The Legacy of the Maya (eBook)

Legends of Gods, Heroes and the End Times

Laila Schwab-Mansour (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2023 | 1. Auflage
204 Seiten
tredition (Verlag)
978-3-384-07832-2 (ISBN)

Infos

Discover the ageless knowledge of one of the most remarkable civilizations in the annals of human history by immersing yourself in the enthralling world of Mayan legends. Within the pages of this book, which has been meticulously researched, the author takes you on a journey through the epic stories that are at the core of Mayan culture. Learn about the exploits of the twin heroes Hunahpu and Xbalanque, who are on a quest to find their way to divinity, and allow yourself to be captivated by the mysterious prophecies of the Mayan calendar. Learn more about the mysteries that surround King Pacal and his journey through death, the afterlife, and rebirth. The legends are not the only thing that this book has to offer. It demonstrates how the knowledge of the Maya continues to have an effect in the present day and locates significance in the world that we live in today. From the astronomical orientation of their buildings to the sacred architecture that they left behind, from the fascinating calendar systems that they left behind to the influences that they had on art and science, the Maya leave behind a legacy that both inspires and challenges us for the future. This book takes us on a journey into a world that no longer exists, while simultaneously enhancing our knowledge of history, culture, and ourselves. Get a new perspective on Mayan mythology and allow yourself to be captivated by the profound wisdom it contains.

Textauszug

Foreword

It is the remarkable achievements of the Mayan people in the fields of architecture, mathematics, and astronomy that have brought them the most recognition. The Mayan people once inhabited large portions of what is now Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador also. On the other hand, their remarkable pyramids and astonishingly accurate calendar are just the beginning of a profound and intricate cultural heritage that is also reflected in their extensive mythology.

It is estimated that the Mayan civilization has been around for more than three thousand years. In addition to their advanced technological capabilities, the Mayan people possessed very strong spiritual beliefs. Their worldview was inextricably linked to the natural world and the cosmos, and they had a pantheon of gods and goddesses that embodied the various aspects of life and the universe. Not only did this religious and cosmological understanding have an impact on their daily rituals and calendar, but it also had an impact on their art, architecture, and even their political system.

To emphasize the fact that Mayan mythology is not merely a relic from a bygone era, it is essential to emphasize this fact. Throughout the centuries, it has undergone transformations as a result of colonial conquest and the influence of other cultures; however, it has managed to keep its core characteristics. Even in the present day, there are still communities that worship the ancient gods in a syncretic manner, incorporating elements of Catholicism. These communities can be found in the rural areas of the states that succeeded the Maya.

Not only does Mayan mythology provide us with an understanding of the worldview of an ancient people, but it also gives us the chance to acknowledge the universality of certain topics and questions that have always been a source of frustration for people all over the world. Our imaginations and our minds are both stimulated by the multitude of stories, symbols, and ideas that are woven together in this rich tapestry. We will delve deeper into this fascinating world and investigate the many facets of Mayan mythology from a variety of perspectives throughout the course of this work.

Through the subsequent chapters, we would like to extend an invitation to you to explore the hidden layers of Mayan culture. These layers range from cosmogony to the pantheon of gods, and from heroic legends to deeply rooted celebrations. Not only is the objective to shed light on the mystical and sublime, but also on the everyday practices and beliefs that shaped Mayan life from birth to death, the goal is to shed light on all of these things.

This book is not only meant to educate readers, but it is also meant to motivate them. It is a journey through time and space, through the worlds that are visible and the worlds that are invisible, which the Mayans sought to understand with extraordinary fervor. By the time this journey is over, it is our hope that the reader will not only have gained a deeper understanding of Mayan mythology, but will also have developed an appreciation for the timeless wisdom and beauty that it contains.

In the context of world history, the Mayans, an ancient people whose influence extended across several countries in Latin America that are still in existence today, also made a contribution that cannot be overstated. They were isolated from other great civilizations of antiquity, such as the Egyptians or the Romans, but they still managed to leave behind a legacy that has made its way into the collective memory of mankind. This legacy was created despite the fact that they lived in the highlands and rainforests. Their mathematical advancements, such as the idea of zero as a mathematical symbol, were revolutionary and had a significant impact on a wide range of other aspects of their lives, including their astronomy and architecture.

They established trade routes across vast territories, exchanging goods and ideas with neighboring cultures, leaving their cities hidden in the vast biodiversity of the jungle. These trade routes were established from their cities. Through the flourishing of this trading system, they were able to gain access to resources that were absent in their natural environment, which in turn encouraged the development of their culture and intellect. Their cities, such as Tikal, Calakmul, and Palenque, are now considered to be important archaeological sites. These sites provide us with a glimpse into a fascinating past that appears to be unknown while at the same time being recognizable.

The Maya script, which is a complicated system of glyphs, is one of the most important windows into their culture and their perspective on the world. They have provided scholars and historians with the opportunity to delve deeply into the social, political, and religious aspects of their civilization through the texts and codices that they have produced, some of which are only fragmentary. In Maya culture, literature was not merely the purview of the ruling class; rather, it was an integral component of everyday life that assisted individuals in comprehending their position within the universe.

However, despite the fact that the Maya's material accomplishments and scientific knowledge are fascinating, it is their mythology that provides us with the most intimate insights into their thoughts and feelings. Through the study of their myths, we are able to acquire a profound comprehension of their anxieties, hopes, and the moral principles that guided their behavior. These myths are not merely stories or fantasies that are entertaining; rather, they serve as moral and philosophical guides that bridge the gap between the individual and the incomprehensibility of the universe.

We will investigate these multifaceted aspects of Maya mythology and the cultural practices associated with it within the context of this publication, which will provide a comprehensive framework. The chapters that follow will serve as a guide to introduce you to the nuances and beauties of this ancient world, while also bringing to your attention the numerous questions that have not been answered despite the extensive research that has been conducted in recent times. What makes Maya culture such an enduringly fascinating subject of study is the fact that it combines elements that are both familiar and mysterious.

Considering that the Maya civilization developed over the course of almost two thousand years, it is only natural that they experienced both highs and lows. The connection that they saw between their mythology and the real world, a symbiosis that manifested itself in their calendar systems and architecture, is what makes this connection so interesting. Monuments such as the pyramid of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza, which, during the equinox, creates a shadow play that resembles a moving serpent, are evidence of a profound understanding of the cycles of nature and an urge to incorporate this knowledge into an individual's day-to-day life.

On the other hand, we must be careful not to view the Maya through the lens of their contemporary civilization. Their relationship with the natural world was not merely aesthetic or scientific; rather, it was also grounded in spirituality and practicality. For instance, the cultivation of maize was not only considered to be an essential agricultural practice, but it was also considered to be a holy act that was enshrined in their myths. The fact that so many of their gods and myths have their origins in the natural world can be explained by the fact that they have a connection to their environment that is almost sacramental.

In spite of the fact that they were frequently structured as city-states, their political systems were not monolithic entities. As opposed to this, they were made up of a variety of rival kingdoms, alliances, and tributary states, each of which had its own unique interpretations of Maya mythology and activities. Because of this, it is challenging to speak of a unified Maya culture because the Maya civilization was characterized by a significant amount of diversity and a strong sense of local identity.

It is difficult to overstate the influence that their cultural significance has had on the modern world. Maya culture provides a wealth of opportunities for research and discovery, whether it be in the fields of archaeology, astronomy, or mythology. In spite of the fact that a significant number of their books and writings were destroyed as a result of Spanish colonization, the fragments that have survived, in conjunction with archaeological discoveries and oral traditions, have established the groundwork for a resurgence of interest in this fascinating culture.

However, there is still a great deal of mystery. Even though decades of research have been conducted, there are still a great deal of mysteries that have yet to be solved. Simply put, it is precisely these mysteries that make the Mayans such an intriguing people. A world that is both strange and familiar, a world that poses questions about the nature of man and the universe that are still relevant today, is revealed through them. They provide a window into this extraordinary world. The journey that we are taking through the history and mythology of the Maya is therefore not only a window into the past, but also a mirror that reflects our own beliefs and values.

It would be inaccurate to confine the Mayan civilization to the geographical areas from which it originated. Not only did they leave an indelible mark on the fields of art, mathematics, and even nutrition on a global scale, but their influence extended far beyond the borders of Mesoamerica. Without a doubt, the concept of time and the calendar are among the most significant...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 3.12.2023
• Verlagsort: Ahrensburg
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Historische Romane
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung
• Schlagworte: Ah Puch • Buluc Chaptan • calendar • Chaac • cosmogony • Creation • cycle of time • Endtimes • hunahpu • Ixchel • Ixtab • Kukulkan • Maya • mayan calendar • Pacal
• ISBN-10: 3-384-07832-2 / 3384078322
• ISBN-13: 978-3-384-07832-2 / 9783384078322