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A total solar eclipse occurred on April 8th. Solar eclipses are events that occur when the moon covers the sun, and they align. For the Mayan Civilization, eclipses have meaning and were very important for many reasons. Do you want to know what are these key points? We’re going to tell you about it below:
The Mayans possessed many skills and knowledge, such as astronomy and advanced mathematics.
Eclipses were a phenomenon that they also studied, and it held significant meaning in their culture. Few Mayan astronomical writings detail how they meticulously studied every aspect of eclipses, including their occurrence. This writing is known as the Dresden Codex, where they could predict any phenomenon that might symbolize a divine figure and then conduct a sacrifice or ceremony while these events took place.
The Dresden Codex Book covers various subjects, including the lunar deity, the cycle of the sun and moon, prophecies associated with the Katuns, and even related agricultural cycles.
It is believed that this book was written around 210 AD during the Postclassic period. What is its place of origin? It comes from the Yucatan Peninsula, but its exact location is not known. However, it is attributed to being found in Chichen Itza.
This book is made from fig tree bark and covered with a lime-based paste. It has 78 pages, with 39 pages written on both sides by up to six different scribes. In this book, you can find numbers, hieroglyphs, and figures created by the ancient Mayans.
This codex is quite interesting as it also contains information about mythology and the creation of the universe from the perspective of Mayan culture. Additionally, it includes details about fishing.
Regarding its history, it is believed that Hernán Cortés sent it to Charles I and that this king took it to Vienna. It is known to have been gifted to Johann Christian Goetze (director of the Royal Library of Saxony in Dresden) in 1739 by someone who possessed it. Nowadays, this codex is kept in custody in this library but is also displayed to the public for viewing.
Eclipses in the Dresden Codex Book
Several manuscripts within this codex have been studied, which were saved after conquerors erased traces of it.
It is said that the manuscripts demonstrate how the inhabitants of Mesoamerica predicted phenomena using and developing calculations and tables regarding the movements of the moon and eclipses.
Within the Dresden Codex, it was depicted during eclipses how the moon and the sun were bitten by a deity.
According to beliefs, the representation depended on the type of eclipse. For example, a solar eclipse could symbolize war or death, ensuring drought, while lunar eclipses were believed to be entirely harmful to pregnant women and children.
In Maya Culture, the sun god is Kinich Ahau, and the moon goddess is Ixchel. So, when solar eclipses occurred, the ancient Maya interpreted it as the sun god manifesting his wrath or demanding some kind of ritual. Additionally, they believed that the Xulab or Xibal (ants) wanted to eat the sun, so the Maya people had to come together to perform rituals and chants to ward them off from their god.
Additionally, another belief in Maya Culture was that if people looked directly at eclipses, birds would be ready to peck out the eyes of anyone who looked at them, leaving them blind.
On the other hand, lunar eclipses were associated with the goddess Ixchel, the protector of women and also the goddess of fertility. It was believed that the greatest fear of a pregnant woman during an eclipse was that her baby would be born with a deformity.
On April 8th, a total solar eclipse occurred in the world. It was more noticeable in some countries and cities than in others.
However, the significance of the Mayan eclipse carries many meanings and interpretations for the culture. The good thing is that we can understand how it was viewed by their entire civilization thanks to the Dresden Codex Book, which is now considered a treasure and part of the World Heritage. This book, preserved over time, is on display to the public in the Treasure Chamber at the State Library of Dresden in Germany.
As expected, the Mayan culture's beliefs and deities, such as the goddess Ixchel and Kinich Ahau, were also reflected in their views of eclipses.