The End of Time: The Maya Mystery of 2012

by Anthony F. Aveni

December 21, 2012. The Internet, bookshelves, and movie theaters are full of prophecies, theories, and predictions that this date marks the end of the world, or at least the end of the world as we know it. Whether the end will result from the magnetic realignment of the north and south poles, bringing floods, earthquakes, death, and destruction; or from the return of alien caretakers to enlighten or enslave us; or from a global awakening, a sudden evolution of Homo sapiens into non-corporeal beings - theories of great, impending changes abound.

In The End of Time, award-winning astronomer and Maya researcher Anthony Aveni explores these theories, explains their origins, and measures them objectively against evidence unearthed by Maya archaeologists, iconographers, and epigraphers. He probes the latest information astronomers and earth scientists have gathered on the likelihood of Armageddon and the oft-proposed link between the Maya Long Count cycle and the precession of the equinoxes. He then expands on these prophecies to include the broader context of how other cultures, ancient and modern, thought about the "end of things" and speculates on why cataclysmic events in human history have such a strong appeal within American pop culture.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

190 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2009

About the author

Anthony F. Aveni is Russell Colgate Distinguished University Professor of Astronomy, Anthropology, and Native American Studies at Colgate University.

Reviews

[Woodall]

This book examines the West’s fascination of cultures that are not inherently their own. Aveni explores the underlining need to belong and the feeling of belonging; that which is intrinsic to humanity. He begins the book with a brief Mayan history. The author warns that Western eyes view with Western beliefs and interpretations. He stresses that we cannot manipulate our research of a foreign culture into a concept that fits our understanding. We must search for truth in order to understand the culture. We cannot be one dimensional in our approach. We must account for as wide a spectrum as possible to understand the full extent of a foreign culture. For example, take into consideration geographical roles (such as the night sky and its current vs. ancient positions), as well as agricultural, religious, and gender roles. How do these as well as other factors contribute to beliefs and practices? The book gradually transitions from a philosophical lecture into a detailed explanation of Mayan numerical concepts. Aveni notes that the Mayans used their bodies to convey connectedness; as being one and a part of nature. There are 10 fingers and 10 toes which equal the base number of 20, thus, nature and numbers are connected. The author also notes how life is cyclical and that events will repeat. Aveni proceeds to explain the Mayan long-count system and how the cyclical concept plays a large role in their calendar. Their concept of numbers is based on astrological events. In fact, it was a common practice to be named after the day an individual was born, (days were named after their gods) and to take on the traits of that particular god. [PERSONAL NOTE: a practice that sounds very similar to the Western culture’s identity with zodiac signs?] For every 260 days a new cycle begins because of the position of the sky overhead, even despite the seasons. For example, gestation periods are counted in accordance with the rotation of the planet Venus. These times vary depending on the location of the observation. Astrologically speaking, just as the Greeks conjectured procession calculations so too would have the Mayans. Perhaps their interpretation of 2012 was just another beginning point of the long count date, when the earth returns after a full cycle around the universe. Aveni warns us however, to not discount that Mayan calendar cycles may have been created for non-celestial yet natural purposes. For example, there were calendars that were created in the West that denoted the time to pay taxes after a ‘cycle of indiction’ (where soldiers were discharged from the army.) Perhaps the Mayans created their calendar as a projection of time backwards to justify identity, prominence, or social awareness [PERSONAL NOTE: Just as the Church created our present calendar which based upon Jesus’ birth/death.] The final portion of this book addresses the several theoretical conjectures of impending doom that are predicted to occur on Dec. 21, 2012. Aveni provides rational academic explanations to ‘debunk’ and answer (or at least try to quell) these ‘apocalyptic’ scenarios. He also discusses the history of our American religious beliefs of the apocalypse through a global context. The author stresses that these ‘drastic’ beliefs have been around in one form or another since the 1st Europeans immigrated to this land and, most notably, they are still alive and thriving today as 2012 approaches. Aveni notes, that ‘little has changed’ in our Western culture and he emphasizes that one can also observe that little material can be found in other cultures reflecting these same beliefs. This is uniquely an American fascination which is most likely due to our unique environment that promotes and nurtures the fear of terrorism, (infused within the political, religious, and social realms). We are searching for meaning in this vast universe while hoping to ultimately finding redemption. Aveni stressed that we are “conditioned by the Puritanically derived imagination that compels us to view our culture as bankrupt and in dire need of a renewal and rapturous uplift, we emerge as a secular people disconnected from our religious roots, yet still fueled by a kind of spiritual quest that grew out of them”. Unable to find the answers within ourselves we turn outward in our search. The Mayans offer us this much needed redemption and “so we romanticism them”.

[Audrey]

There’s been quite a bit of buzz about the so called Mayan Apocalypse, rumored to take place on December 21, 2012. As the date draws nearer, more and more sites appear discussing the event on the internet, and the theories of what this means for mankind grow stranger and stranger. Understandably, all of this chatter can really frighten those who read it and don’t know what to make of it all. This serves as the impetus for Aveni’s book: a young man, disturbed by the 2012 hype, begins an email correspondence with Professor Aveni to find out what the Mayans really thought.

Aveni gives his expert opinion. He’s both and astronomer and a Mayan researcher, and his expertise in both fields is very apparent as you read the book. To be honest, this was a little bit of a drawback for me, since although he tries to write for the layman, it still came across as over my head. I took astronomy in college, but still struggled a bit when it came to the astronomy heavy chapter (although, to be fair, I struggled with it in college as well). The best chapter for me was when Aveni summed up the many other times humans have predicted the impending end of the world.

Aveni largely thinks that the people who are spouting the Mayan apocalypse are getting it wrong. The astronomy doesn’t hold up, and the Mayan research is sketchy at best. There are just too many areas where we don’t know enough to make a real judgement call about what the Maya meant or knew. So chill, Aveni thinks we’ll be okay.

[Caroline]

Acclaimed archaeoastronomer demystifies cataclysmic speculation, notes American history of fascination.



Aveni concisely explains ancient Maya beliefs, related modern-day predictions of catastrophe, and current astronomical evidence. Even more compelling are his thoughts on why our society is so interested in this particular ancient calendar. What needs do we have that we look to this corner of Earth's history to fulfill?

[J.S. Dunn]

A concise and comprehensive analysis of the current "Y2012" theories based on a best-fit-with-the-evidence approach. His discussions of why various cultures use[d] a deep time concept, and of why certain cultures postulate a cataclysmic event as the ultimate ending, are quite interesting.

[birdmaddgirl]

a nice blend of science and cultural studies. aveni takes up the most popular theories about 2012 as they relate to the "end" of the maya calendar and examines them in the light of archaeological and astronomical understandings.

[Katia M. Davis]

While this book appears well researched It preys on some people's obsessions with the end of the world. An interesting read and analysis but not really my cup of tea.