Mayan
Ancient Central American
Mayan refers to the Maya civilization of Mesoamerica or its descendants, who built sophisticated cities, developed hieroglyphic writing, and created advanced calendars and mathematics.
The word functions as both adjective and noun: Mayan ruins, Mayan languages, the ancient Mayans.
Some scholars prefer Maya as both noun and adjective, but Mayan remains common in general usage.
Maya archaeological site
- Chichen ItzaPre-Columbian archaeological site
- city-statesSelf-governing urban territories
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
- cacaoTropical pod-bearing tree
maize · jaguar · quetzal · trade · nobility · commoners · warfare · alliances
Decayed structural remains
- stelaeInscribed commemorative pillars
- glyphsCarved symbolic figures
- codicesBound handwritten volumes
- excavationAct of unearthing
artifacts · murals · tombs · ceramics · lintels · altars · inscriptions · Dresden Codex
Central American republic
- ChiapasSoutheastern Mexican state
- YucatanSoutheastern Mexican peninsula
- BelizeCentral American coastal nation
- HondurasCentral American nation
indigenous · weavings · Day of the Dead · syncretism · revitalization · communities · traditions · artisans
Date-tracking system
- Long CountMesoamerican calendrical system
- underworldRealm of the departed
- creation mythOrigin narrative of existence
- eclipsesAstronomical occultations
Indigenous spiritual healer
- ritualsCeremonial repeated practices
- bloodlettingTherapeutic withdrawal of fluid
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
ancestors · sacred · incense · copal · offerings · priests · ceremonies · censer
Tikal
Maya archaeological site
- Chichen ItzaPre-Columbian archaeological site
- city-statesSelf-governing urban territories
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
cacao · maize · jaguar · quetzal · trade · nobility · commoners · warfare · alliances · ball court
ruins
Decayed structural remains
excavation · artifacts · murals · tombs · ceramics · lintels · altars · inscriptions · Dresden Codex · decipherment
Guatemala
Central American republic
- ChiapasSoutheastern Mexican state
- YucatanSoutheastern Mexican peninsula
- BelizeCentral American coastal nation
Honduras · indigenous · weavings · Day of the Dead · syncretism · revitalization · communities · traditions · artisans
calendar
Date-tracking system
- Long CountMesoamerican calendrical system
- underworldRealm of the departed
- creation mythOrigin narrative of existence
shaman
Indigenous spiritual healer
- ritualsCeremonial repeated practices
- bloodlettingTherapeutic withdrawal of fluid
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
divination · ancestors · sacred · incense · copal · offerings · priests · ceremonies · censer
pyramids
Apex-topped geometric solids
plazas · ceremonial · palaces · platforms · causeways · acropolis · façades
- Ancient CulturesAztec, Inca, Olmec, Minoan, Mycenaean
- Native American LanguagesNavajo, Cherokee, Lakota, Choctaw, Apache
- architecture stylesart deco, Art Nouveau, minimalism, modernism, Modernism
- Americas LanguagesSpanish, Portuguese, Nahuatl, Quechua, Guarani
- Indigenous LanguagesNavajo, Cherokee, Dakota, Lakota, Ojibwe
- Indigenous MexicoAztec, Zapotec, Olmec, Toltec, Yaqui
MayanConquistador
Colonial military explorer
Spanish · Spanish colonial · European · colonial · Western
- Mayan ruinsAncient civilization's architectural remains
- Maya Angelou
- Maya civilizationAncient Mesoamerican culture
- Maya Rudolph
- Maya ruinsAncient civilization's remains
- Mayan calendarMesoamerican astronomical dating system