Unlocking Ancient Secrets: How the Maya Accurately Predicted Eclipses for Centuries

A medieval Maya text has puzzled many for ages, but researchers might have unlocked its secrets. Indigenous civilizations in Mexico and Guatemala created calendars over two thousand years ago. These calendars allowed them to forecast celestial events with remarkable accuracy, guiding their activities and rituals.

Sadly, much of this knowledge was lost during the Spanish Inquisition. Only a few texts, like the Dresden Codex, survived. This codex, which dates back to the 11th or 12th century, is one of the last remnants of Maya astronomy and offers a peek into the civilization’s sophisticated understanding of the universe.

The Dresden Codex is a colorful, accordion-style book filled with 78 pages. It contains information on astronomy, astrology, and even medicine. Predicting solar eclipses was particularly crucial for Maya society, as they built their lives around celestial cycles.

Historian Kimberley Breuer from the University of Texas noted that keeping track of these events allowed the Maya to prepare for them. For example, during an eclipse, nobility often engaged in bloodletting ceremonies to honor the Sun god. These rituals were essential for maintaining harmony and ensuring cosmic cycles of destruction and renewal.

Recent research by linguist John Justeson and archaeologist Justin Lowry offers a fresh perspective on how the Maya used their eclipse prediction table. Previous assumptions suggested that the table reset after 405 lunar months, but this method didn’t work as expected. Instead, Justeson and Lowry propose starting a new table after the 358th month. This adjustment would keep predictions accurate, allowing the Maya to foresee eclipses within a close timeframe.

Their findings show that the Maya could correctly predict solar eclipses observable in their territory between 350 and 1150 CE, adjusting for small errors over time. Such an understanding reflects the advanced mathematical techniques of the Maya, linking their spirituality and cosmic awareness.

This research, detailed in Science Advances, highlights the impressive knowledge of ancient civilizations and the importance of their contributions to astronomy. You can find more about this study in Science Advances here.

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