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Mayan History

Friday, 13 January 2012 12:15

The Day of the Dead: It's Culture and how it relates to Halloween

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The Day of the Dead: It's Culture and how it relates to Halloween

October can be described as one of the spookiest times of year. In most North Americans minds it brings about images of witches, pumpkins, and most of all candy. But south of the American border the time is celebrated in a much different manner. It’s called the Day of the Dead.

In Mexico the celebrations isn’t just one day, it last several. From October 28 to November 2nd. Many outsiders see the Day of the Dead as a strange embrace of death amongst an entire nation. In reality, it is a celebration of life, how precious it is, and how each life must eventually come to an end.

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Thursday, 12 January 2012 19:32

The Best Things to See or Do in the Yucatan

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The Best Things to See or Do in the Yucatan

If you have a vacation to the Yucatan planned in the coming future, having an idea of what to do can be all the difference between fun and just wanting to be done. To get this plan together, you may want to have an idea of what are the best things to see or do in the Yucatan. By having an idea, you won’t be completely lost when you arrive and make everything go much smoother.

The Yucatan is the epicenter of the ancient Mayan world. It’s home to the biggest pyramid in the western hemisphere, El Castillo in Chichen Itza. If you find yourself in the Yucatan, you’ll thank yourself for making the trip to Chichen Itza.

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Tuesday, 10 January 2012 19:40

The Most Popular Things to See at Chichen Itza

Written by Garry
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The Most Popular Things to See at Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is the largest and most famous Mayan site in the Yucatan Peninsula. Because of the sheer size and scope of the ruins, it’s best to have an idea of what you want to see when you arrive. Walking around randomly will only confuse your senses and perhaps make miss out on something you’d enjoy more. To help you figure out what are the most popular things to see at Chichen Itza, I’ve compiled a short guide.

There are 7 different ball courts at Chichen Itza; the grandest of them all is named the Great Ball Court. Archaeologists aren’t sure of the exact rules, but they have uncovered evidence that many of the players were sacrificed at the end of the game. If you want to have a truly rewarding visit to Chichen Itza, then a stop at the Great Ball Court is a must.

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Monday, 09 January 2012 16:08

The History of the Sacrificial Cenote of Chichen Itza

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The History of the Sacrificial Cenote of Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza was the spiritual and social hub of the late Mayan World. It was the centerpiece of the Mayan civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula since the early 700’s. The city was the center of sacrifice for the area as well. The city owed that sacrificial reputation to an ancient Mayan and the mysterious cenotes in the area. A cenote is a natural well that reaches deep into the land, possibly connecting to other underground tunnels.

The Sacrificial Cenote wasn’t used for drinking, or cleaning, another set of cenotes and artificial wells were used for that. A Bishop in the mid 1500’s is the first to mention the sacrifices that occur at the ancient Sacrificial Cenote. The Bishop claimed that Chichen Itza had a huge chamber inside which they would herd thousands of slaves and citizens to be sacrificed at the cenotes.

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Sunday, 08 January 2012 12:16

The Best Little Known Sites at Chichen Itza

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The Best Little Known Sites at Chichen Itza

If you plan on making a trip to Chichen Itza, then you’ll be sure to see many of the main attractions, such as the Great Ballcourt, El Castillo, and the Observatory. What you want to keep your eyes open for are the few little known ruins and sites that many pass up without notice. After all, the big things are easy to notice, it’s the little things that make their trip worth your wild.

The Red House is named this because of the flakes and scrapes of red paint that were found inside the structure. It was built on a high platform, and is pronounced Chichen Choob in the Mayan language. It is translated as "small holes" and most assume it points to the lime comb roof.

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Friday, 06 January 2012 19:56

Sports at Chichen Itza: The Great Ball Court

Written by Octavio Magaña
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Sports at Chichen Itza: The Great Ball Court

The ball court at Chichen Itza is one of the oldest known game courts in human history. The game is often referred to as Tiatchtli, and has been played since 1,000 B.C. Modern versions of the game are still played to this day by local populations, but the how the details of the game and how it was played by their ancient Mayan ancestors is still unknown.

Most people recognize the famous stone goals; this is actually a later addition to the game. The original version is even more mysterious than the late versions; seeing that we have no idea how they kept score before the stone hoop was added. The few rules we do know of belong to the time after a stone hoop was instituted. A single successful hoop could make a win, and being able to touch the ball to the vertical stone hoop scored individual points.

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Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:52

The Strange History of Cahal Pech in Belize

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The Strange History of Cahal Pech in Belize

The idea of going to see Mayan ruins crosses the minds of millions each year, but don’t let a crowd stop you. There are great Mayan ruins that aren’t as crowded but just as wonderful to visit. The Mayan site of Cahal Pech is one of these locations. Located in the Cayo area of Western Belize, the site offers more than a few Mayan buildings and ruins to see.

The site itself is a type of archeological enigma. No one seems to know when it was discovered. The first time, on paper, that the ruins of Cahal Pech were discovered it was during the beginning of WWII, in the mid 1930’s. Because of the war efforts and the resources that were taken to fight, the first official dig held at the Cahal Pech site was in the 1950’s peacetime, 1950 to be exact.

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Monday, 10 October 2011 08:19

The Path to the Mayan Underworld Discovered

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The Path to the Mayan Underworld Discovered

For countless religions and belief structures the difference between life and the mystical afterlife meant one thing, going underground. From the Greek version of Hades to the Christian version of Hell, all religions use the underworld as a place for the dead. The Mayans were no different, only their underworld now has a real starting point.

On the Yucatan Peninsula archeologists have discovered a series of underground corridors and temples. As they examined the underground tunnels further they discovered some of the areas were flooded to the point of needing scuba gear. One theorist has suggested that the underground passages were dug while filled with water the entire time, and required divers to hold their breath.

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Wednesday, 05 October 2011 14:28

Mayan Maize: Food or Drink?

Written by Alejandro Machado
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Mayan Maize: Food or Drink?

The Mayans and Aztecs both got a great amount of uses and nutrition out of maize. And, for those who are unsure what it is, well… it’s corn. Some of the earliest corn farms have been found in the Mayan and Aztec territories. Many archeologists have speculated that it was the Mayans that had first mastered the idea of farming and irrigation. Newer evidence has emerged that has made the corn seed seem viable as a farming product far before the Mayans, Aztecs, or Olmecs. Signs of living, farming and harvesting corn have been discovered in the South American territories as early as 5,000 B.C.

Farming foods in the lush jungle landscape is what kept the Mayan alive. Most of the foods they harvested included beans, manioc (tubers), and maize. The Mayans and the Aztecs had to do this while accompanying it with hunting to accommodate for the proper nutrition and protein that they needed. Many have pondered, what did the Mayans drink? Even though they lived in jungle, fresh and abundant rainwater wasn’t a reliable option.

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Wednesday, 21 September 2011 09:16

Calakmul: Kingdom of the Snake

Written by Octavio Magaña
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Calakmul: Kingdom of the Snake

The city of Calakmul was one of the most powerful cities in the Mayan world and especially of Southern Mexico. When individual entered the territories controlled by the city of Calakmul, the city’s emblem could be seen in numerous places. The emblem depicted the head of a snake. This emblem let all travelers and newcomers looking to make a claim in the in the area know the land was already owned by the Snake Kingdom.

The Snake Kingdom was at its peak during the Classic period, which is the later end of the Mayan history. The city itself boasted one of the highest populations for any city of its day, a whopping 50,000 residents. The city governors and politicians ruled cities and villages as far away as 150 kilometers.

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Monday, 22 August 2011 14:26

The Food the Maya Ate: Yesterday vs. Today

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The Food the Maya Ate: Yesterday vs. Today

While maize was a common food for the Maya, their cuisine was varied and highly extensive. They consumed many types of food, including fish and other ocean creatures, wild plants, and their own crops. They were also excellent hunters and foragers, though their advanced agricultural methods produced the staple foods upon which their entire diet was based.

The primary crops grown by the Maya were maize, squash, beans, and chili peppers. The first three were used throughout the Americas and called the “Three Sisters” because they complimented each other both in taste and nutrients. Many varieties of maize were grown, but it was a delicate crop that could not support the larger developments, so it is thought that perhaps manioc was used in its place when maize was scarce. Other crops included tomatoes, avocadoes, papaya, pineapple, pumpkin, and sweet potato. Many herbs and spices were also grown and used in their cooking. This included vanilla, white cinnamon, avocado leaf, and allspice. Some of these were used to create special dishes while others were used in everyday cooking. Wild onions and salt were also commonly used in the cooking.

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Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:02

The Mayan Ritual: Death and Its Ceremonies

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The Mayan Ritual: Death and Its Ceremonies

For the Maya, a highly religious people, death was something to be both feared and revered. Their fear of their gods’ anger and judgment weighed heavily on them, making them fearful of the world beyond, even as they believed in a heaven-like afterlife. They treated their dead with great respect, mourning them extensively and keeping their memory alive through retellings of their accomplishments in life. Though the process of burial changed over the years, the one thing that didn’t was the elaborate way that they would perform it.

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Friday, 12 August 2011 17:48

The Purposes of the Mayan Calendar

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The Purposes of the Mayan Calendar

The Mayan culture is one of the most interesting in the world. It has undergone significant changes through the centuries, and the history of the Maya is very interesting for people today.

The Maya were one of the Mesoamerican civilizations that lived in the lands of Central America before the Spanish conquistadors came. The Maya were familiar with cultivation as far back as 3000 BC, and their main source of food was maize and game, as well as fish.

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Tuesday, 02 August 2011 12:24

The Architectural Gifts of the Maya

Written by Octavio Magaña
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The Architectural Gifts of the Maya

The Mayan people are, perhaps, best known for their awe-inspiring architecture, which ranged from magnificent, pyramid-shaped temples to simple homes for the commoners. Their style changed slightly over the generations, but never lost the mystique that surrounds these great buildings, hidden deep within the jungles of South and Central America.

Though all of the cities share the same basic style, their planning for each development was effected by such things as terrain and what building materials were available. The buildings that were set upon a layer of limestone, for example, became expansive municipalities. Other sites, built into the hills and mountains, used this to their advantage, building their towers and elaborate temples to soaring heights. All of the cities, however, were built with some of the same aspects.

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Sunday, 17 July 2011 15:31

The Beliefs and Religion of the Maya

Written by Onejungle
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The Beliefs and Religion of the Maya

The religion of the Maya is not definitively known, mainly because the conquistadors of Spain destroyed as much of the “heathen” culture as possible before trying to convert the people to Catholicism. Never the less, much has been learned of their religious beliefs as archeologists uncover things like ancient books, pottery with text or paintings on them, mural paintings, carvings, and other various treasures that were left untouched.

Thanks to these artifacts, we now know a little about what these people believed, who they worshiped, and how they performed their religious ceremonies.

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Tuesday, 12 July 2011 18:28

The Maya Hieroglyphic Writing System

Written by Onejungle
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The Maya Hieroglyphic Writing System

The Maya were one of the Mesoamerican societies that left a huge impact on the history and culture of Central America. The Maya were more advanced than their neighbors in many areas, such as agriculture, architecture and astronomy, but what has fascinated explorers and archaeologists the most is their unique hieroglyphic writing system, which they invented more than 2,300 years ago.

The Maya glyphs are very advanced, visually striking and complex. Their calligraphic style and sophisticated phonetic system are different from any other writing system in the world. This is because the ancient Maya invented their writing system independently from the rest of the world.

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