The historian Sahagun suggested that Mayan culture was known to “stop up” their chimneys during certain astrological cycles. What was the rationale for this?

pollucci19

Venus was called the Great Star by the Mayans as it had a strong connection with their major God, Quetzalcoatl, however its morning light was considered an evil light and during the periods that Venus made its appearance they would "stop up" their chimneys to keep the 'evil light' from entering their homes. http://www.starteachastronomy.com/mayan.html Jun 18 08, 5:00 AM

queproblema

Mayan chimneys? "Ordinary Maya lived in simple huts of wood or stone with thatched roofs. They had no chimneys or windows." http://www.localhistories.org/maya.html Jun 18 08, 10:25 AM

BRY2K

Hi QP: I cannot speak to the authenticity of Mayan chimneys but I did find several references to them in my research on Venus. I submit the following for your review: "Historian Sahagun also writes that when Venus (the morning star) rose, people stopped up their chimneys so that no harm from its light could get into their houses". See Page 61: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SENL/SENL200407B.pdf and: "Venus, the morning star, was the patron planet of warfare. Many offerings were made to Venus and the Sun.We know from a historian that people would stop up their chimneys so that no light from Venus could enter their houses and cause harm". http://www.netscientia.com/mayan_inca.html I thought this was a "given" from my readings but you have offered pause for thought. I guess the jury is out on this one. [First link swapped out -- Zb] More thoughts, queproblema? Jun 18 08, 11:48 AM

zbeckabee

The ancient Mayans used the doorways and windows of their buildings as astronomical sightings, especially of Venus. At Uxmal, for instance, all buildings are aligned in the same direction. Mayans offered numerous human sacrifices to Venus and the Sun. Venus was the patron planet of warfare for the Mayans. That is why the dates of several battles are connected with a key position of Venus cycle. From the historian Sahagun we know that when Venus (the morning star) rose, people stopped up their chimneys so that no harm from its light could get into their houses. http://www.windows.ucar.edu/mythology/incoming.98.09.12/kukulca.txt Jun 18 08, 11:54 AM

Baloo55th

Here's some pics of a Mayan house: http://www.riubambu.com/RIU_WEB_PAGES/MENU/PLAYA_DEL_CARMEN/RUINES/near_by_ruines/near_by_ruines.htm With walls like that, and cooking done over a low set fire, there was not much call for chimneys - heating hardly necessary in their climate, and stonework a lot of hard work. Apart from this, I can only find one other site (apart from FunTrivia) where this assertation is made - and that one too http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/Kukulcan_venus.html&edu=high quotes no direct sources. Jun 18 08, 1:59 PM

zbeckabee

All of that having been said, I suspect we'll never know whether or not the Mayans had chimneys. Let's stick with the question that simply states that Sahagun "suggested" the Mayans stopped their chimneys. Jun 18 08, 2:44 PM