Mayan culture

The civilization of the Maya is full of mysteries. The descendants of the Maya are now inhabited by certain regions of Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and Belize. The jungles of Central America have preserved dozens of cities founded by representatives of the oldest and one of the most mysterious civilizations. Remained from them only ruins, but they allow us to tell a lot about what the Mayan culture was like. In museums of the world today a large number of items of ceramics, ornaments, figurines, which once belonged to them, are kept. Until recently, very little was known about the culture of this people. The names of cities, the names of artists and priests were unsolved mysteries.

Only when the manuscripts "Chilam Balam", written in Latin in the Maya language, fell into the hands of the researchers, they were able to draw mythological, historical and astronomical information.

By the time the conquistadors arrived, the Maya tribes were settled throughout the vast territory of the Yucatan Peninsula, Campeche, Quintana Roo, parts of Tabasco, the western regions of Salvador, Chiapas and many others. Civilization arose in the first centuries of our era. The culture of the Maya experienced its flowering in the 7-8th century AD. It was at this time that the most significant creations of architecture, sculpture, and Maya painting were created.

Already in the 9th century life in many cities practically ceases. Temples and palaces cease to appear, construction fades, and altars disappear. Almost completely freezes the scientific life, palaces and workshops empty. Scientists are still arguing about what caused the decline of civilization. The most plausible assumption today is the hypothesis of a foreign invasion, which caused the destruction of cities and the expulsion of people from them.

A civilization that existed for a relatively short period of time left behind a lot of evidence that its representatives possessed surprisingly extensive knowledge. The culture of the Maya was so developed that its achievements amaze even today. The Mayan calendar was a whole system of calendars, each of which was applied with both religious and practical purpose. Horoscope was the first in the world, which was used to determine the favorable periods for rituals, sowing, etc.

Mayan astronomers also created the lunar calendar without having telescopes or any other equipment at their disposal. They were able to calculate the duration of the year, to measure the phases of Venus and the Moon. These calendars were relatively short. For long-term calculations, the calendar of the Long Account was used. It is according to his data that the planet in 2012 should cease to exist.

Maya culture was quite diverse. It was represented by temple painting, architecture and science. Indians worshiped the sun, so "solar themes" can be traced in most works of art. In the temple painting artists used paints, which were highly resistant. Their composition is not known even today. Valuable objects were wooden figures of the gods and deceased relatives.

Architectural monuments are of the same type. The facilities were erected on stylobates, often with a quadrangular or oval base. Maya created whole city-states, which were carved out of stone. About two hundred years ago, scientists discovered the city of Palenque. It is a real work of art with pyramids, palaces, temples. A special development was achieved by sculpture.

At the same time, the Maya had rather strange ideas about beauty. In their understanding beautiful deformed skulls, triangular teeth, oblique eyes were considered. They also had very cruel rituals and traditions: human sacrifices were widely practiced with the extraction of the heart.

The artistic culture of Maya was unique and uncommon, so it is so interesting for modern researchers.