MAYA (Secrets of their Ancient World) at the Royal Ontario Museum.
Never before seen artifacts and immersive experiences take visitors to the heart of Maya civilization at the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada until April 9th 2012. On going lectures accompany the exhibition. They are given by world experts, who are informative and entertaining, highlighting the Maya, their society, culture and legacy. According to curator Justin Jennings, this exhibition is “Designed to be a dynamic and almost living space. The exhibition is organized as if you’re walking from the jungle, through fields, into the city, then up to the temples and palaces…almost like you’re on a journey through the 8th century Maya world.”
Maya, Secrets of their Ancient World, offers museum visitors an experimental exploration with touchable artifact replicas providing a tactile experience. Interactive maps and videos explain and illustrate the geography of the land. Large scale installations, such as floor-to-ceiling murals and palace facades replete with historically accurate vegetable and mineral-colored paintings, are complemented by jungle soundscape of birds and howler monkeys – a virtual cultural immersion as well as a window into a newly revealed lush “lost” world.
According to the Mayan calendar the end of the world will occur on Dec. 21st, 2012. This theory is based on a Long Count tracked how much time has passed since August 13, 3114 BCE (Before the Common Era) – the perceived start date of the current universe. One of its time measurements is the b’ak’tum – a calculation of 144,000 days or roughly 394 years of our modern-day calendar system. But there are other theories that have been largely debated that say the Mayan would simply reset their calendars back to Day 1. There is no evidence that the Maya viewed that date as the end of the world.
This much talked about “Mayan end of days” is a misconception according to New World Archaeologist, Justin Jennings, who is also the museum curator for this exhibition. There is no evidence that the Mayan viewed the date as the end of the world. In fact the Mayan text show that the Maya “talked” about the future and provided dates long past 2012 – including one in 4000 CE, for instance. As well, 2012 is mentioned only once in Maya literature; if 2012 was a momentous year, the Maya would have written more about it.
So stock up on Champagne and noisemakers and celebrate the new calendar year 2012!
And while you are at it, purchase tickets to see the major collection of Maya Artifacts on display at the Royal Ontario Museum until April 9th 2012. For more information www.rom.on.ca/maya
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