Mysterious Mayan Civilization. Were the Mayans familiar with aliens? Mayan white-water rivers were crossed by boats

The Maya civilization is one of the few empires ancient world who managed for short story, which lasted no more than two thousand years, to make an unimaginable number of cultural and scientific discoveries. Thus, the Mayan period, the era of the dominance of this civilization in the territories of South and Central America, was marked by the invention of a writing system, complex architecture, a calendar system, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, astrology, religion and a number of other [...]

The Mayan city was not only a fortress for the locals, but also a repository of historical heritage. Mayan and Aztec cities were and are the richest source of knowledge about the ancient world. The Mayan civilization itself, along with the Sumerians, is one of the famous empires of the ancient world, which have become widespread in research circles, thanks to highly developed art, mathematics, architecture and astronomy. Excavations [...]

Tikal (Tik'al in the Mayan language) is today the largest site of archaeological research in South America, and a thousand years ago the religious, commercial and cultural center of the Mayan civilization. The ancient city is located in the archaeological area of ​​the Pitin Basin in the northern part of modern Guatemala, where the Maya and Incas used to live. Today, the part of the city located in the [...]

Epic in every sense, the culture of the Mayan Indians, which reached its peak in the 2-9th centuries AD on the territory of such states as Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, attracted and attracts the attention of not only researchers and scientists. The widest circle of people of various specialties, interested in architecture, history and the development of disappeared civilizations, continuously monitors breaking news and publications about ancient [...]

Mayan cosmology, the mythology of the ancient inhabitants of Yucatan, is based on the experience and knowledge accumulated by the ancestors. Many information, in particular Mayan mythology, has survived to this day in the form of legends and tales. Some data (the worldview of the Incas, Aztecs and, again, the mythology of the ancient Maya) were obtained thanks to the Spanish chronicles of the 16th century, which have been preserved in small numbers. But in any case, as if [...]

The mythology of the ancient world, such as Sumerian mythology, is captivating and captivating. Legends and tales of ancient civilizations contain many incredible, but at the same time close to reality stories. This is explained by the fact that the mythology of the Aztecs, the Inca people and other ancient empires, was based on scientific knowledge in astronomy and mathematics accumulated over a long history. Thanks to the developing [...]

The pantheon of the ancient Indians of the Mayan tribe, which included the main Mayan gods, as well as local, less significant deities who were worshiped either in individual regions or certain groups of people, for example, artisans, consisted of an incredible number of creatures. According to the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and records belonging to the Aztecs, Incas and Maya, the total number of deities reached 200. Deities such as the god [...]

Mayan Indians The Mayan Indians are probably the most well-known of all the classical civilizations of Mesoamerica. Mayan history, Mayan culture, Mayan religion begins in the Yucatan Peninsula around 2600 BC, Mayan history became known around 250 AD in modern southern Mexico, Guatemala, western Honduras, El Salvador and northern Belize. Building on the legacy of earlier civilizations such as the Olmecs, Indians [...]

The classical period of the Maya civilization in the lowland forests of Central America is marked by the appearance of such innovations in Mayan culture as: hieroglyphic writing, which includes inscriptions on reliefs, steles, ceramics and frescoes, lintels; the Mayan calendar, the so-called Long Count calendar, going from 3113 BC; monumental architecture with a stepped vault; specific style in ceramics and [...]

The ancient priesthood was a significant social stratum in the Maya civilization. As in most states, the Mayans had a strict church, religious, hierarchy, headed by high priests Maya - ah kins in the language of the Mayan Indians. A step below were the ceremonial assistants who performed the Mayan rites, and the priests of a special specialization. The latter primarily included: nakoms, [...]

Despite the fact that the Mayan civilization disappeared centuries before the arrival of the conquistadors, information about some of the religious customs of the Maya still survived to this day. This happened thanks to the Indians of Yucatan, close to the Mayans and who managed to preserve the most important customs of the Indians. The information recorded by the pioneers in the middle of the 16th century allowed scientists today to get an idea of ​​all [...]

A typical day on the Yucatan Peninsula, where the Mayan people lived, began long before sunrise: at this time, women woke up, made a fire and started cooking breakfast. The Maya are a practical people. Fire for cooking was obtained by ancient, ancient methods: the Maya Indians rotated a stick with a wooden tip. The stick was inserted into a recess in the soft wood, which served as tinder. [...]

Maya married at an early age: boys around eight years old, girls at 12-14 years old. Immediately after the girls and boys reached maturity, at the age of 12 and 14, respectively, parents thought about finding a partner for their child. The Mayans were limited in their choice of husband or wife; I had to choose from fellow tribesmen who also bore a generic name. How [...]

Copan is the largest archaeological site in Honduras. The city is located in the west of the state, in the center of the valley of the river of the same name, a few kilometers from the border with Guatemala. The ancient cities of the Mayan civilization are famous for their history, architecture, scientific and literary heritage. Copan is no exception. The city was built in the 1-2 centuries BC and existed until the heyday of the Maya [...]

Nowadays, products such as chocolate and cocoa drink have practically entered the daily diet. Chocolate plays an important role in the lives of people who have devoted themselves to flying. However, few people know that we owe the Indians of Mesoamerica the discovery of cocoa and chocolate recipes. The wild precursors of cultivated cocoa sprout throughout Central and South America - [...]

Cocoa and Chocolate are Mayan heritage. Thousands of years ago, the Maya Indians settled on the lands of the Yucatan Peninsula. This land was the beginning of Mayan science and the rich heritage of the Maya. Here, for themselves, they discovered cocoa trees, which were subsequently cultivated, and the Indians discovered the divine power and wonderful taste of the drink from the seeds of this tree. The drink was bitter [...]

The basis of any empire, and the Mayan civilization is no exception, are large cities. There were not a small number of them on the Yucatan Peninsula, and the population of some of them reached 100 thousand people. However, in the ninth century AD, the Maya civilization fell into decline, for reasons that remain unclear to this day - the Mayan era ended. AT last years [...]

Modern scientists and researchers continue to be disturbed by countless mysteries and mysteries. ancient civilization Maya, in particular the Temple of the Inscriptions, which is famous for the ancient Mayan city of Palenque. More and more research teams are sent to uncover the secrets of a nation that has sunk into oblivion. So it turned out that the ruler, who headed the Mayan city of Palenque, Pacal the Great, had another, second son, about [...]

Indian music is an integral part of Mexican rituals. One of the first Europeans who managed to immerse themselves in the sounds of Aztec music that accompanies religious rites, including sacrifice rituals, was Bernal Diaz Castillo. However, as a person accustomed to more melodic European, Christian melodies, the sounds of Aztec songs, the music of the Indians and their compositions were alien to him. Those who are fully [...]

When planning a tourist route for countries such as Guatemala and Mexico, the ruins of the cities of the ancient peoples of Central America will certainly fall into the sightseeing program. In particular, the most popular points are the ancient cities of Tikal, Palenque, Copan and Chichen Itza, where the art of the Indians once flourished. However, educated people do not stop at viewing monuments alone - you always want to return home with [...]

According to the assumptions of modern scientists, Chichen Itza was founded in the 5th-6th centuries AD and was one of the largest Mayan settlements. However, by the end of the 10th century, for inexplicable reasons, life had practically left Chichen Itza. Buildings that support this theory, dating back to the 10th century AD, are mostly located in the southern part of Chichen Itza. Years later, the city was repopulated, but [...]

Without a doubt, the true heroes of the Popol Vuh are the Quiche Indians. This is directly hinted at by the final phrase of the narrative: “I have nothing more to say about the Maya-Kiche people.” The author wanted to create nothing more than a story about the glorious past of his people. Of course, this glory is perceived by him in a peculiar way and is also displayed in a peculiar way in Mayan writings. The author deliberately eliminated everything that, [...]

The literature of the Mayan civilization is an extraordinary phenomenon not only within the framework of the New World. Many hieroglyphic records and writings of the Maya contain calendar and mythological themes, commemorative and military texts. Military texts, by the way, are the oldest examples of Mayan poetic art. The dominant size, which is not surprising, is the trochee. The most common type of narration and prose among the late Maya, among Maya [...]

Symbolism and components. Maya Indians expressed their cosmic vision in architecture. Mayan architecture was unique. The Maya designed buildings in such a way that they were both practical and symbolic, fulfilling both a practical purpose and a religious one. A significant part of the religious, astronomical structures were conceived by the Maya as gigantic devices for holding and concentrating divine energies. Many buildings, according to the ideas of the Maya Indians, were [...]

The hut is the home of the Mayan Indian. Before the arrival of the Spaniards to their lands, the houses of the Mayan Indians were made of organic materials - this is the main reason why examples of the then “domestic” architecture have not survived to this day. Most of researchers agree that Mayan houses differed little from modern rural buildings. Spanish conquistadors visiting the home of an Indian [...]

The history of the Maya is full of events. For many centuries before the Europeans, much earlier than all other scientists in the world, the Maya Indians managed to predict, calculate lunar and solar eclipses, and make the most accurate mathematical calculations. They were and remain brilliant astronomers - the Mayans managed to calculate the movement of Venus, its orbit with an error of only 14 seconds, Mayan mathematics was the first in the history of the Earth [...]

The oldest of the settlements on the site of modern excavations, where the city of Tikal was located, dates back to 800 BC. The ancient Maya settled on a small hill, around which they later built their future capital. The name of the city of Tikal, which in translation is “Place of Sounds”, was given to the settlement later, in ancient times the city bore the name Yashmutul and was located in the center of the kingdom of Mutul. City [...]

Legacy of the Mayan civilization The legacy of the Mayan civilization, and indeed the entire Mayan civilization every year becomes more and more a mystery for history, and the disclosure of truths is an impossible task. We have at our disposal only a small, small part of the information and knowledge about the civilization of the ancient Maya, the heritage of the Mayan civilization, however, what is already known for certain is completely derived from descriptions and [...]

According to the Maya, the Yok Cub universe is worlds located one on top of the other. Above the kingdom of the earth, according to Mayan mythology, is the heavenly world. By the way, according to Mayan beliefs, the heavenly world consisted of 13 celestial layers, and under it there were 9 more underground or underworld worlds. In the center of the earth was the tree of life, the original tree. According to the four parties [...]

The second question remains on the agenda: where, from what lands could the Maya Indians come from ?! There is no doubt that at one time they left a highly developed and more ancient civilization than the Maya itself, as evidenced by the Mayan religion, like the whole culture. As it turns out, such a civilization really existed. It was found in the territories of modern Mexico. Right here [...]

The Mayan civilization, the Mayan people, is not the indigenous people of the lands of Honduras and Guatemala, according to many researchers, the Maya came to these lands from the north: scientists find it difficult to answer where exactly they came from or when the Mayans settled Yucatan. One thing is known for sure, it was made no later than the first millennium BC. And from that moment on, [...]

The name of the ancient cities of the Mayans can make modern people laugh, however, this does not take away their importance for history. Such “funny” and mysterious cities of the Mayans were the embodiment of a mighty ancient empire. One of such centers of Mayan civilization and Mayan culture, but in this case the religious center, was the city of Uxmal (Uxmal - Uxmal). The ruins of ancient Maya Uxmal are located in the [...]

Ancient Mayan cities were built throughout the Yucatan. It was a huge empire. And another, albeit not central, but no less important Mayan city is the city of Tulum - a residential city that became famous for its landscapes of incredible beauty. Tulum, like many other ancient Mayan cities erected in the postclassical Maya era, served as a port for another ancient Mayan city, Coba, [...]

Perhaps the largest Mayan city is Palenque, located on the Mexican-Guatemalan border, easily accessible from the modern city of Villa Hermosa. In the seventh century AD. this Mayan city was on the western frontier of the Mayan empire. Europeans learned about its existence only in 1773, and the excavations and study of its temples and palaces, as well as the study of the rich heritage of Palenque began [...]

The land that unites the Maya of the city, stretching across the entire northern part of the Yucatan, is popular not only among archaeologists, but also among millions of tourists. Uxmal, the Mayan city of Tulum, Mayapan, Chichen Itza are all popular tourist destinations. These are just the largest and most important of them. Almost all Mayan cities, nationalities, tribes played a significant role in the history of the Mayan civilization. Mayapan, city [...]

Palenque, like many pyramid cities, was located on the western border of the “Mayan” plain. The very name of the city of Palenque, the pyramid city, comes from the name neighboring village Santo Domingo de Palenque, the village is in turn named after the ancient city of Bahlam (jaguar sun - the place where the sun descends into the underworld). Archaeological finds in the form of pottery show that [...]

The astrological and astronomical knowledge of the ancient Maya was preserved in stone, such as the Mayan lunar calendar. Carved on the steles that adorn Mayan ruins and slabs, they are the basis for numerous temples and pyramids today. On one of these engravings of the Mayan ruins, it was possible to find calendar calculations of extraordinary accuracy, the error was only 0.02% in relation to modern measurements. [...]

From an interview with James. A. McBride II. All the knowledge we have about the Mayan civilization was not acquired by our generation alone, much less by more than one person. These are hundreds of scientists and archaeologists, artists, thinkers and just researchers who have studied existing information or searched for new information on the Mayan ruins, and, of course, those who still [...]

Limestone structures and stucco finishes are the main hallmarks of Mayan culture and architecture. During their short history, the Maya Indians managed to introduce several unique building innovations at once. For example: false arch or cornice. Another interesting feature: some graves and burials were located on the lower floors, in basements or even in the foundations of residential buildings. Often, on the site of such burials, [...]

One of the most common artistic themes in Mayan art is the theme of a royal audience. Sometimes Mayan art was accompanied by engravings describing the people, place, or event depicted. The most interesting and significant details were always especially decorative, for example, faces and masks could be painted in catchy colors, and gestures or postures of people could be highlighted with beads [...]

Mayan art, like the art of any other civilization, is a reflection of lifestyle and culture. The art of the Indians is drawings on paper and bark, various figurines made of clay and stone, images carved on slabs and in wood, on pottery and plaster, ceramic figurines and sculptures, and much, much more. From a technical point of view, the manufacturing process [...]

The traditional garments of the Mayan Indians, sewn mainly by women, are widely known throughout the world. The most beautiful examples that the Mayan culture created were found in Chiapas, Mexico. The Maya women who lived in this region always wore huipil. This is a kind of decorative blouse, rectangular in shape, with a loose silhouette and made of light cotton. Huipil is a very common women's attire in civilization [...]

As Mayan legends say, when life was just emerging on Maya land, the Dziú bird had multi-colored feathers, and its eyes did not yet glow red like fire. Dziú, like all birds, built a nest and laid eggs in the spring, and in the summer she raised her children and prepared them for future difficulties. Once the god of water and fertility Yuum Chaac, [...]

Some facts: First information: 250 AD (rise of the Mayan civilization) Historical territory: Central America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize) Followers: Once up to two million. Today, most of the local population practices Catholicism, but a small part of the population still remains Old Believers. Texts: Dresden, Madrid, and Paris manuscripts; Books: Chilam Balam; Popul Vuh; Rituals of Bacabs Major Mayan gods: Itzamná; Kukulcán (Quetzalcóatl); Bolon Tzacab; Chac Fundamentals of Religion: Astronomy, divination, human sacrifice, polytheism, ritual [...]

Some facts: First information: 250 AD (rise of the Mayan civilization) Historical territory: Central America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize) Followers: Once up to two million worshipers of the Mayan rites. Today, most of the local population practices Catholicism, but a small part of the population still remains Old Believers. Texts: Dresden, Madrid, and Paris manuscripts; Books: Chilam Balam; Popul Vuh; Rituals of Bacabs Major Mayan gods: Itzamná; Kukulcán (Quetzalcóatl); Bolon Tzacab; Chac Fundamentals of Religion: Astronomy, divination, Mayan rites, human sacrifice, [...]

Some facts: First information: 250 AD (rise of the Mayan civilization) Historical territory: Central America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize) Followers: Once upon a time, the Mayan religion numbered up to two million admirers. Today, most of the local population practices Catholicism, but a small part of the population still remains Old Believers. Texts: Dresden, Madrid, and Paris manuscripts; Books: Chilam Balam; Popul Vuh; Rituals of Bacabs Major Mayan gods: Itzamná; Kukulcán (Quetzalcóatl); Bolon Tzacab; Chac Fundamentals of Religion: Astronomy, divination, Mayan rites, human sacrifice, [...]

Some facts: First information: 250 AD (rise of the Mayan civilization) Historical territory: Central America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize) Followers: Once upon a time, the Mayan religion numbered up to two million admirers. Today, most of the local population practices Catholicism, but a small part of the population still remains Old Believers. Texts: Dresden, Madrid, and Paris manuscripts; Books: Chilam Balam; Popul Vuh; Rituals of Bacabs Major Mayan gods: Itzamná; Kukulcán (Quetzalcóatl); Bolon Tzacab; Chac Fundamentals of Religion: Astronomy, divination, Mayan rites, human sacrifice, polytheism, ritual [...]

Some facts: First information: 250 AD (rise of the Mayan civilization) Historical territory: Central America (southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize) Followers: Once the Mayan beliefs numbered up to two million admirers. Today, most of the local population practices Catholicism, but a small part of the population still remains Old Believers. Texts: Dresden, Madrid, and Paris manuscripts; Books: Chilam Balam; Popul Vuh; Rituals of Bacabs Major Mayan gods: Itzamná; Kukulcán (Quetzalcóatl); Bolon Tzacab; Chac Fundamentals of Religion: Astronomy, divination, Mayan rites, human sacrifice, polytheism, [...]

Comalcalco is the name of a modern city in Mexico and also the name of an ancient Mayan ruin. Mexican Mayan cities are unique and have their own unique charm. Literally Comalcalco translates as "House of comal". Comal - A pot and pan mix for making corn tortilla. The names of the Mayan cities are amazing, but more amazing is their architecture and heritage. So Comalcalco, like many Mayan cities, meets [...]

Calakmul (the names of the ancient Mayan cities are likely to surprise modern man), was located in the very center of the historical and geographical area once occupied by the Maya Indians. The first Mayan cities began to appear here before our era. Due to its location in the center of the region ("Petén"), the city had a huge impact on the northern and southern regions. Calakmul along with such Mayan cities as [...]

Oxkintok is an ancient city, the Mayan tribes and their descendants lived there for several centuries. Oxyntok is also the site of an ancient city excavation in the Yucatán Peninsula, located at the northern end of Puuc, near Maxcanú and about 40 miles from Mérida, between Uxmal and Ruta Puuc. The ancient city, the Mayan tribes who lived there are huge and the excavation site [...]

Ceibal (Seibal) or Seibal (the locals use this name) is the Spanish word for "the place of the Ceiba tree." Seibal, like many mysterious ancient Mayan cities, was located in Guatemala in the area of ​​​​the Pasión River, the main tributary of the Usumacinta River. Seibal is a city where the Mayan calendar rested for many hundreds of years - once a thriving settlement of the Maya Indians (Preclassical Period approximately [...]

Like other civilizations, the Maya created Mayan stories, legends and fables in which they interpreted, in their own unique way, the creation of the universe and the laws of life. Today, these stories will allow us to get closer to one of the greatest civilizations that ever lived on our planet. It happened a long time ago, in those days when the leader of the Mishtek tribe, Dikanyu, or as he was called Big [...]

Like other civilizations, the Maya created stories, Mayan legends and fables in which they interpreted, in their own unique way, the creation of the universe and the laws of life. Today, these stories will allow us to get closer to one of the greatest civilizations that ever lived on our planet. In one village, a hen lived happily with her husband, a rooster. They had many children - [...]

Like other civilizations, the Maya Indians created Mayan stories, legends and fables in which they interpreted, in their own unique way, the creation of the universe and the laws of life. Today, these stories, the stories of the Maya, will allow us to approach one of the greatest civilizations that ever lived on our planet. The Maya were famous for their hunting skills, and one day the most famous hunter in his tribe started [...]

Mayan astronomy and astrology, expressed in a calendar, also includes the lunar count - the calendar of Mayan lunar days. The lunar period was calculated as 2 cycles of 29 or 30 days, respectively (these cycles alternate). Thus, the average lunar period in Mayan astrology is 29.5 days, with the help of an accurate calculation of alternating cycles, the Moon was carefully caught in [...]

In Mayan astronomy, and indeed in ancient astronomy, the planet Venus played an important role. Mayan astronomers observed Venus and made records of this planet. Dresden Codex contains tables and astronomical data full cycle Venus. Mayan astronomy was able to calculate the cycle of Venus, five cycles of 584 days each, five components of a complete cycle of Venus. This corresponds to 2 [...]

The Maya were extremely good astronomers, observing and recording the Moon, the Sun, and other celestial bodies they managed to reach unprecedented heights in Mayan astronomy. Since the first millennium of our era, the Maya civilization used an annual calendar that includes 360 days, this calendar is extremely accurate and measures long periods of time. The ancient Maya are also known for [...]

The Maya civilization, which created the Maya writing, did not last long by historical standards, but it was a unique people, with its own unique traditions and knowledge of the world. The Maya Indians, like most ancient civilizations, had their own unique Mayan language and script. According to modern scientists, the Maya language originated around 250 BC [...]

Temple XII. Temple XII is rightfully considered the main attraction and the first place to visit among tourists in Palenque. The Mayan temple is also known as the Temple of the Skull and the Temple of the Dead Moon. During the period of primary archaeological excavations in 1992-94, it was on the territory of the temple that the most valuable exhibits were found, in total about 500 objects. Next to the temple of the moon, [...]

The architecture of Palenque was truly extraordinary. By reducing the specific weight of the cornice arch and minimizing the load on the load-bearing wall, the builders of Palenque managed to build houses with frontal doorways in order to increase the number fresh air and natural lighting in the house. The attic roofs, adorned with stucco carvings and stucco decorations, gave the Palenque structures a pleasing aesthetic appearance. The most famous [...]

Palenque, like most Mayan cities, is located in a mountainous area, the Mayan city is located in the foothills of the Tumbala cliffs in Mexico, the Palenque mountain ledge opens onto marshy plains that extend far north up to the coast of the bay. Perhaps it is the peculiar location of Palenque between the two worlds that gives the Mayan city its mystical charm, which attracts scientists and tourists [...]

Mayapan, like many cities in the jungle, was located on the Yucatan Peninsula, forty-seven kilometers southeast of Merida, the capital of the Yucatan. The ruins, dating back to the Postclassic period of Mayan history, include all the latest achievements of the Mayan civilization in architecture, developing up to the Spanish occupation. Mayapan, like many later jungle cities, was founded in 1007 [...]

Bul (better known as "Bull") is an ancient Mayan strategic board game. Yes, Mayan customs included games. This dice game is also called HAXBIL-BUL, HAXBIL (training) and BUL (game). Stuart Kulin, an ethnologist and curator at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, has included the game of Bul not only in Mayan customs, but [...]

The Maya, as Mayan customs say, were excellent athletes, they built the most magnificent stadiums for their games. For example, consider the stadium in the city of Chichen Itza, 545 feet long and 225 feet wide in all directions. According to Mayan customs, the stadium has no foundation and fastening partitions between the walls, the stadium also has no roof, it is completely open to [...]

Like other civilizations, the Maya created stories, legends and fables in which they interpreted, in their own unique way, the creation of the universe and the laws of life. Mayan mythology was created. Today, these stories will allow us to get closer to one of the greatest civilizations that ever lived on our planet. One day, the Rabbit decided to leave his hole in order to find food for himself. Unfortunately, it started to rain, [...]

And the gods gathered in Teotihuacan, the city of the gods, in order to discuss which of them would become the next Sun. Darkness surrounded them, the dawn was far away. And the gods asked if there were any volunteers among them?! And he wished to become a sim of Tecusitztecatl, but one volunteer was clearly not enough, especially since Tecusitztecatl, as the Mayan legends say, was frightened. And then the gods asked [...]

The post-classical Mayan territory is Uxmal ("oosh-mahl", translated as "thrice built"), a city that was formed on the Yucatan Peninsula at the turn of the 9/10 centuries. Uxmal is considered one of the most complex and beautiful examples Puuc architecture, and for numerous tourists and travelers Uxmal is the highlight of their journey. Puuc means "hilly side", the name of a hilly area in which [...]

A city perched spectacularly on a cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Tulum is a Mayan city that flourished until 1200 (the arrival of the Spaniards). The ruins of an ancient Mayan settlement, Tulum is the third most visited Mayan city in Mexico, after Teotihuacan and Chichen Itzi. The ruins of the city are located just 120 km from the popular resort of Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula. [...]

Kabah is a Mayan city in the Yucatan Peninsula, connected to the neighboring city of Uxmal by a ceremonial road. Its construction began around the 9th century AD (most of the buildings in the city are made in the Puuc style). The Kabah is best known for its palace, which is completely covered in rain god masks and hawk face paintings. The area around the city of Kabah began to be settled around [...]

Caracol is the most important city in the Mayan civilization, flourishing until the 7th century AD, today lying in ruins in west-central Belize on the border with Guatemala. The Mayan city, hidden in the jungle until 1938 (discovery of Caracol), contains numerous pyramids, royal burials, residences and other structures. Caracol is the largest Mayan settlement in Belize. Once the city [...]

Like other civilizations, the Maya created stories, Mayan legends and fables in which they interpreted, in their own unique way, the creation of the universe and the laws of life. Today, these stories will allow us to get closer to one of the greatest civilizations that ever lived on our planet. Once upon a time, Sac Muyal stole a young girl and disappeared with her. To save her, [...]

Like other civilizations, the Mayans created stories, Indian myths and fables in which they interpreted, in their own unique way, the creation of the universe and the laws of life. Today, these stories will allow us to get closer to one of the greatest civilizations that ever lived on our planet. Once upon a time, a brave and strong warrior lived in this world. He loved to hunt and often walked [...]

Like other civilizations, the Maya Indians created stories, legends and tales of the Indians, in which they interpreted, in their own unique way, the creation of the universe and the laws of life. Today, these stories will allow us to get closer to one of the greatest civilizations that ever lived on our planet. Once upon a time there lived a man so poor that he was always in bad mood, and mistreated [...]

Like other civilizations, the Mayan Indians, the mythology of the Indians created stories, legends and fables in which they interpreted, in their own unique way, the creation of the universe and the laws of life. Today, these stories will allow us to get closer to one of the greatest civilizations that ever lived on our planet. As Indian mythology says, once upon a time a kind but unfortunate man decided to sell his soul to the [...]

Mayan discoveries were numerous. Thus, the introduction of the symbol zero into calculations is one of the greatest achievements of the Maya civilization in its entire history. The role of zero cannot be overestimated, because while carrying the meaning of an empty set, at the same time it carries the meaning of infinity. The Mayan equivalent of the Arabic zero (0), allowed the Mayans to express any value of an integer using [...]

The city of Copan is one of the largest archaeological sites on the territory of Honduras and the most important political center of the disappeared Maya empire. The city of Copan is located in the west of Honduras, in the central part of the valley of the river of the same name (Copan), a kilometer from the town of the same name and 14 kilometers from the border with Guatemala. Copan is an ancient Mayan city, founded in the middle of the second century AD, [...]

The culture of the Mayan civilization is full of contrasts and mysteries, American myths and legends: great mathematicians and astronomers, primitive farmers, friendly merchants and bloodthirsty warriors. Like other civilizations, the peoples of Central America also had their own myths of America, legends, fairy tales. They described both the life of mere mortals and mythical creatures- gods or animals. Great attention [...]

More recently, the National Institute of Anthropology and History told the world that archaeologists from Mexico have begun excavations of Mayan cities, in particular the study of a certain large Mayan city, protected for hundreds of years by the jungle, and hidden deep underground. The city was first discovered by locals in 1995 and reported to the archaeologists of Luz Evelia Campagna. Approximate [...]

It is assumed that the Mayan religion was the most cruel in the history of mankind. All of you must have heard about the bloody atrocities that took place in the Mayan civilization, I mean sacrifices, both human and not. In the numerous rituals of the Mayan religion, to tenderness to the gods, hundreds of thousands of animals and an incalculable number of human lives were sacrificed. But is it [...]

The heritage of the Mayan civilization has hundreds of thousands of samples of a highly developed culture, the ancient Indian cities were an example of majestic architecture, but the Spaniards did everything to destroy them. The heritage of the fortified cities of the Indians, which had protected the locals for hundreds of years, did not save them either. In July 1562, in Mani, Bishop Diego de Landa ordered that all Mayan manuscripts and works of art be collected and burned. Tenderloin [...]

The gods of the Indians for the Indians themselves were not just idols. God Vitsliputsli - Huitzilopochtli (Huitzilopochtli, Vislipuzli) - “God of the southern hummingbird”, “hummingbird of the left side”. Initially, he was the god of the Aztec tribe (a hummingbird in Aztec and Mayan mythology, often personified the sun). According to the legends of the Aztecs, one day Huitzilopochtli was supposed to come to earth and take all the people to a blessed place where they [...]

The culture of the Mayan civilization is full of contrasts and mysteries, American tales and legends: great mathematicians and astronomers, primitive farmers, friendly merchants and bloodthirsty warriors. Like other civilizations, the peoples of Central America also had their own myths, legends, tales of America. They described both the life of ordinary mortals and mythical creatures - gods or animals. Great attention [...]

The culture of the Mayan civilization is full of contrasts and mysteries: Yucatan myths and fairy tales, great mathematicians and astronomers, primitive farmers, friendly merchants and bloodthirsty warriors. Like other civilizations, the peoples of Central America also had their own Yucatan myths, legends, fairy tales. They described both the life of ordinary mortals and mythical creatures - gods or animals. Great attention [...]

Not so long ago, a hypothesis appeared, according to which the Mayan civilization originated in Altai. Researchers were skeptical about such a theory, but not everything is so simple. Yes, yes, you were not mistaken precisely in Altai, here is such a Mayan tribe of geography. And every step in Central America only confirms this theory. Even the elders of the descendants of the Maya civilization, without the slightest irony, [...]

In the ancient city of Waka, modern Mayan ruins, a joint expedition of archaeologists from Guatemala and the United States managed to discover a burial, possibly belonging to the founder of the local dynasty of Mayan monarchs who ruled in the third century AD. Scientists do not yet have full confidence in the belonging of the Mayan tomb, however, as the Los Angeles Times notes, the finds at the entrance to the burial chamber indicate [...]

Translations of hieroglyphs depicted on the stairs of the pyramid in Guatemala showed that at the peak of its development in the Mayan civilization of Yucatan, there was a prolonged armed conflict between the two city-states. Mayan writings and texts in Mexico. The hieroglyphs of 1300 years ago support the theories of scientists that the world of the ancient Maya, the Maya in Mexico was split by battles between two dominant rulers, and not clashes [...]

Traveling through Mayan cities and ruins is one of the most inspiring trips you will ever take. The excavations of the Mayan city, its ruins are both an incredible sight and a memory for life. Visiting ancient Mayan cities is a great way to spend your holidays. Places such as the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza, Palenque, Merida, Tulum, Tikal and [...]

One of the most revered gods in the Mayan civilization, in the Mayan pantheon, was Quetzalcoatl (Kukul-kan), the god of the wind, the god of the planet Venus, etc. In addition to the main deities, local gods and faith in deified ancestors and heroes. Among the numerous female deities, the "red goddess" Ish-Chebel-Yash was especially revered. She was often depicted with the paws of a predatory [...]

The Mayan gods played a vital role in the daily lives of the Native Americans. The Mayans were a deeply spiritual people, like all other peoples of the Mesoamerican continent. The Mayan pantheon of gods was based on the knowledge acquired over the long existence of this ancient civilization. The thoughts of the Mayan people and their actions for many millennia were determined by ideas and concepts about space and time, about the creation of man, faith [...]

Farming has played an important role throughout the history of the ancient civilization that was built by the Mayan Indians, in the history of a civilization that left behind many questions and mysteries, such as the Mayan calendar or the 2012 apocalypse according to Mayan predictions. Basically, the fields of ancient farmers were sown with numerous grains, for the most part it was corn. Legumes were also often grown, [...]

Central America, where the Maya lived, is literally littered with pyramids and ruins left by the ancient Maya civilization, whose high point fell between 250 and 900 AD, and covered the territory of modern Honduras and part of central Mexico. Archaeologists were ordered to excavate in the area of ​​El Zotz, where the Maya lived, (El Zotz translated [...]

In May of this year, in Guatemala, researchers managed to discover a burial room, a Mayan tomb, but the discovery was made public only a couple of days ago, as it became known, the grave was found in the Peten region, where vast thickets and impenetrable jungle hid the great secret of the Mayan civilization over many hundreds of years. The tomb, a Mayan tomb, is dated 300 - 600 years [...]

Of all the empires of the ancient world, it is worth highlighting the Maya civilization, aggregating knowledge in mathematics that is in no way inferior to ours. It is believed that it was in the mathematics of the ancient Maya that the concept of the number zero was first used. The priests of the Mayan civilization, who spread the knowledge of the Maya, are the first people on our planet to use the concept of an empty set in their calculations. Also, don't forget about [...]

Tikal (or Tik'al according to modern Maya spelling) is the largest archaeological site and the center of Mayan civilization before the Columbus era. It is located in the archaeological area of ​​the Petén Basin in present-day northern Guatemala, where the Mayans and Incas used to live. Now part of Tikal located in the Petén basin is the National Park of Guatemala, and since 1979, thanks to UNESCO, it [...]

On November 15, 1533, the first Spanish soldiers set foot in the ancient Mayan city. Later, on March 23, 1534, Francisco Pizarro, who arrived in Cusco on an official visit, renames the city “Noble City of Cusco.” The ancient city, once belonging to the Maya, was rebuilt under the control of Europeans. big [...]

For more than 3,000 years, the meaning of Mayan symbols has remained a mystery to scientists around the world. The Maya was one of the few ancient civilizations that had its own writing system, the Mayan script. Their Maya symbols and hieroglyphs are original, most of the civilizations borrowed the writing system from pre-existing empires. The hieroglyphs were discovered by an American, John Lloyd Stevens, and an Englishman, Frederick Catherwood in [...]

Welcome to our corner of Mayan art. Architecture and sculpture of the ancient Indians, Maya painting, Inca architecture, memorial plaques, statues, sculptures and wall carvings (believe the Maya - this is not only fortune-telling of the Mayan Indians). About all this, including Maya painting, and not only you can read here, and not only read, but also watch. For your consideration [...]

The mysterious Maya and extraterrestrial civilizations, rumors about the possible connection of the ancient Indians with a more developed form of life have long been wandering around the net, and even before the advent of the Internet, this topic was widely discussed by many people. Some of them believe that the multi-level stone pyramids located in Central America are nothing more than star portals built by the Mayans and their extraterrestrial [...]

Mayan epochs, chronology: BC: 3000-2000, Olmec Empire. 1800-900, Early Preclassic Maya. 900-300, Middle Preclassic Maya civilization. 300 BC-250 AD Late pre classical era Mayan. Our era: 250-600, Early classical Mayan civilization. 600-900, Late Classic Maya period. 900-1500, Preclassic Maya civilization. 1521-1821, Colonial period. 1821, To this day, independent Mexico. Mayan history, detailed chronology: BC: 11,000 BC, The first hunter-gatherers [...]

Maya beliefs, the religion of ancient American cultures, are characterized by complex, sophisticated rites, rituals, the fundamental purpose of which was to receive indulgence from the gods in the form of all kinds of benefits. The Mayan religion boasted a huge variety of rituals from the burning of fragrant resins, cult dances and chants to vigils, fasts and prayers. The religion of the ancient Maya was arranged in such a way that a special place in it was occupied [...]

The city of Chichen Itza, Tikal, Mayapan, Palenque are all little-studied settlements of the Mayan civilization. The whole history of the Mayan civilization is shrouded in riddles and mysteries. Even now, endless archaeological excavations of ancient cities and research operations do not provide all the answers to all Maya riddles. How did such an ancient civilization, which did not know the wheel, manage to build such majestic temples and pyramids? What [...]

The Maya people are a homogeneous group of people that have settled in the same territory for a thousand years. The Maya Indians spoke about thirty languages ​​​​(the writing of the Mayan Indians also included about 30 dialects), so similar that linguists suggested the existence of a proto-Mayan language, from which the rest later appeared, this language existed about 7 thousand years ago. [...]

Ancient Maya, Mayan culture, the secrets of Mayan architects Deep in the tropical forests of Central America are majestic monoliths, the ruins of Mayan culture, Mayan civilization, this is a whole Mayan wiki or if you want a storehouse of knowledge. Names so unfamiliar to modern man as Copan, Tikal, Chichen Itza, Monte Alban - the names of abandoned cities of the disappeared Mayan civilization, captivate our imagination. Mayan civilization, Mayan culture - [...]

The Maya heritage is rich, as is the history of this people. At its peak, the Maya civilization occupied a vast area covering southeastern Mexico and the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Mayan culture, Maya religion, Maya civilization developed over a fairly long period of time, starting from the preclassic period, approximately 1000 BC. until the coming of the Spanish [...]

The ancient Maya civilization and its history. The Maya, the Maya civilization, is an ancient American civilization that possessed the only known and ideally developed written language of the Americas before Columbus, as well as its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Originally erected during the Preclassic period (c. 2000 BC to 250 AD), according to Maya history, the chronology of the Maya civilization, many [...]

Today, the Maya is a tribe of Indians living in the territory South America. Today they live in countries such as Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. And since 2000 BC, it was an ancient civilization in Central America. They obeyed all the ancient peoples and tribes that lived in this territory. Maya and civilization at that time were synonymous. The ancient Maya civilization dominated for 12 centuries. The peak of its heyday falls on the year 900 AD. After this, a long period of cultural decline begins, the reasons for which history does not reveal.

The Maya were called people who measure their lives with heaven. At the same time, the life of the tribe remained quite primitive. The main occupation was agriculture. The tools of labor were the simplest. Scientists say that the Maya did not even know the wheel. All the more striking is the fact that during its heyday, the Mayan tribe created unique works of art, temples, tombs, miracle cities and other architectural monuments. Even more striking is their knowledge of astronomy, the system they created for measuring time and writing.

At a time when the colonialists from the old world set foot on the east coast of South America, the Maya civilization came to an almost complete decline. During its heyday, it occupied all of Central America. The colonialists reacted barbarously to the works of art and architectural monuments they inherited from the Mayan civilization. They considered them "pagan idols", the heritage of pagan culture and ruthlessly destroyed them. But even what remains today of the culture and knowledge of the ancient Maya strikes the imagination of modern scientists.

By right, one of the main achievements of the Maya is their unique calendar, which is based on accurate astronomical calculations. Our scientists never cease to admire its amazing accuracy. The ancient Maya priests used their astronomical observations both to solve pressing issues (for example, in agriculture) and to explain more global problems. So the Mayan priests very accurately calculated life cycles of our planet, which is confirmed by modern scientists. With the onset of 2012, everyone is especially worried about the Mayan prediction about the supposedly impending end of the world. Everyone decides for himself whether to believe the ancient Mayan prophecies about the approaching apocalypse.

One thing is certain, the reasons why this ancient civilization disappeared remain mysterious and incomprehensible today. People simply left their cities en masse. There are several versions, but what exactly real reason no one knows. Who they are, where they came from - remains a mystery even today ...

Who wants to know more, we suggest watching the video film: “Mexico. Mayan. Unknown story." in 6 parts. The film was created on the basis of materials collected during the expedition to Mexico in March 2007 and is based on facts that have been hidden and hushed up for a long time. Happy viewing.

Video film: “Mexico. Mayan. Unknown history"

were and are the richest source of knowledge about the ancient world. The Mayan civilization itself, along with the Sumerians, is one of the most famous empires of the ancient world, widely spread in research circles, thanks to highly developed art, mathematics, architecture and astronomy. Excavations of ancient cities show that the ancient Indian empire stretched throughout the Yucatan Peninsula - from modern Belize, Guatemala, Honduras to the lands of Mexico and El Salvador. Mayan cities, photos taken by experts, scientific research allow researchers to assume that the Maya state began to form as early as 2000 BC, in the preclassical era. At the same time, the first Maya cities began to appear, which in the future became symbols of the greatness of the ancient Indians in America.

Mayan achievements include discoveries in mathematics, in particular the introduction of zero into calculations, the cities of the Mayan Indians, striking in their grandeur, discoveries in astronomy - the study of the planets, the moon, the introduction of the calendar into everyday life, in art and architecture - vaults, arches, weaving skills, music with wind instruments. By the way, the ancient cities of the Mayan Indians, the priests who practiced in local temples, used not just a calendar, but a calendar system that is considered one of the most accurate in the history of mankind. The Indians managed the seemingly impossible; they calculated the duration of the earth's day and year to the nearest minute. Their calendar system was used by other Indian peoples of Central America and continues to be used today.

The Mayan city-states developed and applied a unique hieroglyphic writing system. Today, the Mayan written language has been deciphered, but only partially. The name of the Mayan cities sounds throughout the scientific world, dozens and hundreds of scientists around the world are struggling to solve the mysteries left after the Mayans. How did the Indians, who did not know the wheel, manage to make fundamental discoveries in astronomy? Why did the Mayans, who encouraged sacrifices, have such extensive knowledge in mathematics? How did Mayan cities and architecture become what they are? These are all unanswered questions, which we hope will be received soon.

The city of Copan is the southeastern capital of the empire.

It was not without reason that the epoch-making settlements and independent states, which were the stronghold of ancient knowledge in the sciences, religion and art, were located in the center of Indian grandeur. The Mayan city was built of stone so that no one could penetrate its walls. A significant part of the former capitals of the Mayan Empire today is in a deplorable state and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, among them: the city of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Tikal, Copan, Palenque and many, many others. Almost all the ancient Mayan settlements turned into ruins, however, thanks to the work of scientists and researchers, we have the opportunity to visit both the city of Copan and other settlements and imagine what they were like hundreds and thousands of years ago.

copan maya today it is the largest archaeological settlement in Honduras, and in ancient times it was a majestic and powerful settlement that belonged to the Mayans. The city was located in the west of modern Honduras, in the center of the valley of the Copan River, a few kilometers from the border with Guatemala. The city of Copan was built back in the 1st-2nd centuries BC and existed until the Mayan heyday, until the 7th-9th centuries AD. Copan was one of the states and owned the southwestern territories of Honduras, and most of the southeastern lands of modern Guatemala. The suspension of the development of the city, and subsequently its decline took place around the 9th century AD, when great empire Maya ended its existence.

Most famous building, located in the city of Copan, is Temple 16, towering more than 30 meters above central square. This temple-pyramid is the highest building in the group of structures called the "Acropolis". Under almost every temple of the city and the pyramid, tunnels extend, with a total length of several kilometers. Temple 16 is no exception. The underground passages located in the city, under temple 16, greet all visitors with the formidable face of the solar king. This engraving in the shape of the face of an ancient ruler who expanded the city of Copan is the decoration of the first tier of Rosalila - a building that in ancient times stood on the site of Temple 16, and today is buried deep underground (the city as a whole resembles rather ruins). In ancient times, Rosalila, the temple, was painted red, almost bloody, which corresponded to its ritual purpose. The mentioned head of the king, who expanded the city, his possessions, the head that scares away visitors to the underground tunnels of Temple 16, is decorated with a headdress made of yellow, green and red feathers of the sacred quetzal bird, and the lines of the ruler’s eyes, and other small details associate it with images of the sun god.

The name of the king, from whose portrait the face was written off, which became famous thanks to the sculptural elements, is K'inich-Yash-K'uk'-Mo, which means “Sparkling Quetzal with a look like the sun”. This is the first known Mayan king of Copan. It is believed that it was he who initiated the construction of temples and pyramids that elevated the city of Copan to a new level of architectural grandeur. Temple 16 in its history has gone through seven main stages of construction, about 10 reconstructions and all kinds of additions. The last phase of the construction of the temple started in 775, shortly before the devastation of Copan itself.

Temple 16, located in the city of Copan, was discovered back in 1989. The discovery was made by researcher Ricardo Agurcia, part-time director of the tourism and research organization of South America. The discovery of the temple at one time became a kind of revolution, an impetus for scientists from all over the world, forcing them to study the city, its environs and, in general, the majestic Indian empire, abandoned for a thousand years.

Mayan cities: Uxmal - the northwestern capital of the empire.

Uxmal - the ruins of a settlement whose history dates back to 800 BC. It was during this era that the settlement of the lands began, on which Uxmal was founded in the future. Specifically, the construction of the Mayan city itself can be attributed to 800-900 AD, it was during these periods that the first temples, residential settlements and other buildings discovered by researchers were erected. The end point of the development of Uxmal, like other Mayan cities, is considered to be 1000 AD, the period of the Yucatan occupation by the Toltecs. And it was during this period that all construction work that was carried out in Uxmal was stopped, and after, several decades before the arrival of the Spaniards, the settlement was completely abandoned by the locals, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds on the site of the Mayan Indian city, which was once great.

For researchers, Uxmal is one of the most complex and beautiful examples. architectural style Puuc, where isolated Mayan settlements were built. For numerous tourists, Uxmal, like many others Maya Indian cities, is the main tourist destination of their journey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people arrive in this once large locality to see with your own eyes the architectural wonder of the ancient Maya. But not only tourists arrive in dozens in this region. A significant contribution to the development of Uxmal is made by researchers who visit excavations in the hope of shedding light on dark spots in the history of the Indian people who perished a thousand years ago.

Puuc, which means "hilly side" - the name of the area in which buildings of the same style were first discovered, in which Mayan cities and architecture were built. In this style, no more than a dozen settlements that once belonged to the Maya were made. Almost all such Mayan cities and architecture were built in the neighboring mountainous territory and were built in the last centuries of the history of the Mayan civilization, namely in 800 - 900 AD.

The most notable structures, from the section of late Mayan cities and architecture, structures ever erected in Uxmal are: “The Palace of the Ruler” - a palace complex, a vivid example of an outstanding Mayan architecture, decorated with sculptures and a mosaic frieze consisting of 20 separate plates; "Pyramid of the Magician", the so-called "House of the Dwarf" - in fact, clearest example cities and architecture of the Maya Puuc, but in fact - a temple on an oval-shaped pyramid 40 meters high; " Convent» - a complex consisting of 4 buildings framing the courtyard.

Maya city-states: Palenque - the western capital of the empire.

Palenque, like a significant part of the Mayan settlements, is located in a mountainous area on the heights of the Yucatan. The estates of the city-state are spread out on the eve of the Tumbala cliffs. The ledge on which Palenque was erected by the Mayans opens onto swampy plains that extend far north as far as the coast of the bay. Most likely, it was the unique location of Palenque between the two worlds that endowed the architecture with a unique charm that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. The vista of flat plains to the north and the hazy green of the lush mountain backdrop to the south capture the imagination of visitors to this beautiful land.

Archaeological finds of the city of the Mayan civilization, Palenque, indicate that the settlement began its development around 300 AD, almost at the very beginning of the golden era of the Mayan civilization. Most of Palenque's buildings, both residential and ceremonial, were erected between 400 and 900 AD. The reason why these enchanting lands were abandoned by the locals around 1000 AD remains a mystery.

At the moment, Palenque, like a significant part of the former Mayan city-states, is the busiest archaeological site. Researchers and archaeologists have restored approximately a third of the city's architecture with a total of 500 buildings that formed the central square and the surroundings of Palenque. At the same time, Palenque is also a favorite tourist destination. Every year, thousands of people from all over the world come to Yucatan to admire the former greatness of the Indian people.

Among the most notable buildings located in Palenque are: Temple XII and the "Palace of Archaeologists".

Temple XII - a building unique even for Indian architecture Maya city-states, which are among the main attractions not only of Palenque, but of the whole of Central America. The temple is also known as the Temple of the Skull and the Temple of the Dead Moon. During the first stage of archaeological excavations on the territory of Palenque in 1992-1994, the most valuable exhibits were discovered on the territory of the temple - several hundred elements of structures, decor details, dishes, clothes, ceremonial devices. Next to Temple XII, called the Temple of the Dead Moon, as you might guess, is the Temple of the Sun, built around the fourteenth century AD, at a time when the development of the Mayan civilization had already come to naught. The city of Palenque, the architecture of this settlement were unique and majestic, however, today the temple is in a terrible state and archaeologists plan to partially or completely restore it, which cannot but rejoice.

The “Palace of the Archaeologists” is a building of the Mayan city-state, Palenque, which is a vast palace complex and got its name in honor of the profession, the people of which are behind its discovery. Parts of the building, most likely, were used for their intended purpose, as a residence of the ruling dynasty, but the palace had another function: it was used as an administrative center, once a crowded and noisy settlement. What is noteworthy on the fourth level of the palace building is a real astronomical observatory, built by the ancient Maya Indians. Its structural type and architectural style are unique even to the Mayans. On the winter solstice from the observatory in the most beautiful way observed the night sky, stars and moon.

Mayan cities: Chichen Itza - the northern capital of the empire.

It is assumed that ancient history Chichen Itza, a Mayan city, dates back to the 5th-6th century AD. Then Chichen Itza is one of the largest Indian settlements in the Yucatan. However, by the end of the 10th century, for unknown reasons, the locals almost completely left Chichen Itza. This assumption is confirmed by the fact that in the period from the 10th to the 12th century, not a single building, either residential or religious, was built on the territory of the Mayan city. However, there is also evidence that Chichen Itza was repopulated around the 13th century. The new inhabitants of the capital were the Toltecs, who settled Yucatan.

The Toltecs gave Mayan cities a second life. Having settled in Chichen Itza, they gradually, step by step, conquered neighboring territories, thereby increasing their influence in the region. In the abandoned ruins of the once majestic settlement, the conquerors brought not only life, but also numerous rituals, customs, and their own, unique, vision of architecture. So, under the control of the Toltec tribe, the northern part of Chichen Itza was built. AT best years, both the reign of the Maya and the reign of the Toltecs, the population of the settlement ranged from 20 to 30 thousand inhabitants.

It was previously believed that Chichen Itza, almost heading major cities of the Mayan civilization, played the role of the summer residence of the emperor, where members of the ruling dynasty lived in the palace, and servants settled in residential areas. This was primarily evidenced by the location and architectural features of the settlement. On the territory of Chichen Itza there was a special residential quarter for the poor, which prompted scientists to think about the narrow specialty of the entire settlement. However, towards the end of the 20th century, researchers made several important archaeological finds who refuted the primary theory that Chichen Itza was only the summer residence of the king.

Chichen Itza, located on the territory of modern Mexico, developed at a leisurely pace until 13, until, due to the growth of power, both the Maya city itself and neighboring provinces, the inevitable political and military conflict was ripe. The rulers of Chichen Itza demanded more and more gifts from neighboring rulers and collected more and more taxes, as a result of which the combined army of several states that once obeyed Chichen Itza went to war with former owners and defeated the army of the Toltec tribe. This led to the decline and catastrophic decline in the population of the Mayan city of Chichen Itza. By the end of the 14th century, Chichen Itza was almost completely abandoned by the locals and devastated.

The most remarkable of all the buildings ever erected by anyone on the territory of Chichen Itza is the pyramid of Kukulkan. This monumental building, a pyramid, 24 meters high, rises above the central square and all the architecture of Chichen Itza. The Pyramid of Kukulkan consists of 9 levels and is oriented strictly to the cardinal points, which is typical for Mayan architecture. On the upper part of the building is a temple where regular rituals and ceremonies were held, including sacrificial ceremonies. At the base of the Chichen Itza pyramid is a square with a side of 55 and a half meters. Also at the base of the pyramid are majestic stone snake heads framing each of the stairs leading to the temple at the top. The pyramid is strictly oriented to the cardinal points.

Pyramid of Kukulkan mayan cities possesses several, rather surprising, architectural properties. First, the total number of steps of the pyramid is 365, which corresponds to the number of days in a calendar year. This feature of the pyramid led researchers to the idea that the Pyramid of Kukulkan served as a kind of calendar or, at least, the principle of the calendar system was laid at the basis of the pyramid. Wide known fact- Mayan astronomy, as a progressive science at that time, knew both the duration of the earth's day and the duration of the earth's year. Secondly, during the period of the autumn and spring equinoxes, a unique spectacle is observed at the base of the Chichen Itza pyramid.

Mayan cities based on the accumulated knowledge, including in astronomy. Down the main staircase of the pyramid, leading to the temple at its top, descends a shadow in the form of a giant serpent, the god Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent), who was worshiped by the Mayans and in whose honor the pyramid was erected. This phenomenon, observed due to the play of light and shadow, as well as due to the architectural properties of the pyramid, lasts exactly 3 hours and 22 minutes. It is believed that the serpent descending the steps of the pyramid marked the onset of spring and autumn, respectively.

Ancient cities of the Maya Indians: Tikal - the central capital of the empire.

Tikal or Tik'al is today one of the largest archaeological sites in the Yucatan, and in ancient times the largest Mayan settlement and the main link in the trade and religious chain of a lost civilization. Tikal is located in geographical area Petén basin, in the northern part of modern Guatemala, where the Maya Indians used to live. It was the Mayans who at one time built Tikal and it was to them that it belonged for many centuries. Now part of Tikal, which is located in the Petén basin, is the National Park of Guatemala, and since 1979, thanks to UNESCO, Tikal and its architecture have been a world heritage site.

Tikal, like some ancient Mayan cities, is the former capital of the conquered state, which later turned into one of the most powerful and powerful kingdoms of the Mayan civilization in the Yucatan. Although the monumental architecture found at the excavation site ancient settlement, dates back to the 4th century BC, the maximum point in the development of Tikal is considered the period of the classical era of the Mayan civilization - approximately 200 - 900 AD. At this time, in the history of many ancient Mayan cities, a period begins when they are the embodiment of power. American Indians. Roads were built between Tikal and almost all the major settlements of the Yucatan, connecting the capitals of the ancient empire. Tikal can be considered a kind of metropolis against the backdrop of a vanished state. In the best years, about 100 thousand inhabitants lived on the territory of Tikal, as evidenced by the finds discovered by scientists and a few records.

The Maya civilization is unique. Their writing system, calendar system, knowledge of astronomy amaze even modern specialists in cosmology. The Maya Indians are one of the most ancient and mysterious civilizations that have ever existed on Earth.

The birth of the Mayan civilization

Scientists have determined where the Indians lived. According to the theory, after the end of the last ice age, the tribes living in the north went south to develop new lands. Today it is the territory of Latin America.

Then, for the next 6 thousand years, the Indians created their own culture - they built cities, were engaged in agriculture.

By 1500 BC, the Mayans lived in the Yucatan Peninsula, the territory of modern Guatemala, the southern states of Mexico and western parts El Salvador and Honduras.

Maya Indians: the history of the development of civilization

The first major centers were the cities of El Mirador, Nakbe and Tikal. The construction of temples flourished, calendars were widely used, and hieroglyphic writing developed.

The photo below shows the ancient Mayan cultural center in the ancient city of Tikal.

The Indians created their own system, including architecture with unique buildings - pyramids, monuments, palaces, politics and social hierarchy. Society was divided into the masses and the elite, consisting of rulers.

The Mayan tribe believed that their rulers were descended from the gods. The status was emphasized by robes with a mandatory attribute - a chest mirror. "Mirror of the people" - the Maya called their supreme ruler.

Maya ruling class

The ancient Mayan civilization numbered over 20 million people.

A whole system of 200 cities was created, 20 of them were metropolitan areas with a population of more than 50 thousand people.

Economic development of the Maya tribes

Initially, the Mayans were engaged in slash-and-burn agriculture - they cut down the forest on the site that they planned to cultivate, then they burned the trees and shrubs, and fertilized the soil with ash. Since the land in the tropics is infertile, its resources were quickly depleted, and the fields ceased to be cultivated. They words overgrown with forest. Then the whole process started all over again.

But with the increase in population, new methods were required, and the Indians began to use hillsides for terraced farming. Swamps were also developed - raised fields were arranged on them by embanking beds a meter high above the water level.

They arranged irrigation systems, through a network of canals water flowed into tanks.

They traveled across the water in canoes made of mahogany. Up to 50 people could be in them at the same time. They traded fish, shells, shark teeth and other marine gifts. Salt was in the role of money.

Salt production

For the manufacture of weapons used obsidian, brought from Mexico and Guatemala.

Jade was a ritual stone, it has always been in value.

jade products

Those who lived on the plains traded food, cotton, jaguar skins, and quetzal feathers.

Art and architecture

During the "classic" early and late periods (250 - 600 AD and 600 - 900 AD) a huge number of temples were built, wall paintings appearing with the image of the rulers. Art flourishes.

Below is a photo of a bas-relief depicting a ruler.

New cultural centers become Copan and Palenque.

Migration

Starting from 900 AD, the southern plains gradually become empty, the settlements remain in the northern part of the Yucatan. Until 1000 AD, the influence of Mexican culture grows, the cities of Labna, Uxmal, Kabah and ChiChen Itza flourish.

Below is a photo of the pyramid in the city of Chichen Itza

After the mysterious collapse of Chichen Itza, Mayapan becomes the main city of the Maya.

Why did the Maya civilization disappear?

No one really knows the reason for the disappearance of the Indian people. There are only hypotheses about this. According to the main one, in 1441 there was an uprising of the leaders who lived in the cities neighboring Mayapan. This caused the degeneration of civilization and its transformation into disparate tribes. Drought and famine also affected. Then came the conquistadors.

Below in the photo - the last center of civilization.

In 1517, Spanish ships landed on an unknown shore. In the battle with the Indians, the conquistadors saw gold. With this, the extermination of the Mayan people began, since the Spaniards believed that gold should belong to their rulers. In 1547, the Maya were conquered, but some of the tribes managed to escape and hide in the center of the Yucatan Peninsula, where they lived for 150 years.

The diseases that the Spaniards brought with them caused outbreaks of epidemics. The Indians had no immunity to influenza, measles, and smallpox, and they died by the millions.

The culture and religion of the Indians were exterminated in every possible way: temples were destroyed, shrines were destroyed, idolatry was punished by torture.

In the 100 years since the advent of latin america Maya civilization was completely eradicated by Europeans.

Watch the BBC documentary on the mysterious Mayan civilization below.

Mayan civilization full of mysteries and mysteries. To date, the descendants of the Indians - who do not particularly stand out among other races and peoples. But the ancient history of the Maya haunts many researchers. Where did the ordinary farmers, who were the Mayan tribes, get amazing knowledge in mathematics, astronomy, writing and physics? How were they able to make incredibly complex objects or install huge megaliths? Secrets have always captivated the minds of people. Let's take an exciting journey into the mysterious Mayan history.

Stone head - a symbol of the Almecs

Archaeologists find artifacts that indicate that the territory of Mexico was inhabited for several millennia BC. Historians differ on the exact dating of these finds. In any case, it is obvious that the ancient peoples moved to the North American mainland in ancient times.

Officially recognized history considers the Olmecs to be the first Indian civilization, who lived on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico from the 2nd millennium BC. to 5th century AD They are credited with the invention of complex writing, a solar calendar, a twenty-year countdown, a sports and religious ball game, etc. It is also believed that the Olmecs were able to build pyramids and carve the famous five-meter heads of warriors out of stone.

The Indian civilization of the Zapotecs is little studied. Historians suggest that it originated in the 5th century BC. The capital was located in Monte Alban, famous for its amazing Temple of the Dancers with inscriptions still undeciphered. The mysterious Izapa culture, traces of which are found in the state of Chiapas, has left many artifacts for historians to study. Among them are unusual steles with images of deities and people, monuments, altars.

The culture of the Aztecs belongs to the later period of the history of Mexico until its conquest by the Spaniards. The capital of the Aztec state was Tenochtitlan, which later became the city of Mexico City. The Aztecs worshiped various deities, the main of which was the god of war, Huitzilopochtli. This tribe was very warlike: many thousands of sacrifices of people were in the order of things. They constantly fought with the tribes surrounding them and raided foreign territories. Cuauhtemoc, the last ruler of the Aztecs, was overthrown by conquistadors in 1521.

Among the many other Indian tribes that inhabited Mexico, Tarascos, Mixtecs, Toltecs, Totonacs, Chichimecs can be distinguished. The tribes of the Mayan civilization have earned a special position among their brethren thanks to the incredibly complex historical monuments and highly developed culture that official history ascribes to them.

Mayan history

Considering the history of the Mayan peoples, it should be noted that there are several theories of the development of this civilization. According to the official one - the one that is taught in universities and published in textbooks - the Mayan culture appeared about 3 thousand years ago. It had such a high level of technology, scientific knowledge and development that it surpassed the current civilization several times.

There is another theory, alternative, but gaining all more supporters. According to this theory, in ancient times there was some highly developed civilization that disappeared in a few millennia BC. She left behind amazing historical monuments, writings and artifacts, testifying to an incredible level of development. This, by the way, is consistent with the biblical chronology of times before Flood. It appears that this civilization was destroyed in the Flood.

The Maya Indians appeared on the territories of the ancient civilization much later. They began to master, as best they could, the found buildings and use calendars, statues and other objects of prehistoric culture in their everyday life. The Maya themselves admit that they received their knowledge from the "gods", and did not acquire it on their own. And what could be expected from a civilization whose main occupation was the cultivation of corn? Why would the Indians need deep knowledge of astronomy if they did not make space flights? How could the Maya build huge pyramids if they didn't even have a wheel?

Which theory to follow is up to you. Let's look at some official dates from Maya history.

1000-400 BC - the appearance of minor Mayan settlements in the northern part of Belize.

400-250 BC - the rapid growth of cities in vast areas of the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador. Archaeologists find a large number of works of jade, obsidian and precious metals.

250 BC – 600 AD - Maya peoples are formed into city-states, constantly at war with each other for territory.

600-950 AD - the rise and subsequent decline of many Mayan cities. For historians, the reasons for this desolation are still unclear. Some cite some kind of natural disaster, such as a severe drought, as an explanation. Others argue that it could have been wars of conquest or epidemics.

950-1500 AD - new cities appear in the north of Yucatan, special meaning attached to maritime trade with the Aztecs.

1517 - the first documented contact of the Mayan tribes with Europeans in the Yucatan Peninsula. Then the Indians were defeated in battle with the well-armed Spaniards. But for several decades they fought desperately for independence from the invaders.

During the Spanish conquest, the colonialists mercilessly destroyed cultural characteristics Maya, seeking to convert them to the Catholic faith. It is known that the Catholic priest Diego de Landa burned a collection of Maya books in order to combat shamanism.

Mayan mysteries

In the territories where the Mayan peoples lived, a huge number of objects have been found that amaze modern researchers. Some can be seen in museums in Mexico, such as the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, others are scattered in museums around the world. And how many have not yet received general publicity!

According to archaeologists, multi-colored quartz skulls were not rare among Mayan treasures. It is not yet possible to establish their exact date. It is even more difficult to determine how they were carried out and, most importantly, for what. One such skull is the legendary Mitchells-Hedges skull. It was found according to the reports of the researcher himself, after whom he received his name, during excavations in the jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula. The skull strikes with perfection of lines. It has an amazing property: when rays of light hit it at a certain angle, the eye sockets of the skull begin to glow. Was this skull used in the worship of deities during some religious rituals, or did it simply serve as an interior decoration? There are no exact answers yet, but there are many assumptions.

Modern researchers are like African natives who found a glass bottle in the desert and are trying to determine its purpose by directing the sun's rays at it. Most likely, the ancients used crystal skulls in ways we can't even imagine.

AT modern world there is no technology that could replicate such a masterpiece. But on the ancient crystal skull there is not a single trace of tools. So for now, this amazing item remains one of the biggest mysteries of the past.

The famous archaeological site of Palenque is located in the Mexican state of Chiapas. A mysterious sarcophagus was found in the Temple of the Inscriptions located in it. Scientists attribute its existence to the Mayan ruler Pakal, who was buried in it. Amazing images on the lid of the sarcophagus still cause controversy in scientific circles. Some see Pacal himself in the drawing, resurrected from the realm of the dead. Others suggest that this is not Pacal at all, but some kind of prehistoric astronaut in the cockpit of a spaceship. It is impossible to say anything for sure. Therefore, the sarcophagus is shrouded in mystery.

Not only the stone lid is interesting, but also the sarcophagus itself. It's just huge. Its dimensions are 3.8 m by 2.2 m. The sarcophagus is carved from solid stone weighing 15 tons and has an exact rectangular shape. The lid weighs 5 and a half tons. How could it be done? It is difficult to imagine the ancient Indians breaking a block of stone with primitive tools. It is even more difficult to guess how and who installed this giant in the pyramid.

The calendar attributed to the Mayan culture amazes scientists with its complexity and accuracy. According to researchers, it consists of two calendars: solar and sacred (galactic). The first included 365 days, the second - 260. The sacred calendar (tsolkin) is a number system of 13 numbers and 20 characters. Many claim to decipher the Mayan calendar. As soon as they do not explain the meaning of its symbols and numbers. Someone associates the calendar with predictions of future events. Someone sees in his calculations the movement of the sun around the center of the galaxy. The exact origin and purpose of the Mayan calendar remains a mystery. One thing is obvious, that for its creation a very deep knowledge of mathematics and astronomy was required.
The most important Mayan monuments

The Maya culture left behind numerous archaeological monuments: pyramids, temples, frescoes, steles, sculptures, etc. Their research is a very exciting activity. It's worth making the trip yourself when the opportunity presents itself. Simply breathtaking from the beauty and mystery of these structures.

In fact, this is a pyramid with a small building on its top. The pyramid got its name from the three plates with hieroglyphs on the walls of the temple. Several groups of scientists were engaged in deciphering the inscriptions, but it was not possible to read them to the end. A tunnel was discovered in the pyramid leading to a secret room. There, archaeologists found a sarcophagus with the Mayan ruler Pacal buried in it, which was discussed above.

This is a unique pyramid 30 meters high. At its top is a temple in which the ancient Mayan priests made sacrifices to their supreme deity Kukulkan. The pyramids are famous for their unusual construction: twice a year, on the equinoxes, the shadow from the ledges of the pyramid falls on the steps, giving the impression of a crawling snake. Surely, for the Indians, this picture looked intimidating. Inside the temple is a "jaguar throne" decorated with shells and jade. It is believed that rulers sat on it. The size of this "throne" is small and its exact purpose is unknown.

The height of the pyramid is 36 meters. This pyramid is famous for the fact that its base is not square, but oval. According to an ancient Mayan legend, it was built in one night by a sorcerer who knew how to rearrange stones with spells. The pyramid has several platforms, at the top there is a temple dedicated to the rain god Chaak. The Pyramid of the Wizard itself is decorated with images of this deity, as well as snakes and people.

- the only Mayan port city that has survived to this day. Its name translates as "wall". Indeed, part of the city's defensive wall testifies to its former greatness. Here you can also see several impressive palaces and temples.

- This is an ancient Mayan city, the territory of which cannot be bypassed in one day. The city has an area of ​​70 sq. km. To walk along it, you can rent a bicycle or ride a bicycle taxi. Koba is famous for its huge pyramids, 100 km road and many other mysterious buildings.

On the territory of the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza there is a mysterious sacred cenote or a natural karst well. A three-hundred-meter road leads to it from the pyramid of Kukulkan. The Mayan Indians used the cenote during religious rituals. In order to achieve the favor of their fictional deities, they sacrificed not only precious stones, gold items and weapons, but also people. They were simply thrown to the bottom of the well in the hope that the deity would send the long-awaited rain in response.

History of discoveries and mysteries of Mexico

Very meager information of the Spanish colonialists about the ancient Mayan cities that they found has come down to us. In addition, they are more like fairy tales about cities of gold.
For many years, Mayan treasures have been lost in the impenetrable jungle. The beginning of a purposeful study of the monuments of the ancient Maya culture was laid by the American John Stephens in 1839. He was able to discover such cities as Palenque, Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Copan, etc. He described his observations in a book that made a splash in the scientific world of America and Europe. Following Stephenson, many researchers from different countries went deep into the jungle, eager for new discoveries and clues to mysteries. Several US research institutes have assumed a leading role in archaeological excavations.

At first, the main attention was paid to the study of buildings, inscriptions, bas-reliefs, stelae and frescoes, i.e. external attributes. Over time, scientists delved into the study of small objects and details, as well as what is hidden underground.

So, for example, at the end of the 19th century, the American E. Thompson arrived on the Yucatan Peninsula. Earlier, Diego de Landa's testimonies came to him that untold riches were stored at the bottom of the sacred well in Chichen Itza. The American decided to test this statement and, armed with the necessary tools, took out real treasures from the bottom of the well. These were jewels made of jade, gold, copper, and the remains of more than 40 people were also found.

Another sensational discovery occurred in 1949 in the archaeological complex of Palenque. Archaeologist A. Rus noticed that one of the slabs on the floor in the Temple of Inscriptions had holes covered with corks. He decided to lift this slab and found the entrance to the tunnel. The tunnel needed to be cleared of stones and earth, which took several years. In June 1952, an archaeologist was able to get into an underground room under the pyramid. There he discovered the famous sarcophagus with the Mayan ruler Pacal buried in it, as they say. In addition to the sarcophagus, the remains of people, jewelry and jewelry were found. Scientists are still trying to explain the meaning of the image on the five-ton cover of the sarcophagus.

To date, only a small part of the cultural heritage of the ancient civilization has been discovered and studied. In addition, much is simply inaccessible to ordinary lovers of antiquities. Who knows how many more ancient treasures are waiting to be discovered...