mundo maya

rainyday · 12-29-2003

I have done a small amount of reading on Maya history (including "read more" on this site). Just the other day, a friend asserted that the Maya conceded that they as a people did not build the pyramids. This assertion is apparently based on the glyphs found at various sites. While I am by no means anything approaching an expert, this seems like a ridiculous statement. However, I do not have the scholarly background to refute the claim. Any input from others on the topic?

**james** · 12-29-2003

So they were already there?

By "pyramids" do you mean all ruins?

Do you have money riding on it?

alma777 · 12-29-2003

People from my part of the country, insult the local mayans by believing they weren't capable of creating such, it had to be 'old world'. Lost tribes of Israel.

Then there's Von Danikan's Charriots of Fire. Humans weren't smart enough, it had to be folk not of this planet.

I don't have any answers, but it seems insulting to an entire culture to tell them they were not smart enough to accomplish what they obviously did.

PS....I fully realize that if I could spell, it would certainly give what I am saying a little more credebilty.

kjtom · 12-29-2003

I think the poster has a friend who loves tequilla ... ask your friend which Mayan conceded they never built Coba ... if the Mayan did not built it, who the hell did? ... the proof is in the pudding

**sctx** · 12-30-2003

My architectural history classe were years ago but I still remember the Mayan pyramids were built by the Maya, the Great Pyramids were built by the Egyptians (Egyptian slaves technically), and the Inca did pretty well with their palaces in Peru.
Like most ancient temples, the Maya added onto existing structures year after year... take a close look at the temple at Muyil and you can easily define 3 different cultural periods spanning a few hundred years

The real question my friend is , who designed these structures???????
Why do the natives of Peru look like tribesman from Tibet, including similar weaving patterns???????
Hmmm, is that really a carving of a man in a spacesuit on the tomb @ Palenque???
These are the questions to ponder late at night, on the beach, with a cold bottle of Centenario tequila and a shot glass!!!!!

rainyday · 12-30-2003

I was in a festive state & not in a sparring mood when the point was made by my friend so I didn't encourage it. The theory seems to be of a biblical nature. I don't think Scott is too far off when he suggests that someone interpreted a glyph to symbolize an acknowledgement that some type of "visitor" assisted in (perhaps) the design of the pyramids? Anyway, I found some posts here about books to read about the Maya & that is what I am interested in doing. I would like to have a retort on hand the next time I see my friend (he's a really nice guy, btw) so I appreciate the responses.

alma777 · 12-30-2003

None of this is personal...just a debate that has been going on for years. Glad you brought it up. Do you have money on this? :lol:

**sctx** · 12-30-2003

Rainyday, as you study up on the Maya, you will find that the biggest question is why the Maya abandoned their cities and fled to the jungle, sometimes w/ food still on the fire ???????
A civilizations artwork reveals a great deal, and I've always maintained that ancient artists were not great visionaries... that is, their work was generally based on real characters and events, even though the finished product may appear semi-surreal. Sadly, the world has not known many DaVinci's!
So take a look at the artwork and then think about what would make you leave your house without notice and never return...hmmmmmm???
The mystery of the Maya and Incas is a great debate that will continue for generations to come... and it's not as dangerous as political debates are these days!!! And don't ever let anyone try to tell you the Maya and Incas were uncivilized barbarians!!!

**Bumper** · 12-30-2003

Sounds like your debate/discussion was a spirited and thought-provoking one, Rainyday, if a tad esoteric. Sort of reminds me of the often quoted theory that Homer's works weren't actually written by him, but by another Greek of the same name. Good luck with resolving the issue.

12-29-2003	#1 (permalink)
rainyday toe in water Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: bc Posts: 41	mundo maya I have done a small amount of reading on Maya history (including "read more" on this site). Just the other day, a friend asserted that the Maya conceded that they as a people did not build the pyramids. This assertion is apparently based on the glyphs found at various sites. While I am by no means anything approaching an expert, this seems like a ridiculous statement. However, I do not have the scholarly background to refute the claim. Any input from others on the topic?

12-29-2003	#2 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,596	So they were already there? By "pyramids" do you mean all ruins? Do you have money riding on it? __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image! Thanks for taking the time to read the announcement!

12-29-2003	#3 (permalink)
alma777 way into it Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Utah Posts: 132	And the argument goes on. People from my part of the country, insult the local mayans by believing they weren't capable of creating such, it had to be 'old world'. Lost tribes of Israel. Then there's Von Danikan's Charriots of Fire. Humans weren't smart enough, it had to be folk not of this planet. I don't have any answers, but it seems insulting to an entire culture to tell them they were not smart enough to accomplish what they obviously did. PS....I fully realize that if I could spell, it would certainly give what I am saying a little more credebilty.

12-29-2003	#4 (permalink)
kjtom life=playa Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: WV Posts: 650	re: mundo maya I think the poster has a friend who loves tequilla ... ask your friend which Mayan conceded they never built Coba ... if the Mayan did not built it, who the hell did? ... the proof is in the pudding

12-30-2003	#7 (permalink)
alma777 way into it Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Utah Posts: 132	Debate. None of this is personal...just a debate that has been going on for years. Glad you brought it up. Do you have money on this? :lol:

12-30-2003	#5 (permalink)
sctx Moniker Morpher Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Body in San Marcos Tx....Tankah in my mind Posts: 26,943	My architectural history classe were years ago but I still remember the Mayan pyramids were built by the Maya, the Great Pyramids were built by the Egyptians (Egyptian slaves technically), and the Inca did pretty well with their palaces in Peru. Like most ancient temples, the Maya added onto existing structures year after year... take a close look at the temple at Muyil and you can easily define 3 different cultural periods spanning a few hundred years The real question my friend is , who designed these structures??????? Why do the natives of Peru look like tribesman from Tibet, including similar weaving patterns??????? Hmmm, is that really a carving of a man in a spacesuit on the tomb @ Palenque??? These are the questions to ponder late at night, on the beach, with a cold bottle of Centenario tequila and a shot glass!!!!!

12-30-2003	#6 (permalink)
rainyday toe in water Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: bc Posts: 41	I was in a festive state & not in a sparring mood when the point was made by my friend so I didn't encourage it. The theory seems to be of a biblical nature. I don't think Scott is too far off when he suggests that someone interpreted a glyph to symbolize an acknowledgement that some type of "visitor" assisted in (perhaps) the design of the pyramids? Anyway, I found some posts here about books to read about the Maya & that is what I am interested in doing. I would like to have a retort on hand the next time I see my friend (he's a really nice guy, btw) so I appreciate the responses.

12-30-2003	#8 (permalink)
sctx Moniker Morpher Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Body in San Marcos Tx....Tankah in my mind Posts: 26,943	Rainyday, as you study up on the Maya, you will find that the biggest question is why the Maya abandoned their cities and fled to the jungle, sometimes w/ food still on the fire ??????? A civilizations artwork reveals a great deal, and I've always maintained that ancient artists were not great visionaries... that is, their work was generally based on real characters and events, even though the finished product may appear semi-surreal. Sadly, the world has not known many DaVinci's! So take a look at the artwork and then think about what would make you leave your house without notice and never return...hmmmmmm??? The mystery of the Maya and Incas is a great debate that will continue for generations to come... and it's not as dangerous as political debates are these days!!! And don't ever let anyone try to tell you the Maya and Incas were uncivilized barbarians!!!

12-30-2003	#9 (permalink)
Bumper Class Clown Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 9,469	Sounds like your debate/discussion was a spirited and thought-provoking one, Rainyday, if a tad esoteric. Sort of reminds me of the often quoted theory that Homer's works weren't actually written by him, but by another Greek of the same name. Good luck with resolving the issue.

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