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Did the Maya Build Architectural Cosmograms?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michael E. Smith
Michael E. Smith*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-2402 ([email protected])
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Abstract

I criticize recent applications of the “cosmogram” concept to ancient Maya architecture and cities. Although cosmograms—graphic representations of aspects of the cosmos—are known from Late Postclassic and early colonial Aztec and Maya sources, there is no textual suggestion that buildings or cities were viewed as cosmograms. Numerous authors, however, assert confidently that architectural cosmograms abounded in Classic Maya cities. I examine known cosmograms, describe recent studies of architectural cosmograms, and discuss problems that occur when highly speculative interpretations are phrased as confident empirical findings.

Hago una crítica del modelo de “cosmograma” aplicado a la arquitectura y las ciudades mayas. Hay cosmogramas (modelos gráficos de aspectos de la cosmovisión) en las fuentes aztecas y mayas de los periodos Postclásico Tardío y colonial temprano, pero no hay evidencia en textos de que la gente antigua consideraron edificios o ciudades como cosmogramas. Muchos autores, sin embargo, afirman con seguridad que había cosmogramas arquitectónicas en las ciudades mayas. Discuto cosmogramas conocidas, describo estudios recientes de cosmogramas arquitectónicas, y discuto los problemas que ocurren cuando se expresan interpretaciones muy especulativas como resultados empíricos fuertes.

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Comments
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , June 2005 , pp. 217 - 224
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 by the Society for American Archaeology.

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