Reflexiones sobre el concepto de la forma del universo entre las Mayas

Abstract

Interest has been renewed in the old problem of the form of the universe according to maya belief. The purpose of this paper is to compare concepts of form contained in some ancient maya texts with contemporary ethnographic concepts in order to determine similarities and differences, and to isolate native concepts from the influence of foreign cosmography, especially medieval european ideas introduced following the spanish conquest. The maya universe reflects two important aspects: geometric design and cultural significance. The concept of super-imposed levels of underworlds, earth, and heavens is a product of a long and complex syncretic process, and the influence of ptolemaic thought is evident. The cultural aspect is clearly reflected in the association with agriculture manifest in the concept of gods of rain, wind, harvest, etc., which reside in different levels, as well as in the symbolic architectural association with religious and domestic structures.