We’ve been hearing about the end of the world for quite some time, now, right? It might come by meteor; it may be the result of a nuclear war; it could be a slow but definite deterioration of our Ozone layer. Whatever the cause may (or may not) be, people are obsessed with the idea of the end of the world. What makes the Ancient Mayan predictions of doomsday any different from these other catastrophically deadly potentials? The date.
The difference with the Ancient Mayan prophecies, as opposed to other end of the world predictions, is a precise account of when life as we know it will cease to exist. No one can say exactly when or if a meteor will hit. We can only speculate as to when a nuclear war might erupt. We’re still learning about the Ozone layer and whether or not we can reverse the damage done, but we cannot say precisely if or when it will collapse. However, the Ancient Mayans pin-pointedly predicted one specific date, thousands of years into their own future, when we will face the end of the world as we know it. Furthermore, this date is frighteningly close: December 22, 2012.
How exactly did an ancient people prophesy such a future? The answer is in the codices, a collection of writings created by this past civilization, the most famous of which is the Dresden Codex.
The Dresden codex aimed its sights at the stars, the planets, the sun, the moon, and space-related phenomenon. In this hieroglyphic script, the Ancient Mayans used mathematical and astrological genius to formulate an advanced working of the calendar. Contrary to popular belief, the Ancient Mayans did not invent the calendar, but they did perfect it to such a degree that their calendar system measured time and planetary occurrences more accurately than the calendar we use today. They also are responsible for our current understanding of the zodiac, based on a 12-part division of the sky. If you wake up in the morning and read your horoscope, you can thank the Ancient Mayans. But who were these people, and why should we be concerned about their predictions for our future? Continue reading →
