The Mayan civilization was advanced for its time especially when it comes to ways to measure the time plus they have a great knowledge in astronomy and geometry. Several experts in the fields of astronomy, mathematics as well as other sciences discover the way the Maya utilized to calculate periods of time unique.
The basics of their calendar system were a lot like various other calendar systems found in the same region of the world by some other Mesoamerican civilizations, dating as far back in time since the 5th century BC.
To present the concept of time as past, present and future was the only use of the earlier form of the Mayan Calendar. The Maya understood perfectly that time is linear which they required a means to tell if one occurrence had took place prior to another. This simple concept swiftly become a whole lot more complex, advanced as well as accurate calendar system, which individuals find interesting to this day.
Short And Long Count
There are actually 2 primary parts in the Mayan calendar that are utilized to calculate the time and they are the Long Count as well as the Short Count. Both the Long Count and the Short Count have a certain date as a starting point - August 11, 3114 BC in case we're making use of the existing Gregorian calendar to define it, and also September 6, 3114 BC if we are making use of the Julian calendar.
It is the Short Count that is utilized to measure short periods of time. It consisted of 260 days, divided into 13 periods (twenty days each). By doing this of counting the time remains to be employed in some areas of Guatemala by ancestors and forefathers of the Mesoamerican civilizations.For the most part, they mainly utilize the Long Count for measuring longer periods of time and events which happened for a very long time ago or may happen very far into the future. This calendar system was also utilized for the inscription of calendar dates.
For measuring longer periods of time as well as events which happened a very long time ago or will happen very far into the future the Long Count was mainly used. This calendar system has also been employed for the inscription of calendar dates.
Moreover, Venus and the Moon takes a huge role in the ancient Maya Calendar, and they have separate Long Count inscriptions to represent the lunar cycles as well as a Venus cycle.
Just one Venus cycle was 584 days long, and events like warfare and conquests were timed to suit certain periods of this cycle. Scientists nowadays find intriguing the fact that the Maya were able to gauge the Venus cycle very appropriately; showing fantastic observation and also astronomy skills and understanding of how the planets move in the sky.
Historians have found out that the lunar cycles also take an important role. The Mayan calendar has several lunar cycles that happen to be connected with weather, deities, animals, and food. These cycles demonstrate how highly developed the culture of the Mayan was and exactly how close the connection was between them and our mother earth.
In summary, the Mayan calendar is an extremely advanced device in order to measure the time in long or short periods. It implies that the Mayans understood the idea of time, and had a good method to place a happening in a time period - present, past or future. They developed an evolved plus sophisticated calendar concept (the Long Count) through incorporating extra supplementary forms to the original calendar (the Short Count). Because of this, the Mayan calendar was probably the innovative as well as distinctive calendar in its time, as well as numerous civilizations applied it fully or partly throughout the following generations.
The basics of their calendar system were a lot like various other calendar systems found in the same region of the world by some other Mesoamerican civilizations, dating as far back in time since the 5th century BC.
To present the concept of time as past, present and future was the only use of the earlier form of the Mayan Calendar. The Maya understood perfectly that time is linear which they required a means to tell if one occurrence had took place prior to another. This simple concept swiftly become a whole lot more complex, advanced as well as accurate calendar system, which individuals find interesting to this day.
Short And Long Count
There are actually 2 primary parts in the Mayan calendar that are utilized to calculate the time and they are the Long Count as well as the Short Count. Both the Long Count and the Short Count have a certain date as a starting point - August 11, 3114 BC in case we're making use of the existing Gregorian calendar to define it, and also September 6, 3114 BC if we are making use of the Julian calendar.
It is the Short Count that is utilized to measure short periods of time. It consisted of 260 days, divided into 13 periods (twenty days each). By doing this of counting the time remains to be employed in some areas of Guatemala by ancestors and forefathers of the Mesoamerican civilizations.For the most part, they mainly utilize the Long Count for measuring longer periods of time and events which happened for a very long time ago or may happen very far into the future. This calendar system was also utilized for the inscription of calendar dates.
For measuring longer periods of time as well as events which happened a very long time ago or will happen very far into the future the Long Count was mainly used. This calendar system has also been employed for the inscription of calendar dates.
Moreover, Venus and the Moon takes a huge role in the ancient Maya Calendar, and they have separate Long Count inscriptions to represent the lunar cycles as well as a Venus cycle.
Just one Venus cycle was 584 days long, and events like warfare and conquests were timed to suit certain periods of this cycle. Scientists nowadays find intriguing the fact that the Maya were able to gauge the Venus cycle very appropriately; showing fantastic observation and also astronomy skills and understanding of how the planets move in the sky.
Historians have found out that the lunar cycles also take an important role. The Mayan calendar has several lunar cycles that happen to be connected with weather, deities, animals, and food. These cycles demonstrate how highly developed the culture of the Mayan was and exactly how close the connection was between them and our mother earth.
In summary, the Mayan calendar is an extremely advanced device in order to measure the time in long or short periods. It implies that the Mayans understood the idea of time, and had a good method to place a happening in a time period - present, past or future. They developed an evolved plus sophisticated calendar concept (the Long Count) through incorporating extra supplementary forms to the original calendar (the Short Count). Because of this, the Mayan calendar was probably the innovative as well as distinctive calendar in its time, as well as numerous civilizations applied it fully or partly throughout the following generations.
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The original article appeared here: The Short and Long Count of the Mayan Calendar. More on the Mayan Civilization can be found at the Mayan Ruins page.
