Ancient Aliens: 900-Year-Old Codices Reveal Maya Mysteries (Season 20)

Summary

The Getty Museum displays the Maya Codex of Mexico, one of the oldest books from the Americas, containing illustrations and hieroglyphs on tree bark pages. This script explores how scholars have deciphered Maya hieroglyphs, revealing ancient knowledge about astronomy, divination, and religious ceremonies. The central creation story, the Popol Vuh, describes the Hero Twins battling lords of death to prepare Earth for humanity. The Maya pantheon, led by 13 gods, taught various disciplines to the ancient Maya, with Kukulkan, a prominent flying serpent deity, linked to wisdom and the sky. Ancient astronaut theorists find Kukulkan's depiction as a humanoid emerging from a serpent intriguing.

Takeaways

• 📖 The Getty Museum opened an exhibition showcasing the Maya Codex of Mexico, the oldest book discovered in the Americas.
• 🌿 The Maya Codex, approximately 900 years old, contains illustrations and hieroglyphs written on tree bark pages bound like a book.
• 📜 Only four Maya codices are known to have survived, though the Mayans had hundreds or thousands documenting their history and deities.
• 🗿 Maya hieroglyphs have been found on temples dating as far back as the 3rd century BC, but the majority of codices were lost or destroyed.
• 💡 Scholars have only translated about 80% of the Maya hieroglyphic system, with ongoing efforts to decipher the remaining symbols.
• 🔭 The Maya codices include astronomical charts, divination tables, and religious instructions, revealing the complexity of Maya knowledge.
• 🌍 The Popol Vuh, the Maya creation story, details the Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, who battled the lords of death to prepare Earth for humanity.
• 🌟 The Maya believed the gods descended from the heavens on August 11, 3114 BC, bringing knowledge of agriculture, mathematics, and astronomy.
• 🐍 Kukulkan, the flying serpent, is a major Maya deity associated with wisdom, storms, and the sky, and played a significant role in their mythology.
• 🚀 Some theorists suggest that depictions of Kukulkan as a humanoid emerging from a serpent could be interpreted as a figure descending from a craft.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Maya Codex of Mexico?

The Maya Codex of Mexico is significant because it is the oldest book ever discovered in the Americas, dating back roughly 900 years. It consists of illustrations and hieroglyphs, providing valuable insight into Maya culture, history, and their writing system.

How many Maya codices are known to have survived?

Only four Maya codices are known to have survived. These codices provide rare glimpses into the Maya civilization, as most were lost or destroyed over time.

What have archaeologists discovered in addition to Maya codices?

In addition to Maya codices, archaeologists have discovered Maya hieroglyphs carved on temples, some of which date back as early as the third century BC.

How much progress has been made in deciphering Maya hieroglyphs?

Experts estimate that around 80% of Maya hieroglyphs have been translated, with some glyphs still eluding full understanding. It has been a long process, beginning around 70 years ago, to decipher their ancient writing system.

What types of information are found in the surviving Maya codices?

The surviving Maya codices contain richly illustrated astronomical charts, divination tables, and instructions for religious ceremonies. They also include historical records, such as the creation story in the Popol Vuh.

What is the Popol Vuh, and why is it important?

The Popol Vuh is a historical and mythological record found in the Maya codices. It outlines the Maya creation story, focusing on the Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, who battle the lords of death and prepare the Earth for humanity.

Who are the Hero Twins in Maya mythology?

The Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, are central figures in the Maya creation myth. They battle the lords of death and make the world safe for humanity to be created, playing a crucial role in Maya cosmology.

What is the significance of August 11, 3114 BC in Maya mythology?

According to the Popol Vuh, August 11, 3114 BC marks the beginning of creation, when the gods descended from the heavens to Earth, bringing knowledge to the Maya people. This date is a foundational moment in their mythological history.

Who is Kukulkan, and what role does he play in Maya culture?

Kukulkan is a prominent deity in Maya mythology, often depicted as a flying serpent. He is associated with wisdom and knowledge, particularly in areas such as agriculture, mathematics, and astronomy. Kukulkan was believed to have imparted sophisticated knowledge to the Maya.

Why do ancient astronaut theorists find Kukulkan intriguing?

Ancient astronaut theorists find Kukulkan intriguing because he is sometimes depicted as a humanoid figure emerging from a serpent's mouth. They speculate that these depictions might represent advanced technology or flying craft, interpreted by the Maya as a god or a flying serpent.