Franco Rossi

Ancient Maya Astronomical Tables from Xultun, Guatemala

Mayan Astronomy Mayan Codices are books written on bark in the few centuries before Columbus landed. Several record detailed hieroglyphic calculations of lunar and planetary motions and their relation to the Mayan calendar. Their predecessors have been unclear. Saturno et al. (p. 714) now describe a room in a Mayan complex in Guatemala dating to several centuries before the Codices that seems to have similar calculations on two of its walls. The east wall contains lunar calculations; the calculations on the north wall are more enigmatic, but may relate to Mars, Mercury, and/or Venus. Wall paintings in a Mayan temple dating to the 9th century C.E. show calculations of Moon and, perhaps, planetary motion. Maya astronomical tables are recognized in bark-paper books from the Late Postclassic period (1300 to 1521 C.E.), but Classic period (200 to 900 C.E.) precursors have not been found. In 2011, a small painted room was excavated at the extensive ancient Maya ruins of Xultun, Guatemala, dating to the early 9th century C.E. The walls and ceiling of the room are painted with several human figures. Two walls also display a large number of delicate black, red, and incised hieroglyphs. Many of these hieroglyphs are calendrical in nature and relate astronomical computations, including at least two tables concerning the movement of the Moon, and perhaps Mars and Venus. These apparently represent early astronomical tables and may shed light on the later books.

To Set before the King: Residential Mural Painting at Xultun, Guatemala

Abstract Maya murals depicting scenes of courtly life are well known from sites such as Bonampak; far less common are scenes depicting life outside the royal sphere. Recent excavations at Xultun in Guatemala have revealed well-preserved murals in a domestic context that offer a fresh perpective on life in the Maya court, that of the priests, scribes and artists who attended the royal governor. Here, the authors decode the images to reveal the lives and activities of those who planned, performed and recorded official events in Classic-period Xultun. One of only two well-preserved examples of eastern Maya lowland wall painting from the Late Classic period, this rare display of master craftsmanship outside of the royal court sheds new light on the lives of those who produced it.