Will
the world end in 2012? No, it won't.
Will there
be a major cataclysm in 2012? Quite possibly.
Although
this book concentrates on a potential global catastrophe at a random date within
our immediate future, there are three powerful arguments for that date being Dec
21, 2012. I present them here, not as certainties, but as possibilities worth
considering.
2. The Mayan Calendar
The Maya
The
Maya civilisation inhabited a region encompassing southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize & western Honduras, and flourished between the third and tenth centuries AD, but by 1200 AD
their society had collapsed for reasons we can only guess at. When the Spanish
conquistadors arrived, descendants still occupied the area, and still spoke the
Mayan language, but were unaware of the cities their forefathers had created.
It
wasn't until the late 18th century that explorers first investigated
the dense Guatemalan rainforest and came across plazas, monoliths, temples and
pyramids, each decorated with pictures and hieroglyphs. The ancient Maya had been
keeping historical records - using a script which mixed ideographic and phonetic
elements. Some of their writing still exists on stelae (stone monuments) that
recount civil events and record their calendric and astronomical knowledge.
Spanish Conquest
Diego de Landa was a
Spanish priest who visited Mexico on a charitable mission, became the Franciscan
provincial of Yucatán in 1561 and is infamous for his destruction of priceless
Maya documents and artefacts.
Although Landa was
very interested in the Mayan culture, he abhorred certain aspects of their practices,
particularly human sacrifice. In July 1562, when evidence of human sacrifice was
found in a cave containing sacred Maya statues, a bout of religious self-righteousness
saw Landa order the destruction of five thousand idols. He decided that their
books were also the devil's work and saw to it that they were burned, with only
three books surviving. Consequently the majority of Mayan knowledge and history
was lost.
 This
is just a small portion of my online book, Survive 2012 - a look into possible
ways our world might end, and how to survive. Available in bookstores sometime
before 2012, fingers-crossed... |
Yet
despite his actions, we are also indebted to Landa for his acute and intelligent
opus on Mayan life and religion, Relación de las cosas de Yucatán (1566),
which remains the classical text on Mayan civilisation. This book, which was not
printed until 1864, provided a phonetic alphabet that made it possible to decipher
roughly one-third of the remaining Mayan hieroglyphs.
The
most important of the surviving books was what is now called the Dresden Codex,
named after the city where it was lodged. It is a strange book, inscribed with
hieroglyphs, which no one understood until 1880. At that time Ernst FØrstemann,
a German scholar who worked at the same Dresden library, managed to crack the
code of the Mayan calendar making it possible for other academics to translate
the many dated inscriptions found on buildings, stelae and other ancient Mayan
artefacts.
He discovered that the Codex contained
detailed astrological tables, which calculated the year to be 365.2420 days long,
more accurate than the Julian calendar that we use today. The tables were used
exclusively by the Mayan astronomers to predict the solstices and equinoxes, the
path of the planets in our solar system, the cycles of Venus and Mars, and other
celestial phenomena.
Other information we have today
has been gleaned from the Popol Vuh and Chilam Balam - books written just after
the Spanish arrived. The knowledge found in these books and codices, combined
with the uncovering of mysterious pyramids, demonstrate that the Maya had an intelligence
to rival the Greeks and Egyptians.
Mayan Calendar
The life of the Maya revolved around the concept
of time. Priests were consulted on civil, agricultural and religious matters,
and their advice would be derived from readings of the sacred calendars. Time
was of such importance that children were even named after the date on which they
were born.
Maya math uses only three symbols - a
shell-shaped glyph for zero, a dot for one and a bar for five to represent units
from zero to 19. For instance, the number 13 was represented as three dots and
two bars.
Zero was
an advanced concept in those days, something that the Romans were not aware of.
Yet the Maya were comfortable enough with it to use a shell as its symbol, a tangible
object representing an abstract concept. The Maya also used metrical calculation
and place numeration, which were very clever for a culture that didn't use the
wheel!
Although they had many calendars, they marked
the passage of time with three cycles that ran in parallel.
The
first is the scared calendar known as the Tzolkin. It combines the numbers from
1 through 13 with a sequence of 20 day-names. It works in a similar manner to
our named days of the week, and their date within each month. So you might have
5-Chikchan (like our Sunday the 5th) followed by 6-Kimi (as we would have Monday
the 6th). After 260 days the same number/name combination will re-occur, and the
calendar starts anew. Their use of the vigesimal (base 20) numbering system probably
relates to fingers and toes, whereas the 13 nicely fits the growth phase of the
moon which isn't visible when new and appears full for two days on end, thus appearing
to have a 13 day growth cycle. Alternatively, the length of the Tzolkin may be
related to the human gestation period of nine months (273 days). It has been suggested
that 260 days is the time between a woman suspecting her pregnancy (she doesn't
menstruate) and when she gives birth.
The second
is the agricultural calendar known as the Haab, or vague year. It consists of
18 months, each of 20 days. An addition of a five-day month (a period of apprehension
and bad luck named Uayeb) gives us 365 days, an approximation of a year. This
calendar's primary purpose was to keep track of the seasons, for seasonal and
solar events would occur on roughly the same day of each year. The Maya were aware
of the annual quarter day discrepancy, but it is not known if they ever did anything
about it.
These two independently running calendars
each begin again every 260 and 360+5 days. However, every 52 years they coincide:
"The Tzolkin and the Haab ran concurrently, like intermeshed
cog-wheels, and to return to any given date, 52 years, or 18,980 days, would have
to elapse (because both 365 x 52 and 260 x 73 = 18,980). In other words, the Tzolkin
would make 73 revolutions and the Haab 52, so that every 52 calendar years of
365 days one would return to the same date. A complete date in this 52-year cycle
might be, for example, 2 1k 0 Pop (2 1k being the position of the day in the Tzolkin,
0 Pop the position in the Haab). Fifty-two years would pass before another 2 1k
0 Pop date returned.
It was expected that the world
would end at the completion of a 52-year cycle. At this time, among the Mexica
in the Valley of Mexico, all fires were extinguished, pregnant women were locked
up lest they be turned into wild animals, children were pinched to keep them awake
so that they would not turn into mice, and all pottery was broken in preparation
for the end of the world. In the event the gods decided to grant man another 52
years of life on earth, however, a night time ceremony was held in which the populace
followed the priests through the darkness over a causeway to the top of an old
extinct volcano that rises abruptly from the floor of the basin of Mexico, known
today as the Hill of the Star, the hill above Ixtapalapa. There, with all eyes
on the stars, they awaited the passage of the Pleiades across the center of the
heavens, which would announce the continuation of the world for another 52 years.
When the precise moment came, a victim was quickly sacrificed by making a single
gash in his chest and extracting the still palpitating heart. In the gory cavity
the priests, with a fire drill, kindled a new flame that was quickly carried by
torches across the lake to the temple in Tenochititlan, and from there to all
temples and villages around the lake. This was known as the New Fire Ceremony
among the Mexica, and in some way this same completion and renewal of each 52-year
cycle was recognized by all Mesoamericans."[i]
This
is not unlike how the end of the last millennium may have felt for many Christians
or doomsday cult followers.
Our modern Western calendar
was first introduced in Europe in 1582. It was based upon the Gregorian calendar,
which calculated the Earth's orbit to take 365.25 days. This was 0.0003 of a
day per year too much, but still exceptionally accurate for scientists living
over 400 years ago.
The Mayan calendars were derived
from those of their predecessors, the Olmec, whose culture dates back at least
3,000 years. Without the instruments of 16th century Europe, these
Central American locals managed to calculate a solar year of 365.2420 days, just
0.0002 of a day short. More accurate than the Europeans, and much earlier.
The
Long Count
A Mayan date utilises three calendars. The third
calendar, known as the "long count", is a continuous record of days
that starts over every 5000 years or so. The current Long Count began in 3114
BC. And it will end very soon.
A typical Mayan date
looks like this:
12.18.16.2.6,
3 Cimi 4 Zotz
4 Zotz is
the Haab date.
3 Cimi is the Tzolkin date.
12.18.16.2.6
is the Long Count date.
The basic unit is the kin
(day), which is the last component of the Long Count. Going from right to left
the remaining components are:
- unial........1
unial = 20 kin = 20 days
- tun..........1 tun = 18
unial = 360 days = approx. 1 year
- katun.......1
katun = 20 tun = 7,200 days = approx. 20 years
- baktun.....1
baktun = 20 katun = 144,000 days = approx. 394 years
The kin, tun, and katun are numbered from 0 to 19.
The unial are numbered from 0 to 17.
The baktun are numbered from 1 to 13.
The
Long Count is a great cycle of 13 baktuns (roughly 5,126 years), where the use
of 13 may again represent the growth of the moon from new to full. The current
cycle began on 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ahau 8 Cumku which correlates to Aug. 13, 3114 BC.
In
Mayan mythology each Long Count cycle is a world age in which the gods attempt
to create pious and subservient creatures.
The First
Age began with the creation of the Earth, and it had upon it vegetation and living
beings. Unfortunately, because they lacked speech, the birds and animals were
unable to pay homage to the gods and were destroyed. In the Second and Third Ages
the gods created humans of mud and then wood, but these also failed to please
and were wiped out. We are currently in the Fourth and Final Age, the age of the
modern, fully functional human. Is it possible that these Ages referred to evolutionary
change? If they did, then what might occur when the current age finishes on December
21, 2012?
Discuss Survive
2012 at our forumGive the author your thoughts, and discuss any 2012
ideas with others, at 2012 Forum |
Comments from Visitors
Malaclypse the Tertiary:
The Maya were the descendants of the survivors of Atlantis- They would be the ones to know about these things. -p.s. we will run out of oil in about ten years- (go to www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net and see for yourself.) coincidence? nope.
(16.07.2004, 03:25)
Thomas:
I too have found these facts in my own research and am excited to see others that are enlightened. There are more and more artifacts showing a great global civilization 10500 years ago. The Chineese Junks that were the size of aircraft carriers circled the oceans leaving huge round ancors found off the coast of Australlia, North America, and Africa. Two beutiful Burial masks made by the same artist with the same jade and gold thread for two emperors, one in China and one in Azteca. The placement of all the pyramids around the world match up with constellations: Egypt-Orion, Cambodia-serpant, ect.. A salor could tell what city he was going to by the constellation that reflected it.
- What made ancient people so determined to build huge cities to the exact demensions of cosmic patterns as they were positioned in 8500B.C.? I believe there will be a major change in 2012. I have heard it translated to a major change in exsitance not simply the end of the world. Look up harmony in all the languages in the world, that word is pronounced stangly similar.
(19.07.2004, 21:33)
Stabby:
Listern, other theories in the past never came true so why now? You're talking about a civilitation which worshiped many strange Gods and dod bloody sacrafices and dances plus they don't excist anymore, hence the Mayan's were a bunch of crazys. There is also no scintific evidence into it anyway. The only thing that i think will happen in 2012 is the cosmic ray theory but it won't kill us all.
(23.07.2004, 06:08)
Spartean 03G:
What global effects could a polar switch incur?
- 1. Field reversal so the standard magnetic flow through "all" Processors and electric devices with a set + and -
- 2. A drop in gravity, If the spin of the earth was slowed down wouldn't centrifical force kepp us less attached... Hmm how would a civilization 600+ years ago move gigantic blocks of granite... well.
-
- 3. A solar flare colides with the Earth and causes equal effect as the initial asteroid that wipe out the dinosaurs X Million years ago and plunges us into a global ice age.
-
- 4. The animals will revolt and danger will arive for all those who mistreated animals.
(24.07.2004, 14:59)
david goodman:
During October at a national science convention, I am presenting evidence including three replications for a 260-day emotional cycle detected in an adult male.
- Since the findings is so unprecedented, I am presenting the data for everyone to peruse.
- Just thought that you would like to know.
-
- Sincerely, DAG
(26.07.2004, 08:27)
Rob Bast:
Spartean:
-
- Centrifugal force is not what keeps us on the ground, it is gravity. If the world stops spinning, gravity will remain the same.
(26.07.2004, 21:13)
Omar Kyamm Ravenhurst:
Oh you think the Mayans vanished do you? No, they flew the last of their Sakuna Airships to the NW coast of N America- there they became the Tlingit tribe, among others. Their traditions continue, although they hide their secrets. - oh, and yes, we're all screwed.
(27.07.2004, 23:37)
Anon:
If you wish to refer to one of the bible code books that have been published over the last couple of years, you will find a section which claims to have decoded that an asteroid will hit the earth in 2012!! This appears to agree with the Maya Calendar.
(28.07.2004, 12:16)
Ellen:
I like what the comedian Bill Mahr (I don't think I have spelled his name right)said the other night on his program. "17% of Americans polled believe the world will end in their lifetime, compared to 1% in the 1980's. He feels it is incredibley narcisistic.(punchline) 'The world will end on my watch!'" I love it.
-
- Having been facinated by the existence of the universe and our interconnectedness to the whole I would like to remind people that we have gone through alignments before, and it's entirely possible that the Myans stopped calculating at the winter solstice 2012 because that was an infinite date at that time, kinda like the oversight of the millenium scare with the computers. I say just pick up where it left off for heavens sake! Certainly there can be a computer programed to perform this task with relative ease. If not, let's get on it.
-
- All of this fear mongering is a deversion away from okayness. Does anyone have any suggestions as to who, where, when, or how this computer program is or is being developed?
-
- Later, Interesting site. Sincerely,
- Ellen of Wales, Citizen of the Universe
(22.10.2004, 12:07)
Mills:
All i know is that ive heard many intelligent people that i respect reffer to 2012 as the end and just look at all the chaos happening all over the world. Iraq, the tsunami, russia designing a superior nuclear weapon(why?)as well as numerous other things. Also, the mayans seem way too smart to miscalculate something, the whole thing with them calculating the days in a year is amazing.
(01.01.2005, 12:02)
Mike:
I watched a documentary on the Maya recently and really enjoyed it. They were such clever people and we have a lot to learn from them. Their calendar's are incredible! Also...I enjoyed reading this website.
(02.01.2005, 00:01)
dixy:
wow, this is definately incredible. i think this has got to be one of if not THE most informative sites concerning the 2012 theory out there.
(04.01.2005, 01:14)
April:
The sands of time are growing thin, our icy layers are melting too...I often wonder, if perhaps other planets had been inhabited by humans but then something happened, the planet had to "start over" replenish itself, and in order to do that, it had to exterminate the rodents within it (humans) perhaps this will happy again, I don't know. But I appreicate having read all the different comments. I agree with the first one I read, lets be good to eachother, lets find love and not let go...smell the flowers....before there are no flowers left to smell be that by a disaster or by the enivtability of time.
(04.01.2005, 16:23)
Primal Scream:
quoting michael weinstien in one of the posts on this page:
- "dumbass people who really believ that somehow we are separate from the universe,and that we arent totally connected to the planets cycles,are like people who used to believe the earth was flat..."
-
- The Mayans also believed that the world was flat and that the sky was held up on each of it's four corners by giant trees of the gods...
(05.01.2005, 16:45)
Jass:
I dont think its so much zn end of the world theory as much as a major catastrophy....look at the tsunami - it came without warning and blitzed a substantially large area of well populated land. It left so many dead in it's wake - but how many millions survived but still affected by it..... theres lives are totally devastated by it and will take years to rebuild - if they survive the disease and poverty etc. What if something like that was to happen in the atlantic - what would happen to the UK and to the east coast of USA?
(05.01.2005, 20:35)
Serban:
If this is the final age, then this could mean that at this stage, people could best pay homage to the gods, and so would not be wiped out, but be "redeemed". Some scientists say, that because of the increase in the Schumman Resonance, 16 hours today, for example, corespond to 24 hours in 1980. This means that time is passing 1.5 times faster now than 25 years ago. The Schumman Resonance is currently hovering at about 12Hz, and it is thought that by the time it reaches 13Hz, terestrial time will cease. The consequence of this fact are that we will pass into a superior dimension, the 4'th. This is thought to happen on 21 December 2012. The 4'th dimension is itself a transitionary one towards the 5'th, in which we will pass in the year 2013. This is how a number of scientists explain the biblical "redemption". We will be immortal beings with supernatural powers. We will obtain what we want by sheer thought alone, and this could explain the presumption that in the Lord's Kingdom we will have everything we need by praying. If you take a closer look, you will find amazing corelations between the Christian, Sumerian and Mayan philosofies. I will leave those interrested to discover them for themselves. May God be with you all!
(08.01.2005, 07:08)
Eric L. Downer:
Well I have been thinking about this idea my self for some time now and I found others that do too. I have just one thing to add to all tthis knowleg the bible says ther will be 7 years of tribulation befor the end of the world and the day after x-mas the year of our lord there was a sunami. Only 7 years untill 2012 and i herd the date was 12/22/12 mm/dd/yy.
(09.01.2005, 01:42)
MR:
Enjoyed the page! There will be a catastrophe in 2012? What do you call all the changes the earth is undergoing now, tsumais, earthquakes,warm winters in the north all this will be a factor in the upcoming years leading up to 2012. We are experiencing the beginings of the end.
(11.01.2005, 21:19)
Greg:
We all need to stop and think for a minute. Who believes this is the first Tsunami. On this planet there have been bigger Tsunamis, more devastating hurricane seasons, massive earthquakes, and even asteriods that have hit the earth. The only difference between now nd then is we did not have CNN to inform the entire world about it. A thousand years ago no one in North America or Europe would have had a clue about the tsunami that just occurred. These things have been happening for thousands of years and will be happening for thousands more.
(14.01.2005, 07:17)
Ted:
I believe that the world is coming to an end but I don't really have all of that knowledge to back it up. Another factor, which I believe is desiese. In animal populations, when they reach a point where there are too many animals a desiese always wipes them out. With the use of science we fought off many diseases, only leaving room for worse ones that we can't cure.
(19.01.2005, 19:05)
20 of 92 comments (part 3) [
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Script by Alex
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[i] Weaver, Muriel Porter. The Aztecs,
Maya, and their Predecessors. (1972) Seminar Press, p.103-4
Note
on massive spans of time
Although they are
not part of the Long Count, the Mayas had calculated larger time spans, some so
long that only modern day scientists would ever use them, and suggesting that
perhaps the ancient Maya were aware of something we have yet to discover for ourselves.
1
pictun = 20 baktun = 2,880,000 days = approx. 7885 years
1
calabtun = 20 pictun = 57,600,000 days = approx. 158,000 years
1
kinchiltun = 20 calabtun = 1,152,000,000 days = approx. 3 million years
1
alautun = 20 kinchiltun = 23,040,000,000 days = approx. 63 million years
Note
on Correlation This book uses a correlation
between the Gregorian and Maya calendars known as the Goodman-Martinez-Thompson
(GMT) correlation, which places the long count katun ending 11.16.0.0.0 13 Ahau
8 Xul on 14 November 1539 (Gregorian). Another less popular correlation has the
Long Count ending two days later on Dec 23, 2012, and for our purposes makes a
negligible difference. A further 50 or more different correlations have been calculated;
some by non-academics, usually based on disputing which similar astronomical events
occurred in which year. The GMT is generally accepted by academics because it
has been proven with carbon dating, and because it is still in use by modern day
Quich¾ Maya
