Quote:
The discovery in a Guatemala jungle of a previously unknown version of the Mayan calendar offers humankind a ray of hope: the world is not going to end on December 21, 2012 and could most probably last for another billion years – or more.
The ancient inscription is estimated to be the oldest Mayan almanac found so far. It dates back some 1,200 years, at least 600 years older than previous examples. In many ways, however, the new calendar corresponds with others.
The initial results of its study have been published in Science magazine by experts from Boston University. They say the calendar precisely describes solar and lunar cycles, as well as the motion of the brightest stars. Most probably it was used to conduct ceremonies and rituals, synchronized with the positions of celestial bodies.
The astronomical table was found in the ruins of an ancient Mayan city, lost in a rain forest at Xultun in northeastern Guatemala. It was preserved in good condition, inscribed on the walls of a tiny cell, measuring little more than half a meter square.
Its calculations say the Mayan 6,000-year-cycle does not end with doomsday, as cycles succeed one another for an unlimited period of time. The discovery means that December21, 2012 merely marks the beginning of a new calendar cycle, not an apocalypse, as was previously thought.
On one wall of the ancient astronomers’ workshop is a Moon calendar, tracking the Moon's phases for about 13 years. The adjacent wall contains figures indicating four time spans from roughly 935 to 6,700 AD.
The walls are also adorned with portraits of kings. It is for them that the priests kept their records, to give sound advice when times demanded a tough decision.
“What you have here is astronomy driven by religion,” says expert on Mayan astronomy, Anthony Aveni of Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.
(Source)
The ancient inscription is estimated to be the oldest Mayan almanac found so far. It dates back some 1,200 years, at least 600 years older than previous examples. In many ways, however, the new calendar corresponds with others.
The initial results of its study have been published in Science magazine by experts from Boston University. They say the calendar precisely describes solar and lunar cycles, as well as the motion of the brightest stars. Most probably it was used to conduct ceremonies and rituals, synchronized with the positions of celestial bodies.
The astronomical table was found in the ruins of an ancient Mayan city, lost in a rain forest at Xultun in northeastern Guatemala. It was preserved in good condition, inscribed on the walls of a tiny cell, measuring little more than half a meter square.
Its calculations say the Mayan 6,000-year-cycle does not end with doomsday, as cycles succeed one another for an unlimited period of time. The discovery means that December21, 2012 merely marks the beginning of a new calendar cycle, not an apocalypse, as was previously thought.
On one wall of the ancient astronomers’ workshop is a Moon calendar, tracking the Moon's phases for about 13 years. The adjacent wall contains figures indicating four time spans from roughly 935 to 6,700 AD.
The walls are also adorned with portraits of kings. It is for them that the priests kept their records, to give sound advice when times demanded a tough decision.
“What you have here is astronomy driven by religion,” says expert on Mayan astronomy, Anthony Aveni of Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.
(Source)
I've been convinced from the start that it just marks the end of a calendar, considering the astronomical 'ending' and 'beginning' of the alignment of the planets. It seems more logical than the end of the world to me.
The Mayan Calendar is off from the Gregorian calendar too, so if the world was going to end 2012, according to the Mayan's, it was actually 2008 for us, if I remembered correctly.
Also I read that with the voice of Professor Farnzworth.
Also I read that with the voice of Professor Farnzworth.
I'm going to be greatly amused when people sell all their stuff and dispose of everything that's worth something to them because they're convinced the world will end. I know it sounds cruel, but it's silly to do that when there's no concrete evidence!
The even better irony is that if the earth does get destroyed--there won't be any concrete evidence either!
...that being said, I never really considered it to be a possibility. One day the world will end. But it is not this day. ...and I feel like that is a quote from LotR.
...that being said, I never really considered it to be a possibility. One day the world will end. But it is not this day. ...and I feel like that is a quote from LotR.
I feel you on that. It's hilarious what people will do. Why sell your things at all? If the world is going to end then shouldn't you enjoy what you have and the people around you rather than sell your things and recluse into your home?
I'm pretty sure the world isn't going to end. What scares me more are the nutters that think the world is going to end on that day and the crazy things they will do as it gets closer to that time :x
I had a neighbor who bankrupted his entire family "preparing" for Y2K. It was very sad. He wouldn't listen to anyone's advice.
I believe that around that time we're going to have a lot of global politics that are gonna make it worse. Everyone already bracing for 2012 are gonna be like "SEE ITS HAPPENING!!! AHHHH!!!" and then we might ironically self-cause it.
But no, people who think the mayan calendar predicts the end of existence has a poor understanding of it. The mayans, just like certain far eastern cultures, had a cyclic calendar. Now, I will say--yes, these calendars actually foretold some eerie things with their alignments, and it's kind of concerning that it just drops off but you have to figure that the algorithm meets its limit at SOME point and they have to stop. It's another advent horizon, and essentially the end of a sun, or world. That doesn't mean it's the end of THE world. Just an era.
I made one joke that seemed to amuse scientific friends of mine: I heard some whack job say the mayan calendar looked eerily like the large hadron collider.
So I said, "Wouldn't it be funny if the 'end of the world' was, in fact, an astronomical alignment that affects what we perceive of the science involved in the LHC? Of course, if we caused a black hole, they say anything that passes through the black hole is itself not aware of the black hole or passing through it during its ionization. And, of course, there is a theory of mere transportation to a parallel universe. So what if the mayans couldn't see any further into the future astronomy because we teleport to an alternate universe and didn't realize it?"
I know it's contrived. But it AMUSES me.
But no, people who think the mayan calendar predicts the end of existence has a poor understanding of it. The mayans, just like certain far eastern cultures, had a cyclic calendar. Now, I will say--yes, these calendars actually foretold some eerie things with their alignments, and it's kind of concerning that it just drops off but you have to figure that the algorithm meets its limit at SOME point and they have to stop. It's another advent horizon, and essentially the end of a sun, or world. That doesn't mean it's the end of THE world. Just an era.
I made one joke that seemed to amuse scientific friends of mine: I heard some whack job say the mayan calendar looked eerily like the large hadron collider.
So I said, "Wouldn't it be funny if the 'end of the world' was, in fact, an astronomical alignment that affects what we perceive of the science involved in the LHC? Of course, if we caused a black hole, they say anything that passes through the black hole is itself not aware of the black hole or passing through it during its ionization. And, of course, there is a theory of mere transportation to a parallel universe. So what if the mayans couldn't see any further into the future astronomy because we teleport to an alternate universe and didn't realize it?"
I know it's contrived. But it AMUSES me.
Luckily, there is a very simple script you can run via browser to test if the LHC has destroyed the world yet.
http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/
http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/
I don't know, my Death Star is nearly complete 
Yes, Darth, but will it be complete before this falls in three-day's time prior to December 21th?
*Oh the joys of what you can find on TV tropes!
*Oh the joys of what you can find on TV tropes!
FINALLY, my BS claim is verified.
THANK YOU BASED GODS.
*casually tosses this to ALL OF HIS FRIENDS*
THANK YOU BASED GODS.
*casually tosses this to ALL OF HIS FRIENDS*
I find it completely ridiculous that people don't know what a CALENDAR is.... -cough- there is always more than one!
Also, despite what the mayans said (they rock and totally had help from aliens, just sayin') it is totally possible that a catastrophic event will happen because so many of those who combine to form "mankind" have been subconsciously willing an "apocalypse".
My money is Romney becoming President and taking the US to war with China.
Also, despite what the mayans said (they rock and totally had help from aliens, just sayin') it is totally possible that a catastrophic event will happen because so many of those who combine to form "mankind" have been subconsciously willing an "apocalypse".
My money is Romney becoming President and taking the US to war with China.
Another calendar? I had supposed the Spaniards simply "convinced" the Mayans to cease their work on their calendar, and that is why it had stopped at such an odd interval of time~
Those who interviewed me and wanted my opinion on the subject were never pleased~ Pleasing is far too much work~
Those who interviewed me and wanted my opinion on the subject were never pleased~ Pleasing is far too much work~
I believe the calendar is and has always been complete. Once it reaches the end, it starts over. -spells the word CALENDAR and shakes people- It makes so much sense!! DX
I would not be surprised if it is considered incomplete, which were my thoughts when I first heard about the Mayan Calendar 249083576891-374561q years ago. o 3o "Maybe they were all killed before they could finish it...." But now, I know better. >w<
I would not be surprised if it is considered incomplete, which were my thoughts when I first heard about the Mayan Calendar 249083576891-374561q years ago. o 3o "Maybe they were all killed before they could finish it...." But now, I know better. >w<
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