Discoveries Of The Mayan Civilization

By | November 21, 2019

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Central Acropolis. Source: (wikipedia.org)

The Mayans were highly skilled in many areas including math, engineering, architecture, astronomy, and writing. While many discoveries have been made regarding their civilization and their unusual way of life, much knowledge and skills can be taken from them as well.

Located in the northern rain forest of Guatemala, Tikal was one of the Mayan sites that had massive architecture from as far back as the 4th century B.C. The Central Acropolis site is quite complex with buildings like palaces, courtyards, and small temples. It is believed that small rooms were used for ritualistic ceremonies. The entire area was once 6.2 square miles with 3,000 erections and 90,000 occupants. The Mayan civilization, at that time, was quite domineering in the political world as well as in the economic arena and in the military. Eventually, though Tikal lost its influence as well as its population when it became a desolate place by the year 950 A.D.

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Chichen Itza- top of Kukulkan Temple. Source: (wikimedia.org)

The El Castillo temple, located in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, was a pyramid that the Mayans dedicated to their god Kukulkan or the serpent god. This god was a war serpent as well as a vision serpent who oversaw sacrifices. This pyramid was built between the 9th and 12th centuries and built up to 98 feet high with a base of 181 feet square. There are 91 stairs on each side of the pyramid. The four sides equal 364 steps and with the platform at the top, it is 365 which equals the days of the year. On each side are also 52 rectangular panels which equal the 52 weeks of the year.