Maya Calendar 95: Tikal vs Calakmul – The Star War Decoded

The Maya Calendar's 13 K'atun Cycle and the Fall of Chichén Itzá

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the role of the Maya calendar's 13 K'atun cycle in the political history of Chichén Itzá. They examine how K'atun 8 Ajaw, a 256-year repeating cycle, was used to legitimize rulers and predict dynastic changes. The conversation focuses on the controversial figure Hunac Ceel, who allegedly manipulated the prophecy of K'atun 8 Ajaw to overthrow the ruling Cocom dynasty at Mayapán and later claimed descent from the fallen city of Chichén Itzá. The hosts discuss the Chilam Balam books, particularly the Chumayel manuscript, which describe Hunac Ceel's betrayal of the lord of Chichén Itzá, Chac Xib Chac. They also touch on the archaeological evidence from Chichén Itzá's Sacred Cenote, where offerings were made to secure the favor of the rain god Chaac. The episode contrasts Maya historical records with Spanish accounts and explores how the Maya used cyclical time to frame political events as inevitable and destined. This episode builds on previous discussions of the 13 K'atun cycle, the Short Count, and the fall of Mayapán, offering a deeper look at how one specific K'atun prophecy shaped the fate of a major Maya city. #ChichénItzá #13K'atun #K'atun8Ajaw #HunacCeel #ChilamBalam #Chumayel #Mayapán #Cocom #Xiu #ChacXibChac #SacredCenote #MayaCalendar #ShortCount #MayaHistory #Mesoamerica #FexingoHistory #History #MayaCivilization Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Maya Calendar's 260-Day Cholq'ij and the 13 Moon Cycle

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 260-day Cholq'ij calendar and its connection to the 13 moon cycle. They discuss how the Cholq'ij was used for divination and daily life, the role of the aj k'ij (daykeeper), and the significance of the 13 tones of creation. They delve into the Maya creation myth from the Popol Vuh, the 13 B'ak'tun cycle, and how the 13 moons relate to the Long Count. The episode also touches on the 13 K'atun cycle and the Chilam Balam prophecies, tying together the deep astronomical and spiritual meanings of the number 13 for the Maya. They examine specific dates like 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ajaw 3 K'ank'in and the debate over the 2012 phenomenon, including the role of Bolon Yokte' and the Tortuguero Monument 6 inscription. A common thread emerges: the number 13 appears across Maya timekeeping, from the 13 moons of the Cholq'ij to the 13 B'ak'tun of the Long Count, revealing a cosmic order. #MayaCalendar #Cholq'ij #13MoonCycle #Tzolk'in #AjK'ij #PopolVuh #BolonYokte' #TortugueroMonument6 #LongCount #B'ak'tun #K'atun #Haab' #ChilamBalam #2012Myth #Mesoamerica #MayaAstronomy #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Maya Calendar's Moon Goddess and the Eclipse Tables

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the Dresden Codex's eclipse tables, exploring how Maya astronomers predicted solar and lunar eclipses with remarkable accuracy. They discuss the role of the moon goddess Ix Chel, the 177-day eclipse season, and the Long Count dates that marked celestial events. Learn about the 819-day count's connection to eclipses, the glyphs for solar and lunar eclipses, and how these predictions served both practical and ritual purposes. The conversation also touches on the controversial Grolier Codex and its Venus-eclipse correlations. A fascinating look at Maya science and its integration with mythology. #MayaCalendar #EclipseTables #DresdenCodex #IxChel #MayaAstronomy #LongCount #819DayCount #GrolierCodex #VenusCycle #LunarEclipse #SolarEclipse #MayaGlyphs #Mesoamerica #History #FexingoHistory #MayaScience #Mythology #Astronomy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Maya Calendar's 260-Day Cholq'ij: The Cosmic Birth Chart

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 260-day Cholq'ij calendar, the sacred cycle that Maya daykeepers still use today for divination and naming. They trace its origins to the 260-day human gestation period and its alignment with the agricultural cycle and the zenith passage of the sun. The hosts discuss how each day carries a specific energy, with a name and number combination that forms a unique spiritual signature, similar to a horoscope. They examine the role of the aj k'ij, or daykeeper, who interprets the calendar to guide decisions from planting to marriage. Lucas explains how the Cholq'ij interweaves with the 365-day Haab' to form the 52-year Calendar Round, and how this system was recorded in the Dresden Codex. The conversation highlights the survival of this tradition among modern Maya communities, particularly in Guatemala, where it remains a living practice despite centuries of suppression. The episode also touches on the controversy surrounding the New Age appropriation of the Cholq'ij as a tool for personal transformation, and how indigenous daykeepers view the calendar as a sacred, community-oriented system. #Cholqij #MayaCalendar #260DayCount #Tzolkin #AjKij #Daykeeper #Divination #MayaCosmology #DresdenCodex #Haab #CalendarRound #ZenithPassage #GestationPeriod #Mesoamerica #Guatemala #LivingMaya #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Maya Calendar's 364-Day Short Count: A 256-Year Political Cycle

Most people think of the Maya Long Count when they hear 'Maya calendar', but the Classic Maya also tracked time in a 364-day cycle called the 'Short Count' — a repeating 13-K'atun period that structured political prophecy for over 256 years. This episode dives into how the Short Count was used to predict the rise and fall of dynasties, legitimize rulers, and even forecast conquest. We explore the famous cycle of K'atun 8 Ajaw, which marked the fall of Mayapán in the 15th century, and how the Chilam Balam books recorded these prophecies centuries later. Lucas and Luna discuss the role of the aj k'ij (daykeepers) in interpreting these cycles, the colonial-era manipulation of the Short Count by Spanish friars like Diego de Landa, and the surprising survival of this calendar system among modern Maya communities. We also examine the controversy around whether the Short Count was truly predictive or merely retrofitted to fit historical events. Listeners will learn how the Maya used time not as a linear arrow but as a recurring spiral — and how that worldview shaped their politics, warfare, and religion. #MayaCalendar #ShortCount #13K'atun #Mayapán #K'atun8Ajaw #ChilamBalam #DiegoDeLanda #AjK'ij #MayaProphecy #PostclassicMaya #Yucatán #Mesoamerica #MayaHistory #Timekeeping #ColonialMaya #MayaReligion #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]