Symbolized by
Chichen Itza, that was used as a calendar: four stairways, each with 91 steps and a
platform at the top, making a total of 365, equivalent to the number of days in a calendar year.
The calendar uses three different
dating systems in parallel, the Long Count, the Tzolkin (divine
calendar), and the Haab (civil calendar). Of these, only the Haab has a direct
relationship to the length of the year.
- The Long Count is representing the number of days since the start of the Mayan era. It's divided into 5 pieces. Day 0 of the long count was September 6th, 3114 BC. There are varying bases in the different parts of the system - either 18 or 20.
- The Tzolkin corresponds more or less to the week system that we've got - it's just 10 times more complicated, as there are two week systems - one having 13 days, another have 20. This means that the 'name' of the day cycles every 260 days.
- The Haabwas the closest we get to a normal western calendar. It had 18 months of 20 days each, followed by 5 extra days. This gives a year length of 365 days. The years of the Haab are not counted - the long count takes care of that