December 26, 2006 to January 2, 2007
We will tour the fabulous archaeological sites of the Mayan civilization that flourished for 2000 years and achieved great mathematical and astronomical sophistication, built complex city-states, and produced art and sculpture of great beauty. We will enjoy lectures and seminars on Mayan calendars, geometry, that astronomy. The Mayan’s arithmetical system was a place value system based on 20 and included a zero. Mayan writing was very advanced and proliferates on paintings and sculptures. Unfortunately, the Spanish conquerors burned most of the codices, but a few survived. One, the Dresden Codex, will be the topic of one our lectures.
Most Mayan writing on buildings and in codices has been deciphered in the last few decades, making accessible new knowledge and understanding of Mayan civilization.
The tour begins in Merida, the major city of the Yucatan, combining the splendor of Colonial Mexico amidst restaurants, shops, festivals, and the fabulous Paseo Montejo, modeled after the Champs D’Elysées. We will visit archaeological sites throughout the Yucatan including Chichén’Itzá, Dzibilchaltun, Izamal, Mayapan, and Uxmal. El Castillo at Chichén’Itzá is the most recognizable Mayan structure with its 365 steps representing days of the year on each of the four directional staircases built at 45 degree angles.
COST : $2,310 per participant
COST SAVING OPTION : Share a room with another participant and pay $2,160. Cost does not include airfare.
CONTACT INFORMATION :
Lisa Kolbe
Development Manager, MAA
lkolbe@maa.org
202-293-1170
TOUR LEADERS :
Ed Barnhart
Christopher Powell
Alonso Mendez
Number of travelers is limited to 30.