I love knowing curiosities and the history of the places he visited. And one of the things that most caught my attention about traveling to the Yucatan Peninsula was learning more about the Mayas, the civilization that reigned in this area for centuries.
In this post I tell you some of the most interesting curiosities about the Mayan civilization.
CURIOSITIES ABOUT THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION
1. The Mayans never went extinct
Contrary to what you may think, the Mayans never went extinct. With the arrival of the Spanish colonies, there were quite a few deaths, it is true, especially due to diseases brought by the colonists. But today, there are still about 7 million people who are descendants of the Mayan civilization.
2. The Mayans settled
The Mayan civilization spread over several American countries; in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, in Honduras, Belize, in El Salvador and in Guatemala. So it is possible to take a tour of important archaeological sites in all these countries.
It is one of the oldest ancient civilizations on the continent. He was born approximately 3,000 years ago.
3. The Mayans believed in many gods
The Mayans were polytheistic, so they believed in many gods. Some of the most popular gods were: Hanab Ku (The God of the gods), Kukulcán (The God of wind and water), Chac (The God of rain), Ahau Kin (The God of the sun), Ix Chel ( The Goddess of the Moon) and Buluc Chabtan (The God of War). Although they had many more gods that they believed in, like the god of corn, the god of cultivation...
4. More advanced cultures and knowledge
The Mayan Civilization had a very advanced culture. As well as very accurate knowledge for the time in which they were. Knowledge of mathematics, astronomy...
In the field of mathematics they introduced the concept "zero", being the first. Another outstanding advanced knowledge is in the field of astronomy. They created a solar calendar, predicted eclipses, divided the year into seasons...
5. Universe divided into 3 parts
The Mayans thought that the universe was divided into 3 parts: the sky (where the celestial bodies lived), the earth (where they lived, with all the elements of nature) and the underworld (where the gods of death reigned).
6. Advanced medicine
Medicine was another field in which the Maya had great dominance. They had extensive knowledge in natural medicine, using herbs and spices to make their cures. Some studies believe that they were the civilization of the most advanced time in medicine and sanction.
7. The end of the world in 2012…
One of the most famous curiosities is that the Mayans predicted that the end of the world would be for the December solstice of 2012. Obviously, this prophecy was not fulfilled. Although some continue to believe that it is possible that the Mayans made a mistake in some calculation and that the end of the world cannot be very far away.
8. Mayan writing
The Mayan civilization knew how to write. Although not all did, writing was taught from an early age. They had a script similar to Egyptian hieroglyphs.
9. Mayan architecture
Architecture was another of the great feats of the Mayas. Its stepped pyramids spread throughout the territory were not purely everyday and/or aesthetic. They played with sunlight to find their way around a schedule and calendar.
The Kukulkan pyramid in the archaeological zone of Chichén Itzá is a clear example. The pyramid has 4 stairways, each with 91 steps. If we add to these the upper platform, the number we obtain is 365. Yes, each step represents a day of the Mayan calendar (haab). And it is that one of the most amazing findings is that its solar calendar was 365 days.
Chance?
10. Barter, the oldest form of payment
Yes, the Mayans also used barter. The Mayan civilization works agriculture and marketing. Its precious products were cocoa, honey and cotton.
There was no money, so they traded based on barter.
11. The oldest road network in the world
In order to be able to sell their products and trade with other peoples, the Mayas sometimes had to travel many kilometers along impassable roads. Therefore, they were the first to create a road network. They called them Sacbé, which means "the white path".
Its name is due to the fact that they were elevated roads and covered with lime, so they could be visible even at night. It is possible to see some remains of these roads in various archaeological sites, one of the most notable is the Ek Balam Ruins.
12. Tell me what day you were born and I will know your name
The names of the people were conditioned by the day of their birth. In the Mayan culture, at birth there is a spirit of nature that will protect us throughout life. Each day was associated with a name.
13. Sacrifices were part of everyday life
Animal and human sacrifices were part of daily life. I have already told you about their bloodiest sacrifices and rituals in curiosities of Mexico. Some of the most "innocent" rituals were self-injury in order to shed blood and keep their gods happy.
14. The cenotes, the favorite place for sacrifices
The cenotes were the favorite places for sacrifices. The Mayans believed that the God of rain (Chac) lived in the cenotes. So sacrifices were very common in the cenotes, especially of children and virgin women.
Currently, cenotes are one of the essentials to visit when you travel to the Yucatan Peninsula. They attract us, we love them and we fall in love, but... when you think about the amount of sacrifices of innocents they made in these places, it's a bit grim, isn't it?
15. Gum was invented by the Mayans
The Mayans invented chewing gum. Or at least, they have been awarded this very popular invention. Apparently they were the first to extract the resin from the Zapotes (a type of tree) and they chewed it in order to clean their teeth.
... There are many curiosities in the Mayan civilization and one of the coolest things about traveling is discovering about them by visiting their places and knowing their history. Tell me in the comments the curiosity that most attracts your attention or if you know of any other that is interesting so that I can add it to the list!
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Mexico a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!
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