The Mayan Calendar

The ancient Maya were brilliant astronomers and mathematicians. They created a complex and accurate calendar system. The Maya used their calendars to track the seasons, plan farming, and hold religious ceremonies. Their calendars were some of the most precise in the ancient world.

How the Calendar Worked

The Maya had several calendars that worked together. The Haab was a 365-day calendar based on the sun. The Tzolkin was a 260-day sacred calendar used for religious events. A third system called the Long Count tracked very long periods of time spanning thousands of years.

Astronomy and Math

Maya astronomers studied the stars without telescopes. They accurately tracked the movements of the sun, moon, and planets. They predicted eclipses with amazing accuracy. The Maya also invented the concept of zero in their number system, which was a huge achievement.

Fun Facts

• The Mayan calendar was accurate to within one day every 6,000 years.
• The Maya independently invented the concept of zero, just like mathematicians in India.
• In 2012, some people wrongly believed the Mayan calendar predicted the end of the world.

Did You Know?

The Mayan Long Count calendar did not actually predict the end of the world in 2012; it simply marked the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new one.