Question

• Pick an ancient culture (a specific group of people or person) from any time before 1300 A.D and tell us how they practiced astronomy, either by building a monument/structure or arranging stones/objects, that would help track celestial objects or leaving behind some artifact that showed their knowledge of how the sky worked. Include specifically what was tracked in the sky and how the structure/object was built and how it worked. • Provide your opinion as to why you think this structure/object was important to the people who built it.

Answer 1

The Maya Empire and civilization were amongst the most influential civilisation of its time. The empire flourished between the 3rd century and 10th century AD in the region of Mesoamerica (combined geographical continuity of Mexico and Central America). The Mayan people excelled in agriculture, calendar making, mathematics, artwork, architecture and astronomy. They were particularly renowned for their astronomical skills.

Mayan astronomy relates to the in-depth study of Sun, Moon, Milky way and other planets. They were involved in developing the most precise astronomy in the pre-telescope phase. They were familiar with the phenomenon of revolution and rotation of Earth and fully understood it. Their calculation of solar year length was more precise than compared to their coloniser Spaniards. Backed by their extensive knowledge of planetary movement and position, they develop their indigenous Maya calendars.

The Astronomy practised in the Mayan empire was mostly naked eye astronomy. However, there was a considerable number of observatories in the empire which were used for enhanced analysis. El Caracol at Itza was one such building. The observatory is strictly aligned to the path followed by the planet Venus. The observatory is reachable through its spiral staircase and allowed peoples to observe and analyse changes in the sky without any hindrance. Many of the wells and structures in temples discovered in Mayan ruins acted as potential observation sites for Sun’s zenithal passage.

Mayan cities were abound with buildings constructed for the observational purpose. These buildings had special observation windows. Each of these windows was meant for a particular celestial event. Some of the buildings were intentionally aligned with the movement of the stars and planets such as the building described above i.e. El Caracol at Itza was aligned to the path of the Venus in the sky. Mayan astronomers were termed as “priests” who referred to the heavens for any type of guidance. This help was based on their understanding of planets and star’s position in the sky and their possible impact on the civilisation. They used these observatories, horizon observation, shadow devices to understand the complex motion of the Sun and other stars and recorded these pieces of information in their chronicles commonly called as “codices” or “codex”.

The astronomers in this period were mostly involved in tracking Sun, Moon, other planets and Milky Way. They were well-rehearsed with equinoxes and solstices. The presence of inscribed calendars on several ancient ruins stands testimony to this. These planetary movements were also described in many tables and almanacs in the famed Maya codices. The planet Venus seems extremely important for Mayan people and its heavenly movement is vividly described in the Dresden Codex. The Mayan’s identified and named 13 different constellations and are described in Paris Codex. These constellations are associated with an animal and form the basis of Zodiac of its time.

The whole concept of astronomy was kept in high esteem in the Maya civilisation. They believed that universe order was symbolic of God’s position in it. This position provided logical backing to their general beliefs and their views on the universe. Sometimes astronomy helped in artful veneration of the Gods such as at Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl at Chichen Itza. Every year, the suns rays illuminate the stairs of the pyramid at a specific time. Same is the case with Pascal’s tomb at the Temple at Palenque where the temple is aligned with the motion of the Sun. The entry of the solar rays and its consequential exit were compared to the Sun’s death and birth.