Maya civilization

Maya architecture Maya calendar Mayan languages Maya mythology Maya peoples Maya religion Maya society Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 2113 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Maya civilization Maya mythology Spanish conquest of Yucatán Maya calendar Mayan languages Maya peoples Maya bloodletting Template... 74. ... As unique and spectacular as any Greek or Roman architecture, Maya architecture spans many thousands of years; yet, often the most dramatic and easily recognizable as Maya are the fantastic stepped pyramids from the Terminal Pre-classic period and beyond. ... The Maya calendar is actually a system of distinct calendars and almanacs used by the Maya civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and by some modern Maya communities in highland Guatemala. ... Page 9 of the Dresden Codex showing the classic Maya language written in Mayan hieroglyphs(from the 1880 Förstermann edition) Mayan languages (alternatively: Maya languages[1]) constitute a language family spoken in Mesoamerica and northern Central America. ... This article is about the people of the former Maya civilization after the conquest by Spain. ... This article or section is missing needed references or citation of sources. ... Maya degree of interaction and cultural diffusion throughout the region. ...

Maya history

Spanish conquest of Yucatán

Maya mythology refers to the pre-Columbian Maya civilization's extensive polytheistic religious beliefs. These beliefs had most likely been long-established by the time the earliest-known distinctively Maya monuments had been built and inscriptions depicting their deities recorded, considerably pre-dating the 1st millennium BC^{[citation needed]}. Over the succeeding millennia this intricate and multi-faceted system of beliefs was extended, varying to a degree between regions and time periods, but maintaining also an inherited tradition and customary observances. The Maya shared many traditions and rituals with the other civilizations and cultures in the Mesoamerican region, both preceding and contemporary societies, and in general the entire region formed an interrelated mosaic of belief systems and conceptions on the nature of the world and human existence. However, the various Maya peoples over time developed a unique and continuous set of traditions which are particularly associated with their societies, and their achievements. The Spanish Conquest of Yucatán was the campaign undertaken by the Spanish conquistadores against the Late Postclassic Maya states and polities, particularly in the northern and central Yucatán Peninsula but also involving the Maya polities of the Guatemalan highlands region. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 74. ... Polytheism is belief in, or worship of, multiple gods or divinities. ... Various Religious symbols, including (first row) Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Bahai, (second row) Islamic, tribal, Taoist, Shinto (third row) Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Jain, (fourth row) Ayyavazhi, Triple Goddess, Maltese cross, pre-Christian Slavonic Religion is the adherence to codified beliefs and rituals that generally involve a faith in a spiritual... Look up deity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... (2nd millennium BC – 1st millennium BC – 1st millennium – other millennia) // Events The Iron Age spread to Western Europe Egypt declined as a major power The Tanakh was written Buddhism was founded by Siddharta Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (6th century BC) Jainism was founded by Mahavira (6th century BC... A millennium is a period of time, equal to one thousand years (from Latin mille, thousand, and annum, year). ... Cities are a major hallmark of human civilization. ... The cultural areas of Mesoamerica The term Mesoamérica is used to refer to a geographical region that extends roughly from the Tropic of Cancer in central Mexico down through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua to northwestern Costa Rica, and which is characterized by the particular cultural homogeneity... Adjectives: Terrestrial, Terran, Telluric, Tellurian, Earthly Atmosphere Surface pressure: 101. ... // The history of the world, by convention, is human history, from the first appearance of Homo sapiens to the present. ... This article is about the people of the former Maya civilization after the conquest by Spain. ...

Despite the ca. early 10th century "Terminal collapse", during which Maya monument construction and inscription recording effectively ceased over large areas and many centers were subsequently abandoned, the Maya peoples themselves endured and continued to maintain their assorted beliefs and traditions. The maintenance of these traditions can be seen in the relics and products of those centers which flourished during the Post-Classic phase, such as in the northern Yucatán Peninsula, occasionally combined with other influences more characteristic of the Gulf coast and central Mexican regions. Although the southern lowland and highland Maya regions of present-day Guatemala saw very little further monument building during this period, the maintenance of traditional beliefs among the local Maya is attested by the accounts and reports of the 16th and 17th century Spanish. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... Mesoamerican chronology The chronology of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica is usually divided into the following eras: Paleo-Indian Period c. ... The Yucatán peninsula as seen from space The Yucatán Peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ...

During and after the Spanish conquest, the stories and traditions of the Maya continued to be handed down to succeeding generations, albeit much influenced and restricted by the influx of European practices and beliefs, Roman Catholicism in particular. Many Maya have experienced considerable persecution for their beliefs and political oppression over the centuries since the first European arrivals; although there can be no doubt that Maya society and tradition has undergone substantial change, many Maya people today maintain an identity which is very much informed by their collective history, traditions and beliefs– a heritage which is distinctively Maya even where substantially combined with the widespread adoption of Christianity. The Spanish Conquest of Yucatán was the campaign undertaken by the Spanish conquistadores against the Late Postclassic Maya states and polities, particularly in the northern and central Yucatán Peninsula but also involving the Maya polities of the Guatemalan highlands region. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ...

Apart from epigraphic inscriptions on monuments (which deal primarily with commemorations and dynastic successions), only three complete Maya texts and a fragment of a fourth have survived through the years. The majority of the Maya codices were burned by Europeans like Bishop Diego de Landa during their conquest of Mesoamerica and subsequent efforts to convert the Maya peoples to Christianity. Available knowledge of Maya mythology, as such, is rather limited. What is known is drawn largely from 16th - 17th century accounts of post-conquest Maya beliefs and traditions, which do not necessarily correspond with the traditions which were maintained in earlier times. Epigraphy (Greek, επιγραφή - written upon) is the study of inscriptions engraved into stone or other permanent materials, or cast in metal, the science of classifying them as to cultural context and date, elucidating them and assessing what conclusions can be deduced from them. ... Maya codices (singular codex) are books written by the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, using the Maya hieroglyphic script. ... This article is about the continent. ... Two bishops assist at the Exhumation of Saint Hubert, who was a bishop too, at the église Saint-Pierre in Liège. ... Diego de Landa Calderón (1524 – 1579) was Bishop of Yucatán. ... This article is about the people of the former Maya civilization after the conquest by Spain. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ...

Overview

In common with other Mesoamerican civilizations, each of the cardinal (or world-) directions were ascribed certain properties and associations. These attributes held a particular significance, and they provided one of the major frameworks which interlinked much of Maya religion and cosmology. The Maya world-view recognized the four primary compass directions, and each of these was consistently associated with a particular color— east with red, north with white, west with black and south with yellow. These associations and their respective glyphs are attested from at least the Early Classic period, and also figure markedly in the Postclassic Maya codices.^[1] A compass rose showing the cardinal directions Cardinal directions or cardinal points are the four principal directions or points of the compass in plane. ... Cosmology, from the Greek: κοσμολογία (cosmologia, κόσμος (cosmos) order + λογια (logia) discourse) is the study of the Universe in its totality, and by extension, humanitys place in it. ... The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST, internally called HT-7U) is a project being undertaken to construct an experimental superconducting tokamak magnetic fusion energy reactor in Hefei, the capital city of Anhui Province, in eastern China. ... Compass rose with north highlighted and at top Look up North in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A compass rose with west highlighted This article refers to the cardinal direction; for other uses see West (disambiguation). ... A compass rose with South highlighted South is most commonly a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. ... Maya glyphs in stucco at the Museo de sitio in Palenque, Mexico The Maya script, commonly known as Maya hieroglyphs, was the writing system of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization of Mesoamerica, presently the only deciphered script of the Mesoamerican writing systems. ... Mesoamerican chronology The chronology of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica is usually divided into the following eras: Paleo-Indian Period c. ... Maya codices (singular codex) are books written by the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, using the Maya hieroglyphic script. ...

A fifth 'direction', the "center", also formed a part of this scheme. Associated with a blue-green color, this was most frequently represented by a great ceiba tree, conceptualized as the "world tree" or "tree of life". In Maya cosmology this formed a kind of axis mundi which connected the Earth's center with the layers of both the underworld and the heavens. It is believed that living ceiba trees were maintained at the center of many pre-Columbian Maya settlements in symbolic representation of this connection, and possibly one was placed at each of the four cardinal directions as well.^[2] Species About 10-20 species, including: Ceiba aesculifolia Ceiba glaziovii Ceiba insignis Ceiba pentandra Ceiba speciosa Ceiba trichistandra Ceiba is the name of a genus of many species of large trees found in tropical areas, including Central and South America, The Bahamas,the Caribbean, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. ... A world tree depicted on the sarcophogus lid of the Classic-era Maya ruler of Palenque, Pacal II World trees are a prevalent motif occurring in the mythical cosmologies, creation accounts and iconographies of the pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. ... Mount Kailash, depicting the holy family of Shiva and Ganesha The axis mundi (axis of the world or world axis), in religion or mythology, is the world center and/or the connection between heaven and Earth. ...

Maya deities each displayed different aspects based on these five directions as well as a number of other natural and symbolic cycles observed by the Maya.

Maya deities also had dualistic natures associating them with day or night, life or death. There were thirteen gods of the thirteen heavens of the Maya religion and nine gods of the nine underworlds. Between the upperworlds of the heavens and the underworlds of the night and death was the earthly plane which is often shown in Maya art as a two-headed caiman or a turtle lying in a great lake. Natural elements, stars and planets, numbers, crops, days of the calendar and periods of time all had their own gods. The gods' characters, malevolence or benevolence, and associations changed according to the days in the Maya calendar or the positions of the sun, moon, Venus, and the stars. It has been suggested that Combative dualism be merged into this article or section. ... Genera Alligator Caiman Melanosuchus Paleosuchus Alligators and caimans are reptiles closely related to the crocodiles and forming the family Alligatoridae (sometimes regarded instead as the subfamily Alligatorinae). ... blue: sea turtles, black: land turtles Suborders Cryptodira Pleurodira See text for families. ... Adjectives: Venusian or (rarely) Cytherean Atmosphere Surface pressure: 9. ...

The Quiché Maya creation story is outlined in the Popol Vuh. This has the world created from nothing by the will of the Maya pantheon of gods. Man was made unsuccessfully out of mud and then wood before being made out of maize and being assigned tasks which praised the gods — silversmith, gem cutter, stone carver, potter, etc. Some argue this story adds credence to the belief that the Maya did not believe in art per se; all of their works were for the exaultation of the gods. The Kiche (or Quiché in Spanish spelling), are a Native American people, part of the Maya ethnic group. ... The Popol Vuh (Quiché for Council Book or Book of the Community; Popol Wuj in modern spelling) is the book of scripture of the Quiché, a kingdom of the post classic Maya civilization in highland Guatemala. ...

After the creation story, the Popol Vuh tells of the struggles of the legendary hero twins, Hunahpu and Ixbalanque, in defeating the lords of Xibalba, the underworld. The twins descend into the underworld, perish, and are eventually miraculously reborn. This myth provides a metaphor for the agricultural cycle and the annual rebirth of the crops. These two stories are focal points of Maya mythology and often found depicted in Maya art. The Hero Twins feature prominently in Maya mythology. ... In Maya mythology, Hun-Apu was a son of Hun Hunahpu and a virgin. ... In Maya-Quiché mythology, Ixbalanque or Xbalanque is a son of Hun-Hunahpu and Xquic, the daughter of one of the lords of the underworld. ... In Maya mythology Xibalba (IPA: ) is the name of the underworld, ruled by the Mayan deities of death. ... // In the study of mythology and religion, the underworld is a generic term approximately equivalent to the lay term afterlife, referring to any place to which newly dead souls go. ...

The Creation Story

In Maya mythology, Tepeu and Gucumatz (also known as Kukulkan, and as the Aztec's Quetzalcoatl) are referred to as the Creators, the Makers, and the Forefathers. They were two of the first beings to exist and were said to be as wise as sages. Huracan, or the Heart of Heaven, also existed and is given less personification. He acts more like a storm, of which he is the god. Maya mythology refers to the pre-Columbian Maya civilizations extensive polytheistic religious beliefs. ... In Maya mythology, Gukumatz (feathered serpent) was a snake god, one of all three groups of gods who created Earth and humanity. ... Quetzalcoatl in human form, from the Codex Borbonicus Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent or plumed serpent) is the Nahuatl name for the Feathered-Serpent deity of ancient Mesoamerican culture. ... In Maya mythology, Huracan (one legged) was a wind, storm and fire god and one of the creator deities who participated in all three attempts at creating humanity. ...

Tepeu and Gucumatz hold a conference and decide that, in order to preserve their legacy, they must create a race of beings who can worship them. Huracan does the actual creating while Tepeu and Gucumatz guide the process. Earth is created, but the gods make several false starts in setting humanity upon the earth. Animals were created first; however, with all of their howling and squawking they did not worship their creators and were thus banished forever to the forest. Man is created first of mud, but they just crumbled and dissolved away. Other gods are summoned and man is next created of wood but has no soul, and they soon forgot their makers, so the gods turned all of their possessions against them and brought a black resinous rain down on their heads. Finally man is formed of masa or corn dough by even more gods and their work is complete. As such, the Maya believed that maize was not just the cornerstone of their diet, but they were also made of the same stuff. Masa, or masa nixtamalera, is a fine maize dough made from masa harina, ground hominy flour. ... Corn redirects here. ...

Notable Gods

See also List of Maya gods and supernatural beings

PV=Popol Vuh, L=Landa This is a list of Maya gods and supernatural beings. ...

• Ah Puch - God of Death
• Bacab - Aged thunder deity carrying the earth and/or sky (L).
• Chaac - God of Rain and Thunder
• Camazotz - Bat god, tries to kill the Hero Twins (PV).
• Gucumatz - Snake god and creator (PV).
• Hunahpu - One of the Maya Hero Twins (PV).
• Huracan - Storm and fire god, one of the creator deities (PV).
• Ixbalanque - One of the Maya Hero Twins (PV).
• Ixchel - Aged jaguar goddess of midwifery (L).
• Ixtab - Goddess of suicide (L).
• Zipacna - Underworld demon (PV).

In Maya mythology, Ah Puch was the God of Death and King of Mitnal, the underworld, which was the worst of all nine Mexicans and Central Americans believe that an owls screeches signify imminent death. ... Maya mythology refers to the pre-Columbian Maya civilizations extensive polytheistic religious beliefs. ... Chaac (also rendered as Chaak or Chac) is an important deity in the pantheon of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. ... Also known as Cama-Zotz, Sotz, and Zotz. ... In Maya mythology, Gukumatz (feathered serpent) was a snake god, one of all three groups of gods who created Earth and humanity. ... In Maya mythology, Hun-Apu was a son of Hun Hunahpu and a virgin. ... The Hero Twins feature prominently in Maya mythology. ... In Maya mythology, Huracan (one legged) was a wind, storm and fire god and one of the creator deities who participated in all three attempts at creating humanity. ... In Maya-Quiché mythology, Ixbalanque or Xbalanque is a son of Hun-Hunahpu and Xquic, the daughter of one of the lords of the underworld. ... The Hero Twins feature prominently in Maya mythology. ... Ixchel or Ix Chel is the Yucatec Maya language name of the aged jaguar goddess of midwifery and medicine. ... According to Diego de Landa, Ixtab Rope Woman was the Mayan goddess of suicide. ... In Maya mythology, Zipacna was a son of Vucub Caquix and Chimalmat. ...

Bacabs

The Bacabs were four brothers, the sons of Itzamna and Ixchel. A creator god placed these skybearers at the four corners of the universe. Because each stands at one of the four cardinal directions, each is associated with a color and with a specific segment in the Maya calendar. Maya mythology refers to the pre-Columbian Maya civilizations extensive polytheistic religious beliefs. ... Ixchel or Ix Chel is the Yucatec Maya language name of the aged jaguar goddess of midwifery and medicine. ...

• Hobnil (later replaced by Chaac) - bacab of the east, is assigned the color red and the Kan years.
• Can Tzicnal - bacab of the north, is assigned the color white, and the Muluc years.
• Zac Cimi - bacab of the west, is assigned the color black and the Ix years.
• Hozanek - bacab of the south, is assigned the color yellow and the Cauac years.

References to the Bacabs are found in the writings of sixteenth-century historian Diego de Landa and the various Maya histories known as the Chilam Balams. At some point, the brothers became associated with the figure of Chac, a Maya rain god. In the Yucatán, the Maya of Chan Kom referred to the four skybearers as the four Chacs. They were also believed to be jaguar gods, and are associated with beekeeping. Like many other deities, the Bacabs were important in divination ceremonies, being approached with questions about crops, weather or the health of bees. Their counterparts among the Huaxtecs were also thunder gods. Chaac (also rendered as Chaak or Chac) is an important deity in the pantheon of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. ... Diego de Landa Calderón (1524 – 1579) was Bishop of Yucatán. ...

The First Humans

The Men

B'alam Agab

Meaning "night jaguar," he was the second of the men created from maize after the Great Flood sent by Hurakan. He married Choimha.

B'alam Quitze

Meaning "jaguar with the sweet smile," was the first of the men created from maize after the Great Flood sent by Hurakan. The gods created Caha-Paluma specifically for him to marry. Alternative names: Balam Quitze, Balam Quitzé

Iqi B'alam

Meaning "moon jaguar," he was the third of the men created from maize after the Great Flood sent by Hurakan. The gods created Cakixia specifically to be his wife.

Mahucatah

Meaning "distinguished name," he was the fourth of the men created from maize after the Great Flood sent by Hurakan. The woman Tzununiha was created just for him.

Their Wives

Caha-Paluma

Meaning "falling water," she was a woman created specifically to be the wife of Balam-Quitzé.

Cakixia

Meaning "water of parrots," she was a woman created specifically to be the wife of Iqi-Balam.

Choimha

Meaning "beautiful water", she was a woman created by the gods specifically to marry B'alam Agab.

Tzununiha

Meaning "house of the water," she was a woman created specifically to be the wife of one of the first men, Mahucatah.

Locations

Metnal

The lowest and most horrible of the nine hells of the underworld. It was ruled by Ah Puch. Ritual healers would intone healing prayers banishing diseases to Metnal.

Xibalba

Also known as Xibalbá or Xibalbay, is a dangerous underworld ruled by the demons Vucub Caquix and Hun Came. The road to it is said to be steep, thorny and very forbidding. Much of the Popol Vuh describes the adventures of the Maya Hero Twins in their struggle with the evil lords of Xibalba.

The ninth level of the Mayan underworld. ... Medieval illustration of Hell in the Hortus deliciarum manuscript of Herrad of Landsberg (about 1180) A hell, according to many religious beliefs, is an afterlife of suffering where the wicked or unrighteous dead are punished. ... // In the study of mythology and religion, the underworld is a generic term approximately equivalent to the lay term afterlife, referring to any place to which newly dead souls go. ... In Maya mythology, Ah Puch was the God of Death and King of Mitnal, the underworld, which was the worst of all nine Mexicans and Central Americans believe that an owls screeches signify imminent death. ... In Maya mythology Xibalba (IPA: ) is the name of the underworld, ruled by the Mayan deities of death. ... // In the study of mythology and religion, the underworld is a generic term approximately equivalent to the lay term afterlife, referring to any place to which newly dead souls go. ... The Popol Vuh (Quiché for Council Book or Book of the Community; Popol Wuj in modern spelling) is the book of scripture of the Quiché, a kingdom of the post classic Maya civilization in highland Guatemala. ... The Hero Twins feature prominently in Maya mythology. ...

See also

• Mesoamerican creation accounts
• Mesoamerican world tree
• Vision Serpent

Mesoamerican creation accounts are the collection of origin beliefs attributed or documented for the various cultures and civilizations of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. ... A world tree depicted on the sarcophogus lid of the Classic-era Maya ruler of Palenque, Pacal II World trees are a prevalent motif occurring in the mythical cosmologies, creation accounts and iconographies of the pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. ... The Vision Serpent. ...

Notes

References

• Demarest, Arthur (2004). Ancient Maya: The Rise and Fall of the Rainforest Civilization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

• Miller, Mary; and Karl Taube (1993). The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya. London: Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05068-6. 

• Martin, Simon; and Mary Miller (2004). Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya. New York: Thames & Hudson. 

• Roys, Ralph L (1965). Ritual of the Bacabs: A Book of Maya Encantations. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. 

• Thompson, J. Eric S (1970). Maya History and Religion. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. 

Mary Miller is the master of Saybrook College at Yale University and the Vincent Scully Professor of the History of Art. ... Karl Andreas Taube is an American Mayanist, anthropologist, epigrapher and ethnohistorian, known for his publications and research into the pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica and the American Southwest. ... Mary Miller is the master of Saybrook College at Yale University and the Vincent Scully Professor of the History of Art. ... John Eric Sidney Thompson (31 December 1898 - 9 September 1975) was an English archeologist and epigrapher, perhaps the most eminent student of pre-Columbian Maya civilization of the mid 20th century. ...

External links

The following external sites may not have verifiable information. Wikipedia makes no effort to verify the contents of external sites, and the following sites may not be reliable sources.

• Public Domain translations of some important Maya texts, including Popol Vuh, Chilam-Balam.]
• Representation of Deities of the Maya Manuscripts, by Paul Schellhas, 1904, from Project Gutenberg
• Maya Mythology on Pantheon.org