Mesoamerican Astronomy

The History of Celestial Observations Made by the Maya, Aztec, and Inca

By: Charles River Editors

Narrated by: KC Wayman

For the Maya, astronomy was not a purely scientific pursuit, but intimately linked to religious, mythological, and ideological elements that were of the highest importance. The celestial realm held a sacred nature, as did the many gods and goddesses that dwelt there, so for all Mesoamerican cultures, astronomy was a fundamental part of their everyday lives. Thus, astronomy was present in their calendars, religion, and even agriculture, and in close relation to astronomy, the concept of time was also an essential part of their worldview.

The Aztec recorded many of the astronomical events they observed in codices and hieroglyphic inscriptions, but the main evidence of their deep astronomical knowledge comes from their calendar system. This information was then used to plan the orientation of buildings and ceremonial centers, which were aligned to sunrises or sunsets corresponding to special dates, such as solstices or equinoxes. Observational calendars were also used to schedule agricultural activities, as well as rituals, festivals, and celebrations.

Though the Spanish physically conquered them in quick fashion, the culture and legacy of the Inca Empire has continued to endure throughout the centuries in both Europe and South America, due in no small part to the fact they were one of the most advanced and sophisticated cultures on the continent. The sun was the main element present in the Inca worldview, so Inti, the sun god, was worshipped above all others and, even though the different parts of the empire were allowed to practice their individual beliefs, they were encouraged to venerate the sun. The connection with the sun even extended to their kings, since they were considered to be the sons of the sun. Naturally, this meant astronomy was a key component of the Incas’ beliefs, and in addition to the sun, the Inca observed the moon, stars, constellations, and some planets, all of which became integral parts of their cosmology.

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