The Center of Mayan Time

This early treatment of the Galactic Cosmology consists of two booklets: 1. Astrolo-Mythic Creation Day and 2. The Monuments of Izapa. These are referred to as Books Two and Three respectively, because the Jaloj Kexoj book was originally going to be Book One, but I decided it deserved to be its own separate book. Here's the Table of Contents:

Astrolo-Mythic Creation Day
I. The Astronomical Meaning of the Mayan End Date in 2012 A.D.
The Mayan Long Count
Precession
The Sacred Tree
The Charts
Why: Winter Solstice Sun conjuncts the Sacred Tree in 2012
How: Long Count and Seasonal Quarters
Summary
Notes
II. The Mythology of Precession
In the Literature
Mythology and Astronomy
Summary
A Poem: Hunab Ku

The Monuments of Izapa
Introduction
Izapa I. Context, History, Language, Geography, Trade
Izapa II. In the Literature
Izapa III. Astronomical Orientations and Calendrics
Izapa IV. Analysis of the Monuments
Izapa V. Summary and Closing Statements
Sources used in both books


From the Introduction to this pre-MC2012 study:

"I was led to this project by a simple astronomical fact, the importance of which has seemingly been overlooked in studies of Mayan cosmology. It is this: On the end date of the 13-baktun cycle of the Mayan Long Count (December 21st, 2012 A.D.), the winter solstice sun conjuncts the "dark-rift" in the Milky Way. This is actually a rare event, slowly culminating over a period of centuries, and is a function of the precession of the equinoxes. Beginning with another fact, that this "dark rift" in the Milky Way was known to the ancient Maya as the xibalba be (the Road to the Underworld), additional connections between astronomy and Mayan mythology present themselves. In looking seriously at what these simple facts might imply, questions arise. In this booklet and the one which follows, I have tried to address these questions. Now, toward the conclusion of this preliminary research project, I take the unavoidable view that a profound and unsung dimension of ancient Mesoamerican cosmology is patiently awaiting recognition and further elucidation."

John Major Jenkins
12.19.1.16.4
1 Kan
February 18th, 1995