The Mayan Long Count Calendar

Thomas Chanier (1)

1 L2MP - Laboratoire matériaux et microélectronique de Provence

The Maya were known for their astronomical pro ciency. Whereas Mayan mathematics was based on a vigesimal system, they used a di erent base when dealing with long periods of time, the Long Count Calendar (LCC), composed of di erent Long Count Periods (LCPs) (i.e., the Tun of 360 days, the Katun of 7200 days and the Baktun of 144000 days). There were two other calendars used in addition to the LCC, a civil year Haab' of 365 days and a religious year Tzolk'in of 260 days. Based on astronomical argument, we propose here an explanation of the origin of the LCC. This interpretation links the LCC to the religious calendar. We then examine the relationships among the LCP, Tzolk'in, Haab', and planet cycles, which correspond to the various religious cycles in use in Mayan religion.

Mots clés: Maya calendar long count

Domaines: Histoire et perspectives sur les mathématiques [math.HO]

Thomas Chanier. The Mayan Long Count Calendar. 2014. ⟨hal-00750006v7⟩