden, Germany. It is believed to date back to the 11th or 12th century and is written on bark paper in hieroglyphic script, with some passages also in Mayan hieratic writing. The codex is composed of 39 sheets folded accordion-style, and it contains astronomical tables, astrological charts, and rituals related to Mayan religion.
The Dresden Codex provides valuable insights into the Mayan civilization's understanding of astronomy and mathematics. It contains detailed tables that predict the phases of the moon, eclipses, and the movements of Venus, among other astronomical events. It also features images of the gods associated with these celestial phenomena.
One example of the information contained in the Dresden Codex is a table that predicts the movements of Venus. The table has two columns, one for the morning star and one for the evening star, and it lists the dates and positions of Venus in the sky. Another example is a series of images depicting the various phases of the moon, including crescent, full, and waning.
The Dresden Codex also contains information on Mayan rituals and mythology. One example is a section that describes a ceremony to honor the god of rain, which involves offerings of maize and the sacrifice of a deer.
The Dresden Codex is a valuable artifact that provides insight into the Mayan civilization's knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, as well as their religious beliefs and practices.
The Madrid Codex
The Madrid Codex, also known as the Tro-Cortesianus Codex, is one of the surviving Mayan books and is believed to date back to the 14th century. It is named after the city where it was discovered in the 1860s, Madrid, Spain, and is currently housed in the National Library of Spain.
The Madrid Codex is similar to other Mayan codices in its format and content, but it is unique in that it contains a mixture of both historical and ritual texts. The codex is composed of 112 pages of bark paper and is written in hieroglyphic script, with some passages also in Mayan hieratic writing.
The codex is divided into two parts. The first part contains images and texts related to Mayan mythology and rituals, including depictions of gods, sacred animals, and scenes from religious ceremonies. One example is a section that depicts a ritual in which a shaman offers blood from his own tongue to a god. Another example is a section that shows a mythological journey of the Mayan hero twins through the underworld.
The second part of the codex contains historical texts, including records of wars, alliances, and tribute payments between different Mayan city-states. One section records the succession of rulers in the city of Palenque, while another describes the military conquests of the city of Chichen Itza.
The Madrid Codex is a valuable source of information on Mayan history and religion. Its mixture of historical and ritual texts provides insights into the culture and beliefs of the ancient Mayans.
The Paris/Grolier/Selden Codex
The Paris/Grolier Codex is named after the Grolier Club in New York City, where it was first exhibited in the 1970s, and it is believed to date back to the 13th or 14th century. The codex is currently housed in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
The Paris/Grolier Codex is the smallest of the known Mayan codices, consisting of only 11 pages. It is also the most poorly preserved, with many of its pages damaged or missing. The codex contains images and texts related to Mayan religion and mythology, including depictions of gods, astrological events, and scenes from religious ceremonies.
One unique feature of the Paris/Grolier Codex is its use of blue and green pigments, which are rare in surviving Mayan codices. The codex also includes a 260-day ritual calendar, which was important in Mayan religious practices.
The Paris/Grolier Codex provides valuable insights into the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Mayans. However, due to its poor state of preservation, much of its content remains a mystery.