The Beginning of Time

ISSUE 47 – STEVE KOVACS FUN WITH MAPS

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (August 11, 2020) – In Issue 47 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps feature we learn about the Haab – Maya measure of time from 3114 B.C.

Time Begins

The starting point of the Maya Long Count Calendar was in 3114 BC on this day.  That is when the world was created in their view.  But wait, this advanced civilization had multiple ways of expressing the passage of time, organized into various cycles:  the 260-day cycle, the 365-day cycle known as Haab’ and the Calendar Round consisting of 52 Haab’s, and several more.

How many Haab’ old are you? 

The Maya, a Mesoamerican civilization, were quite skilled in art, mathematics, astronomy and clearly had a sophisticated way of noting time.   They were master builders of cities, pyramids and like.  Also, they were warriors and not adverse to human sacrifices. 

The Maya occupied today’s southern Mexico and northern Central America, which are shown in the lower right portion of this 1854 Colton map.

1854 Mexico Map by Colton shows area once occupied by Maya (Credit Steve Kovacs) 

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Click here to visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.