The Order of Days

The Order of Days examines the Maya calendar system and its role in ancient Mesoamerican civilization. David Stuart, a renowned Maya scholar, deconstructs common misconceptions about Maya time-keeping and prophecies. Stuart presents archaeological evidence and translations of Maya hieroglyphic texts to explain how their calendar actually worked. The book covers the different cycles of time the Maya recognized, from daily counts to vast cosmic ages spanning thousands of years. The text explains the Maya concept of cyclical time and how their priests and scribes recorded important dates and prophecies. Religious beliefs, political power, and astronomical knowledge all intersected in the Maya understanding of time and its measurement. Through careful analysis of primary sources, Stuart reveals how Maya concepts of time and prophecy were more nuanced and sophisticated than popular interpretations suggest. The book offers insights into how an ancient civilization conceptualized humanity's place within cycles of cosmic time.

Readers describe this as an accessible introduction to Maya calendar systems and time concepts, written in clear language for non-experts. Several note it effectively debunks 2012 apocalypse myths while explaining actual Maya beliefs. Liked: - Clear explanations of complex calendar mechanics - Strong academic credentials without being dry - Inclusion of latest archaeological findings - Detailed illustrations and photographs - Cultural context beyond just dates and numbers Disliked: - Some repetition in later chapters - Technical details occasionally overwhelming - Limited coverage of post-Classic period - "Meanders at times" (Amazon reviewer) - "Could use more maps" (Goodreads reviewer) Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (211 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (58 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Many readers cite it as their go-to reference for Maya time-keeping, though some wanted more depth on specific topics. Academic readers praise its accuracy while general readers appreciate its readability.

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🌟 David Stuart began studying Maya hieroglyphs at age eight and wrote his first book on the subject when he was just eighteen years old. 🗓️ The Maya calendar system tracked multiple cycles simultaneously, including a 260-day sacred calendar and a 365-day solar year that operated in parallel. 📚 While writing this book, Stuart discovered new evidence that the Maya conceived of time as something that could be "bundled" like physical objects. 🏛️ The author is the director of the Mesoamerica Center at the University of Texas at Austin and holds the Linda and David Schele Chair in the Art and Writing of Mesoamerica. 🔮 The book directly addresses and debunks the popular misconception that the Maya predicted the world would end in 2012, explaining how this modern myth arose from misunderstandings of Maya texts.