Mayan Empire

Mystery
With much evidence pointing to the possibility of the end of mankind and so few people understanding the ancient Mayan prophecy, should we investigate further or simply let it go... ?



Maya
If not for Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, I probably wouldn't be searching for Mayan mysteries. What an intriguing movie! Supposedly the language the Mayans spoke to each other in the movie was as close to the civilization's true language as possible.

Maya, an ancient civilization that flourished between the years 250 AD and 900 AD, has long baffled scientists in the modern world with its impossibly accurate time calculation systems. Though traces of the origin of the civilization date all the way back to 2500 BC, its prophecies point to dates and events we have not yet encountered.

One of the most significant prophecies the Mayans have ever predicted is the apocalypse on the date 12-21-2012. This date marks the end of a cycle that began in 3113 BC. On this day, as the Mayans believed, will be the final age of men.

Inhabitable Land
The Mayan Empire occupied areas throughout the northern Central America region, as well as the southern Mexican states. These areas, particularly the Yucatan Peninsula, were thought to be inhabitable for humans by scientists until recently when evidence of existing ancient population groups were discovered. It was inhabitable not only because of the unsuitable terrain, but also because of the extremely dangerous animals that dominated this region. Some of these species include the jaguar, the caiman, the bull shark, and the anaconda. Caiman is a fierce crocodile that can grow to about 6 meters in length. The larger Caimans eat jaguars, pumas, and even anacondas. Jaguars, on the other hand, were viewed by the Mayans as the spiritual link between the living and the dead, and as the protector of the royal household. This explains why many Mayan rulers had "Jaguar" in their names. One example is the name "Jaguar Paw", the main character in Apocalypto.

How Mayans define "beauty"
Back in the days of the Mayans, what was once seen as aesthetic may not be what we expect today. They used to hang small beads on children's noses to induce cross-eyes. Mothers often flattened the heads of babies and shaped them into cones. Then, they would make their teeth into a T- or pointy shape.

Where were the Mayans from?
The Mayans claimed to be descendants of Atlanteans, people of the legendary Atlantis. If this were true, it is not difficult to understand why the Mayans emphasized on time calculation. Atlanteans themselves predicted their own destruction and their burial underneath the South Pole.

Mayan Monuments
The word "monument" actually means warning in Latin. Latin, one of the most common ancient roots of languages, is used here to warn people today. The reason why monuments in the Egyptian and Mayan civilizations are built on such a grand scale is believed to be because only a structure so grand and puzzling can call for our attention in the modern world. I believe that each monument refers to a separate event that was predicted to take place in the future.

More on 2012 to be continued...