Mayans -> smarter than we think?

[bacab]

Eep :shock:

 

 

 

(warning, this might seem a bit racist but I am not racist... it's just something that came to me)

 

 

 

I was looking at something about the four Bacabs (for those that don't know the Bacabs were the four deities that held up the sky in Mayan mythology) and I came across something startling that I hadn't thought of before.

 

 

 

I knew that the Bacabs each had their own color. But I just ... thought of something that I shouldn't have thought of. Or I should have thought of earlier. Dunno which.

 

 

 

The four Bacabs also had their own compass directions.

 

 

 

The Western Bacab was Red.

 

The Eastern Bacab was Yellow.

 

The Northern Bacab was White.

 

The Southern Bacab was Black.

 

 

 

Anyone see it yet? No?

 

 

 

I'll shove it under your nose then.

 

 

 

What I draw from this is that Mayans saw the different "races", what makes everyone unique, as what holds the sky up. America is considered the west, and Native Americans were considered red. Red Bacab West?

 

Asia is considered the East, and Chinese are sometimes reguarded as "yellow". Yellow Bacab East?

 

Europe is considered... you get the picture, hopefully. White Bacab North ... Africa... Black Bacab South.

 

 

 

So... did this part of their mythology come from their vast knowledge of the world? Or was it just a coincidence?

[Greatsilverwyrm]

Coincidence. It's simply the power of suggestion.

 

 

 

That isn't to say that the mayans weren't more advanced than we give them credit for. A lot of ancient civilizations were smarter than we in many ways, just not as "technologically advanced".

[Auberean]

Wishful thinking.

[Riku3220]

hmmm intersting... :-k

 

 

 

i think its just a coicidink(sp?) but we'll never know unless tomas edison builds a time machines goes forward in time to 2006 and tell us that he went back an time and asked them and they said yes then thats the only way i see it as its true(i have an overactive imagination)

[Anti]

Coincidence.

 

 

 

I think.

[darkmage099]

Coincidence.

 

 

 

I think.

 

DEFINATELY...so if this is allthe races... where the hell are the indians eh? (like eastern indians from india and the middle east.)

[ford_rule]

mayans wouldnt have even known about europeans until the spanish came. especially not the asians as they wouldnt have even known that lands exist over there.

[Oy_the_Great]

The four Bacabs also had their own compass directions.

 

 

 

The Western Bacab was Red.

 

The Eastern Bacab was Yellow.

 

The Northern Bacab was White.

 

The Southern Bacab was Black.

 

 

 

Well, a more logical explanation, from the South-American point of view is:

 

west: sunset; so red

 

east: sunrise; so yellow

 

north: daylight: white

 

south: night/evening: black

 

 

 

The way you tell it, it would only make sense if you're European, because China is on the western side in south America, in the South are penguins, in the north are Aztecs and Incas and in the east are Africans. Not one colour matches.

[Guest GhostRanger]

If by smarter than we think you're referring to their obvious support for segregation of races, then I could see where you're coming from I guess. But you probably shouldn't make posts about how you support segregation on a board like Tip.it.

[Bubsa]

I consider the Mayan race to be one of the most highly intelligent and advanced that ever existed, but this is not why.

[apinagez]

Well, a more logical explanation, from the South-American point of view is:

 

...western side in south America, in the South are penguins, in the north are Aztecs and Incas and in the east are Africans. Not one colour matches.

 

 

 

Actually, Oy, Incas were in south america, Mayans and Aztecs were in the north of central america.

 

 

 

Mayans and Incas were more developed, cientifically, than the europeans because they'd spend their resources on science, not on military or naval development. Just as the arabs knew Math while europeans were still in the early Middle Age.