Stela 10 near Copan, Honduras
July 2015
I never cease to be thankful to God for my wonderful wife Rebecca, who over the past decade has put up with my incessant need to research the numerous examples of timekeeping in ancient civilizations. The benefit for her, of course, has been the privilege of traveling to dozens of countries on several continents. But in this case, she also put up with an unexpectedly rugged and difficult climb up an unmarked mountain trail. The outcome was genuinely in doubt until just after passing the crest of the mountain we entered a clearing and saw the stela on a nearby knoll.
Common across human civilizations far removed from one another in time and space, stelae are stone pillars which were deliberately erected by political authorities in ages past, in specific locations and for specific purposes. Just several miles away at the famous Mayan ruins of Copan, millions of visitors each year have the privilege of viewing the numerous stelae erected by successive rulers, most of them 3-5 meters in height (9-16 feet) and featuring the stunning sculptures for which Copan is known--by far the most prolific artwork in the Mayan world. Far less-known and far less-visited, however, are the numerous outlying stelae such as this, known as #10. Even here at the outer border of Copan's territory the sculptors produced high relief artwork, although large amounts of it have been worn away by the weather through the centuries. As seen here, more recently it has received partial protection from the elements.
I never cease to be thankful to God for my wonderful wife Rebecca, who over the past decade has put up with my incessant need to research the numerous examples of timekeeping in ancient civilizations. The benefit for her, of course, has been the privilege of traveling to dozens of countries on several continents. But in this case, she also put up with an unexpectedly rugged and difficult climb up an unmarked mountain trail. The outcome was genuinely in doubt until just after passing the crest of the mountain we entered a clearing and saw the stela on a nearby knoll.
Common across human civilizations far removed from one another in time and space, stelae are stone pillars which were deliberately erected by political authorities in ages past, in specific locations and for specific purposes. Just several miles away at the famous Mayan ruins of Copan, millions of visitors each year have the privilege of viewing the numerous stelae erected by successive rulers, most of them 3-5 meters in height (9-16 feet) and featuring the stunning sculptures for which Copan is known--by far the most prolific artwork in the Mayan world. Far less-known and far less-visited, however, are the numerous outlying stelae such as this, known as #10. Even here at the outer border of Copan's territory the sculptors produced high relief artwork, although large amounts of it have been worn away by the weather through the centuries. As seen here, more recently it has received partial protection from the elements.
Stela 10 served multiple purposes. First of all, it marked the Western boundary of the kingdom of Copan. While many additional small villages in the area brought tribute to the rulers of Copan (estimated to have a population of about 25,000 at its height and centered several miles away in the valley of Rio Copan) and sought favorable trade, this was the boundary of their direct rule. Numerous other stelae were likewise erected to show borders at other points.
More importantly, however, this stela was part of their system of astronomical measurement and calendrical construction. Another stela was erected on another mountaintop several miles away at slightly South of due East from this location (compass reading approximately 93 degrees). That stela is located on the high ridge seen directly between these two trees. A line drawn between these two locations points directly at the sunrise on the vernal equinox in March, and again on the autumnal equinox in September.
By establishing this astronomical position, the Maya could verify the length of the year and thereby set up their calendar--which consisted of eighteen cycles/months of twenty days, followed by five extra days at the end of the year. More than just a matter of precision in astronomy and timekeeping, however, the Maya viewed this as an act of worship: they gained a greater understanding of the gods and the divine intent for humanity by deliberate expansion of their understanding of the natural world. And it is significant that this was the same attitude of European astronomers in the Scientific Revolution of the 16th-18th centuries.
More importantly, however, this stela was part of their system of astronomical measurement and calendrical construction. Another stela was erected on another mountaintop several miles away at slightly South of due East from this location (compass reading approximately 93 degrees). That stela is located on the high ridge seen directly between these two trees. A line drawn between these two locations points directly at the sunrise on the vernal equinox in March, and again on the autumnal equinox in September.
By establishing this astronomical position, the Maya could verify the length of the year and thereby set up their calendar--which consisted of eighteen cycles/months of twenty days, followed by five extra days at the end of the year. More than just a matter of precision in astronomy and timekeeping, however, the Maya viewed this as an act of worship: they gained a greater understanding of the gods and the divine intent for humanity by deliberate expansion of their understanding of the natural world. And it is significant that this was the same attitude of European astronomers in the Scientific Revolution of the 16th-18th centuries.
Unfortunately, it appears that much of this knowledge was lost in the decline of Mayan civilization just a couple centuries later. No one knows the exact cause of the decline, but by the late ninth century AD all the great Mayan political centers collapsed and the society became decentralized. Their cities were slowly consumed by the surrounding jungle. Since the Maya did not pose an organized threat to the Spaniards when they arrived in the 16th century, their cities were left untouched and viewed as mere curiosities. They were finally "re-discovered" for the modern world in the 19th century.
Likewise, knowledge of Mayan writing, such as that shown on the many stelae and even the hieroglyphic staircase at Copan, is only now being slowly deciphered. Meanwhile, most of the direct descendants of the Maya live as poor farmers such as these in the mountains of Honduras.
Likewise, knowledge of Mayan writing, such as that shown on the many stelae and even the hieroglyphic staircase at Copan, is only now being slowly deciphered. Meanwhile, most of the direct descendants of the Maya live as poor farmers such as these in the mountains of Honduras.