[Aztlan] Mayan Constellations

[David Hixson]

P.S. I should have added, in direct answer to Mario's
question...

There may be at least 13 Maya constellations that have
been documented in the codices and in murals (of
course, other constellations may have been recognized
by the Maya, but these are the only references that
have survived).

A brief summary of the constellations from Sharer and
Traxler ("The Ancient Maya" sixth edition) reads:

"The ancient Maya appear to have had a zodiac,
composed of 13 houses, represented on pages 23 and 24
of the Paris Codex.  If so, the first three signs, or
houses, seem to have been Scorpion, Turtle, and
Rattlesnake.  These are the first three figures shown
hanging from a constellation band in the middle
section of page 24 (Fig. 3.14).  Gemini was "ahk" -
"the turtle", and the Pleiades were "tzab", the
rattles of a rattlesnake."

Again, I would suggest you read the work of Harvey
Bricker (referenced in that link I sent earlier) for a
more detailed analysis.

-Dave

__________________________________________________
David R. Hixson
Aztlan Moderator &
Doctoral Candidate
Tulane University
Dept. of Anthropology
__________________________________________________
"Nothing more useless than a bored archaeologist."
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