The Long Count Begins

My absolute favorite 2012 Long Count Maya calendar hoax was the film: Apocalypse Island. In fact, I have a DVD copy for entertainment purposes that still makes me laugh and yet… it was so beautifully filmed and such an amazing island, it actually captured me like an old Jacques Cousteau film. It is amazingly filmed… it’s just a nonsensical story that had me watching and re-watching it to make sure that I actually understood what they were trying to say about this island, “somewhere between the South American and the Marshall Islands,” wasn’t just crazy, it was indeed, well thought out entertainment. Anyway, if you’ve never seen Apocalypse island, you can find it online…

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In the shadowy jungles of Mesoamerica, where towering pyramids pierce the dense canopy and ancient cities lie shrouded in mystery, the echoes of a sophisticated civilization continue to captivate us. Among the many wonders left behind by the Maya and their predecessors, few are as enigmatic or as awe-inspiring as the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. This intricate system of timekeeping, which begins on the fabled date of August 11, 3114 BCE, reveals a culture with an extraordinary understanding of the cosmos and an obsession with the cycles of time.

Long before the arrival of European explorers, the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica had developed a complex and interconnected web of calendars. These systems were not merely tools for marking the passage of days; they were deeply woven into the fabric of religious rituals, agricultural practices, and the very identity of the civilizations that used them.

The Long Count calendar, primarily associated with the Maya civilization, is believed to have originated during the pre-Classic period, possibly influenced by earlier cultures like the Olmecs. While the Olmecs may have laid the groundwork, it was the Maya who perfected the system, using it to record not only the dates of their kings’ ascensions and victories in battle but also significant mythological events.

At the heart of the Long Count calendar lies the Maya creation myth. According to this myth, the world as we know it was born on a specific date: August 11, 3114 BCE. This date, known as the “Zero Date” in the Long Count system, marks the beginning of the current world age, the latest in a series of creations and destructions that have shaped the cosmos. For the Maya, time was not linear but cyclical, with each era destined to end and be reborn.

The Long Count calendar is an impressive feat of mathematical and astronomical precision. It functions as a count of days, much like our Gregorian calendar, but with a base-20 and base-18 structure that reflects the Mesoamerican fascination with cycles and order.

The smallest unit in the Long Count system is the Kin (one day), followed by the Uinal (20 days), the Tun (360 days, or roughly one solar year), the Katun (7,200 days, or about 20 years), and the Baktun (144,000 days, or approximately 394 years). The calendar’s structure allowed the Maya to record vast expanses of time, spanning over 5,000 years, far beyond the reach of many other ancient civilizations’ timekeeping methods.

But the Long Count did not exist in isolation. It worked in conjunction with other Mesoamerican calendars, such as the 260-day Tzolk’in and the 365-day Haab’. Together, these systems created a complex interplay of cycles that governed every aspect of Maya life, from the timing of religious ceremonies to the scheduling of agricultural activities.

The choice of August 11, 3114 BCE as the calendar’s starting point is a subject of much speculation among scholars. While the exact reason remains shrouded in mystery, it is clear that this date held profound cosmological importance for the Maya.

According to Maya belief, this date marks the beginning of the current world age, following the destruction of a previous creation. The gods, after a series of cosmic battles and negotiations, established the current order of the universe on this day, setting the sun, moon, and stars into motion and establishing the foundations of human civilization.

This “Zero Date” was not just a point in time but a sacred moment in the Maya cosmology. It represented the birth of time itself, the moment when the gods created the world anew. To the Maya, the cyclical nature of time meant that this creation would one day end, only to be followed by another, a concept that deeply influenced their rituals and worldview.

The Long Count calendar was more than just a tool for marking the passage of days; it was a cornerstone of Maya civilization, used to record historical events, prophecies, and the reigns of kings. Maya stelae, towering stone monuments found throughout their cities, often bear inscriptions with Long Count dates, marking significant events such as royal births, battles, and religious ceremonies.

One famous example is the stelae at the ancient city of Tikal, where the reigns of powerful rulers like Jasaw Chan K’awiil I are chronicled in Long Count dates, preserving their legacies for posterity. These inscriptions offer us a glimpse into the lives of the Maya elite, their triumphs and tragedies, and their deep connection to the cosmos.

Beyond the historical records, the Long Count calendar also played a crucial role in shaping Maya society. It influenced the timing of festivals, the construction of monuments, and even the daily lives of the people. The calendar’s cycles were believed to reflect the will of the gods, and adherence to these cycles was seen as essential for maintaining cosmic order.

The Long Count calendar gained global attention in the lead-up to December 21, 2012, a date that marked the end of the 13th Baktun, or a complete cycle of the calendar. Many believed this date signaled the end of the world, a misconception fueled by sensationalized interpretations of Maya prophecy. However, for the Maya, this date was not an apocalyptic prediction but the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.

In the years since 2012, scholars and indigenous Maya communities have worked to correct these misunderstandings, emphasizing the calendar’s true significance as a reflection of the cyclical nature of time. The Long Count calendar continues to be revered among the Maya, serving as a reminder of their rich cultural heritage and their ancestors’ profound understanding of the cosmos.

The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is more than just an ancient timekeeping system; it is a testament to the intellectual and spiritual achievements of the Maya and other Mesoamerican cultures. Beginning on August 11, 3114 BCE, this calendar has guided not only the rhythms of their civilizations but also our modern understanding of their sophisticated worldview.

vAs we look back at this remarkable calendar, we are reminded that the Maya perceived time not as a straight line but as a continuous cycle of creation, destruction, and rebirth—a concept that challenges our modern notions of time and history. The Long Count calendar is a legacy that continues to inspire and intrigue, offering us a window into the minds of one of the most remarkable civilizations the world has ever known.

For those intrigued by the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar and Maya civilization, the following resources offer deeper insights:

– Coe, Michael D. The Maya (8th Edition)

– Schele, Linda, and David Freidel. A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya

– Tedlock, Dennis. Popol Vuh: The Definitive Edition of the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life and the Glories of Gods and Kings

These texts provide an excellent foundation for understanding the complexities of the Long Count calendar and the broader cultural context in which it was developed.