Entity: MAYA-CALENDAR
The Maya calendar is a system of calendars used in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and in many modern communities in the region, consisting of interlocking cycles of names, numbers, and solar years.
MAYA-CALENDAR
Etymology
The term 'Maya calendar' refers to the calendrical system used by the ancient Maya civilization.
Definition
The Maya calendar is an intricate calendrical system utilized by the ancient Maya civilization, featuring cycles of names, numbers, and solar years.
Historical Context
Dating back to around 250 AD, the Maya calendar system is composed of distinct cycles interwoven with one another. The calendar round consists of three interlocking cycles: a cycle of 20 names, a cycle of 13 numbers forming the 260-day sacred calendar, and a 365-day solar year.
Cultural Significance
The Maya calendar played a crucial role in the daily lives and religious practices of the ancient Maya civilization. It served as the basis for all other calendars used by ancient Mexican and Central American civilizations.
Related Concepts
The Maya calendar is often associated with the pyramid calendar, featuring four stairways with 91 steps each and a platform at the top, totaling 365 steps equivalent to the number of days in a calendar year. The calendar system was adopted by other Mesoamerican nations such as the Aztecs and the Toltec.
See Also
An intricate calendrical system utilized by the ancient Maya civilization, featuring cycles of names, numbers, and solar years.