NATS 1745 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Chichen Itza, Feathered Serpent, Dresden Codex
22 Jul 2017
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Often the pyramids would have this number of steps. Cardinal directions had specific color associated with them. **note: maya culture covers a later time frame than ancient egypt, mesopotamia and greece. Use of long count: 800-1100 ce . El castillo/pyramid of kukulkan and el caracol were built: 1000-1100 ce . Role of humans was to observe the stars to count the days, and honor the gods. Celestial events viewed as communication from gods. Also used the sky for agriculture and navigation. Had accurate year calendar, just over 365 days. Could easily calculate sun"s rise and set times. Important objects in the sky sun, moon, venus. Counted 149 full moons over 4400 days, so the average was about 29. 5 days for a lunation. Their lunar calendar alternated between 29 and 30 days. Changed positions often, sometimes seen in morning sky, sometimes evening, etc. Mayas were fascinated and frightened by venus. Bad luck when venus was viewed in the morning sky.
