Maya astronomy
E913468
Maya astronomy is the sophisticated body of astronomical knowledge and observational practices developed by the ancient Maya, used to track celestial cycles, guide ritual and agricultural activities, and underpin their complex calendrical systems.
Statements (77)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
astronomical tradition
ⓘ
component of Maya civilization ⓘ |
| associatedCalendar |
Calendar Round
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Haab' NERFINISHED ⓘ Long Count NERFINISHED ⓘ Tzolk'in NERFINISHED ⓘ Venus table ⓘ eclipse tables ⓘ |
| corePurpose |
regulating agricultural activities
ⓘ
regulating ritual activities ⓘ supporting calendrical systems ⓘ tracking celestial cycles ⓘ |
| cosmologicalConcept |
cardinal directions with colors
ⓘ
three-tiered universe ⓘ world tree aligned with Milky Way ⓘ |
| developedBy |
Maya priests
ⓘ
Maya scribes NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| developedIn | Mesoamerica NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| influenced | later Mesoamerican calendrics ⓘ |
| influencedBy | earlier Mesoamerican astronomy ⓘ |
| integratedWith |
Maya cosmology
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Maya religion ⓘ Maya ritual calendar NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| keySite |
Chichén Itzá
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Copán NERFINISHED ⓘ Palenque NERFINISHED ⓘ Tikal NERFINISHED ⓘ Uxmal NERFINISHED ⓘ Uxmal Governor's Palace NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| keyStructure |
E-Group complexes
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
El Caracol observatory at Chichén Itzá NERFINISHED ⓘ Temple of Kukulcán at Chichén Itzá NERFINISHED ⓘ observatory-like temple buildings ⓘ |
| keyText |
Chilam Balam books
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Dresden Codex NERFINISHED ⓘ Grolier Codex NERFINISHED ⓘ Madrid Codex NERFINISHED ⓘ Paris Codex NERFINISHED ⓘ Popol Vuh NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| mathematicalFeature |
use of positional notation
ⓘ
use of vigesimal (base-20) system ⓘ use of zero as placeholder ⓘ |
| modernStudyField |
Maya epigraphy
ⓘ
Mesoamerican studies ⓘ archaeoastronomy ⓘ |
| notableFeature |
alignment of architecture to horizon events
ⓘ
alignment of architecture to solstices and equinoxes ⓘ corrections for Venus cycle errors ⓘ high-precision Venus tables in Dresden Codex ⓘ prediction of eclipses ⓘ |
| observedBody |
Milky Way
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Moon NERFINISHED ⓘ Sun NERFINISHED ⓘ Venus NERFINISHED ⓘ constellations ⓘ visible planets ⓘ |
| recordMedium |
bark-paper codices
ⓘ
monumental inscriptions ⓘ stone stelae ⓘ |
| timePeriod |
Classic period
ⓘ
Postclassic period ⓘ Preclassic period ⓘ |
| tracksCycle |
Venus synodic period
ⓘ
eclipse seasons ⓘ lunar eclipses ⓘ lunar phases ⓘ planetary motions ⓘ solar year ⓘ |
| usedBy |
Classic Maya
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Maya civilization NERFINISHED ⓘ Postclassic Maya NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| usedFor |
divination
ⓘ
royal legitimation ⓘ timing of agricultural planting ⓘ timing of major ceremonies ⓘ timing of warfare ⓘ |
| writingSystem | Maya hieroglyphic script ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.