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      Welcome to the Great Mayan Library

      Librarian Joséf Sánchez Coach

      The Mayan Library · NEO Encyclopedia · Culture: Maya

      The Great Mayan Library.

      The Maya world's geography, its nature, peoples, counts of time and art, ordered with library science and open to every person and every intelligent agent.

      Your free Mayan reading Explore the library

      Maya day…Mexica day…NEO day…

      The NEO sun rising from the sea, with the six keys of The Mayan Library around itAtlasArchiveCultureNatureScienceArt
      • 324,000 km²Area
      • ≈ 8 millionMaya people
      • 30Languages
      • 5.7 M haForest
      • 7+World Heritage
      • 260 · 365Time

      Mayan Oracle reading · free · by the librarian

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      Maya day…Mexica day…NEO day…

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      01Atlas

      The Mayan world, on one map.

      The Maya Bioregion by land and sea: the Maya area by country, its area of influence over the coast and the Caribbean, and the great cities. Plus the 72 places of the map of The Mysterious Maya (1977), found at the UNAM Central Library. Search, switch the layers, or press ▶ to fly from city to city.

      Maya Bioregion
      Loading the NEO Atlas…
      Fly through the Mayan world: press ▶ to fly
      Open the full Mayan Bioregion Atlas The peoples on the map

      Layer “Map of The Mysterious Maya”: Stuart, George E. & Stuart, Gene S. (1977). The Mysterious Maya. Washington: National Geographic Society. Map of the Maya lowlands and highlands. UNAM Central Library, F1435 S87. ▲ archaeological site · ◯ populated place of archaeological importance · ● city or town · ✚ volcano, as in the printed legend. Coordinates set by NEO.

      Base maps © Esri and OpenStreetMap contributors · language regions: schematic, after Natural Earth (public domain) · Cartography by Librarian Joséf Sánchez Coach · © 2026.

      02Archive

      The Maya world in brief.

      The Mayan Bioregional Library covers the Maya area of Mesoamerica: about 324,000 square kilometres (32,400,000 hectares / 80,060,000 acres) across south-east Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and the western edges of Honduras and El Salvador. It runs from the limestone plain of the Yucatán Peninsula to the volcanic highlands of Chiapas and Guatemala, with the Caribbean coast and the Mesoamerican Reef to the east (area as commonly given for the Maya area in Britannica and archaeological atlases).

      The Maya world in brief
      Tikal, Temple I (15773012637) · Wikimedia Commons
      324,000 km²Area · Five countries, one Maya world
      ≈ 8 millionMaya people · The living Maya of today
      30Languages · Mayan languages spoken today
      5.7 M haForest · Gran Selva Maya corridor
      7+World Heritage · Tikal, Calakmul, Palenque, Chichén Itzá…
      260 · 365Time · The Tzolk'in and the Haab'
      Area
      ≈ 324,000 km² · 32.4 million ha · 80 million acres
      Countries
      Mexico (Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Tabasco), Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras and El Salvador
      Maya people today
      About 8 million (estimate): 6.2 million in Guatemala (census 2018) and about 2.4 million speakers of Mayan languages in Mexico (census 2020)
      Languages
      About 30 Mayan languages, among them Yucatec, K'iche', Q'eqchi', Kaqchikel, Mam, Tseltal, Tsotsil and Ch'ol
      Protected forest
      Gran Selva Maya biocultural corridor: about 5.7 million ha in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize (2025)
      World Heritage
      Tikal, Calakmul, Palenque, Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Copán and Joya de Cerén, among others
      Time
      Tzolk'in (260 days), Haab' (365 days) and the Long Count
      Writing
      A logosyllabic script of hundreds of signs; four codices survive
      Economy
      Milpa farming, coffee, honey, textiles and crafts, tourism
      Arts
      Backstrap-loom weaving and huipiles, murals, ceramics, the marimba
      Symbols
      The ceiba (world tree), the jaguar, the quetzal, the colors of the four directions

      Sources: INE Guatemala (Censo 2018), INEGI (Censo 2020), Britannica, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Gran Selva Maya.

      Read more: Mayan dictionary

      Codices & Books

      The memory of the Mayan world.

      Bark paper and deerskin folded like a screen, and the books written after: astronomy, calendars, history and sacred words.

      Read more: Mayan archive Codices Books

      Bibliography · UNAM Central Library

      154 books on the Maya, from the shelf.

      Read on 22 October 2026 from the spines of class F1435 (the Maya) at the Biblioteca Central, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (DGBSDI), Ciudad Universitaria: 154 titles, 268 copies, with their call numbers. Every title opens a search in WorldCat; ask for them at the library with the call number. Entries marked “(spine)” or “partly legible” give only what the spine shows.

      154 titles268 copiesLibrary of Congress class F1435UNAM catalogue ↗
      F1435 · The Maya, general works 44 titles
      1. Mundo maya: viajes(magazine)F1435 (label not visible)3 copies
      2. Mesoamerican ArchaeologyHendon, Julia A. & Joyce, Rosemary A. (eds.)F1435 M471 copy
      3. Memoria del Congreso Interno 1979INAHF1435 M49 19791 copy
      4. Los moluscos arqueológicos: una visión del mundo mayaVelázquez Castro, Adrián & Lowe, Lynneth S. (eds.)F1435 M662 copies
      5. LacandoniaMontañés, PabloF1435 M694 copies
      6. Ocupación y sobrevivencia campesina en la zona citrícola de YucatánMorales Valderrama, CarmenF1435 M733 copies
      7. The Ancient MayaMorley, Sylvanus G.F1435 M74 19563 copies
      8. El mundo maya: miradas japonesas(UNAM)F1435 M862 copies
      9. The Ancient Maya: New PerspectivesMcKillop, HeatherF1435 M4252 copies
      10. Los legítimos hombres(spine)F1435 M4862 copies
      11. La civilización mayaMorley, Sylvanus G.F1435 M7418 19723 copies
      12. Estudios preliminares sobre los mayas de las tierras bajas noroccidentalesOchoa, LorenzoF1435 O232 copies
      13. Usos, costumbres, religión i supersticiones de los mayasPacheco Cruz, SantiagoF1435 P33 19601 copy
      14. Breve historia de los mayasPallán Gayol, CarlosF1435 P362 copies
      15. Journey to XibalbaPattersonF1435 P371 copy
      16. El PuucPiña Chan, RománF1435 P5532 copies
      17. Historia mayaProskouriakoff, Tatiana (comp. Rosemary A. Joyce)F1435 P76182 copies
      18. University of Chicago Publications in Anthropology (spine)Redfield, RobertF1435 R431 copy
      19. Mundo mayaReston, George (as read on the spine)F1435 R482 copies
      20. Ritual of the BacabsRoys, Ralph L.F1435 R572 copies
      21. El murciélago en la cultura mayaRomero Sandoval, RobertoF1435 R652 copies
      22. La civilización de los antiguos mayasRuz Lhuillier, AlbertoF1435 R82 19931 copy
      23. Frente al pasado de los mayasRuz Lhuillier, AlbertoF1435 R841 copy
      24. El pueblo mayaRuz Lhuillier, AlbertoF1435 R88 19933 copies
      25. Los mayas: una breve introducciónRestall, Matthew & Solari, AmaraF1435 R5831 copy
      26. Les hauts lieux de l'histoireChampdor (spine)F1435 R586 19541 copy
      27. Los antiguos mayasRuz Lhuillier, AlbertoF1435 R8153 copies
      28. The MayasRuz Lhuillier, AlbertoF1435 R82131 copy
      29. Los mayas y las incógnitas del imperio antiguoSantosF1435 S352 copies
      30. Collected Works in Mesoamerican Linguistics and Archaeology, I–IIISeler, EduardF1435 S36 19907 copies
      31. The Mysterious MayaStuart, George E. & Stuart, Gene S.F1435 S871 copy
      32. Escondido en la selvaPrem, Hanns J. (ed.)F1435 S556 20002 copies
      33. Los mayasSoustelle, JacquesF1435 S68181 copy
      34. Los mayasStuart, George E. & Stuart, Gene S.F1435 S87182 copies
      35. La civilización mayaSharer, Robert J.F1435 S42818 19983 copies
      36. Los reinos perdidos de los mayasStuart, Gene S. & Stuart, George E.F1435 S869182 copies
      37. Técnicas analíticas aplicadas a la caracterización y producción de materiales arqueológicos en el área mayaVelázquez Castro, Adrián & Lowe, Lynneth S. (eds.)F1435 T382 copies
      38. Maya ArchaeologistThompson, J. Eric S.F1435 T451 copy
      39. Maya History and ReligionThompson, J. Eric S.F1435 T561 copy
      40. Aires de progresoThompson, Richard A.F1435 T4643 copies
      41. The Rise and Fall of Maya CivilizationThompson, J. Eric S.F1435 T4962 copies
      42. Grandeza y decadencia de los mayasThompson, J. Eric S.F1435 T498 19843 copies
      43. Arqueología mayaThompson, J. Eric S.F1435 T5223 copies
      44. Historia y religión de los mayasThompson, J. Eric S.F1435 T4615 19861 copy
      F1435.1 · Sites and regions 35 titles
      1. Contribución al estudio de los asentamientos de San Gervasio, Isla de CozumelSierra Sosa, Thelma NoemíF1435.1 (label not visible)1 copy
      2. Palenque (partly legible)(spine)F1435.1 P21 copy
      3. Pomoná: un sitio del Clásico maya en las colinas tabasqueñasGarcía Moll, RobertoF1435.1 P3 copies
      4. … los mayas contemporáneos (partly legible)(spine)F1435.1 Q7 M391 copy
      5. Lightning Warrior: Maya Art and Kingship at QuiriguaLooper, Matthew G.F1435.1 Q8 L652 copies
      6. Cultiv… territorio maya (partly legible)Bello Baltazar, Eduardo et al. (as read on the spine)F1435.1 Q78 C852 copies
      7. El bulto ritual de Mundo Perdido, TikalAyala Falcón, MaricelaF1435.1 T5 A933 copies
      8. El dintel 3 del Templo IV de TikalMorselli Barbieri, SimonettaF1435.1 T5 M671 copy
      9. Tikal y Uaxactún en el PreclásicoLaporte, Juan Pedro & Fialko, VilmaF1435.1 T5 T572 copies
      10. La almena de TlahuizcalpantecuhtliSánchez, Jesús E.F1435.1 T27 S361 copy
      11. … prehispánica de la Huasteca (partly legible)Zaragoza Ocaña, Diana MinervaF1435.1 T35 Z371 copy
      12. TortugueroArellano Hernández, AlfonsoF1435.1 T67 A742 copies
      13. Uaxactún: extinción de una culturaSchmidtF1435.1 U2 S344 copies
      14. Una comunidad maya en YucatánRiveraF1435.1 X6 R52 copies
      15. Xamanhá: un sitio arqueológico de la costa central de Quintana RooGoñi, GuillermoF1435.1 X35 G651 copy
      16. Mayas del Puuc: arqueología de la región de Xculoc, CampecheMichelet, Dominique et al.F1435.1 X38 M532 copies
      17. Xkipché I: El asentamientoPrem, Hanns J.F1435.1 X73 P743 copies
      18. Tipología y análisis de la obsidiana de Yaxchilán, ChiapasBrokmann, CarlosF1435.1 Y3 B762 copies
      19. La arquitectura de YaxchilánGarcía Moll, RobertoF1435.1 Y3 G371 copy
      20. Yaxchilan: The Design of a Maya Ceremonial CityTate, Carolyn E.F1435.1 Y3 T371 copy
      21. Caribe mayaGómez, ArturoF1435.1 Y8 G652 copies
      22. Aproximaciones a la antropología jurídica de los mayas peninsularesKrotz, Esteban (coord.)F1435.1 Y9 A671 copy
      23. Espacios mayas: representaciones, usos, creenciasBreton, Alain; Monod Becquelin, Aurore & Ruz, Mario Humberto (eds.)F1435.1 Y9 E765 copies
      24. Mayas, gobierno y tierras frente a la acometida liberal en Yucatán, 1812–1847Güémez Pineda, ArturoF1435.1 Y9 G842 copies
      25. Buscando el centroBarona Cockerell, Miguel (as read on the spine)F1435.1 Y89 B37 20131 copy
      26. Una deuda históricaBracamonte y Sosa, PedroF1435.1 Y89 B741 copy
      27. Crónicas de Yucatán: tres experiencias etnográficas en el sur de MéxicoCuevas Ávila, RafaelF1435.1 Y89 C842 copies
      28. Tiempos aciagos(spine)F1435.1 Y89 P451 copy
      29. El mundo colonial · vol. IIRuz, Mario HumbertoF1435.1 Y89 R891 copy
      30. Vol. I (title partly legible)Ruz, Mario HumbertoF1435.1 Y89 R891 copy
      31. Vol. III (title partly legible)Torras Conangla, RosaF1435.1 Y89 R892 copies
      32. «Ruinas de Yucatán»: … fotográfico del siglo XIX (partly legible)Sellen, Adam T. & Lowe, Lynneth S.F1435.1 Y89 S422 copies
      33. White Roads of the YucatánShaw, Justine M.F1435.1 Y89 S431 copy
      34. Before Kukulkán: Maya Life, Death, and Identity at Classic Period YaxunáTiesler, Vera; Cucina, Andrea; Stanton, Travis W. & Freidel, David A.F1435.1 Y89 T541 copy
      35. An Inconstant Landscape: The Maya Kingdom of El Zotz, GuatemalaGarrison, Thomas G. & Houston, Stephen (eds.)F1435.1 Z68 I531 copy
      F1435.3 · Architecture and art 28 titles
      1. La arquitectura de BonampakArai, Alberto T.F1435.3 A6 A732 copies
      2. Arquitectura y arqueologíaAndrews, George F.F1435.3 A6 A764 copies
      3. Architecture and the Origins of Preclassic Maya PoliticsDoyle, James A.F1435.3 A6 D691 copy
      4. Espacios sagrados(spine)F1435.3 A6 E762 copies
      5. Los estilos Río Bec, Chenes y Puuc en la arquitectura mayaGendrop, PaulF1435.3 A6 G452 copies
      6. Maya MonumentsHughes, NigelF1435.3 A6 H841 copy
      7. Mayas: guía de arquitectura y paisaje / The Maya: An Architectural and Landscape Guide(Junta de Andalucía)F1435.3 A6 M3961 copy
      8. Segunda Mesa Redonda de Palenque: arquitectura e ideología de los antiguos mayasTrejo, Silvia (ed.)F1435.3 A6 M468 19973 copies
      9. Nah, otochPierrebourg, Fabienne de & Ruz, Mario Humberto (eds.)F1435.3 A6 N342 copies
      10. An Album of Maya ArchitectureProskouriakoff, TatianaF1435.3 A6 P7 20021 copy
      11. La ciudad maya: un escenario sagradoRivera Dorado, MiguelF1435.3 A6 R582 copies
      12. Orientaciones astronómicas en la arquitectura maya de las tierras bajasSánchez Nava, Pedro Francisco & Šprajc, IvanF1435.3 A6 S3351 copy
      13. Maya Architecture(spine)F1435.3 A6 T741 copy
      14. Fiery Pool: The Maya and the Mythic SeaFinamore, Daniel & Houston, Stephen D. (eds.)F1435.3 A7 F541 copy
      15. Vasijas pintadas mayas en contexto arqueológicoFoncerrada de Molina, Marta & Lombardo de Ruiz, SoniaF1435.3 A7 F662 copies
      16. The Beast Between: Deer in Maya Art and CultureLooper, Matthew G.F1435.3 A7 L661 copy
      17. Los mayas del modernismo (partly legible)Lerner, JesseF1435.3 A7 L47181 copy
      18. Courtly Art of the Ancient MayaMiller, Mary & Martin, SimonF1435.3 A7 M531 copy
      19. Mayas: el lenguaje de la belleza(INAH)F1435.3 A7 M38641 copy
      20. Mayas: revelación de un tiempo sin fin(INAH)F1435.3 A7 M39071 copy
      21. Maya Art and CivilizationSpinden, Herbert J.F1435.3 A7 S6362 copies
      22. Imágenes de animales en los manuscritos mexicanos y mayasSeler, EduardF1435.3 A7 S45181 copy
      23. El libro del destinoSquirruF1435.3 A8 S682 copies
      24. La astronomía en el mundo mayaBeverido Pereau, FranciscoF1435.3 A81 copy
      25. México rural y la serpiente emplumadaFaust, Betty BerniceF1435.3 A37 F38181 copy
      26. Sugarcane & Rum(spine)F1435.3 A37 G871 copy
      27. La cestería maya de tierras bajasRodríguezF1435.3 B37 R633 copies
      28. Antologías de la revista Ciencias 3: calendario, astronomía y cosmovisión(revista Ciencias, UNAM)F1435.3 C14 C3542 copies
      F1435.3 · Thought, writing and politics 19 titles
      1. Tiempo cíclico y vaticinios: ensayos indígenas de la historiaBracamonte y Sosa, PedroF1435.3 P5 B731 copy
      2. Filosofía maya: antes de la invasiónHerrera Salazar, GabrielF1435.3 P5 H471 copy
      3. Philosophy of the Ancient MayaMcLeod, AlexusF1435.3 P5 M331 copy
      4. Textos coloniales del libro de Chilam Balam de ChumayelÁlvarez, María CristinaF1435.3 P6 A483 copies
      5. Codex Dresdensis: Maya-Handschrift der Sächsischen Landesbibliothek DresdenDeckert, Helmut & Anders, FerdinandF1435.3 P6 D422 copies
      6. Los códices mayasGarcésF1435.3 P6 G362 copies
      7. An Introduction to the Study of the Maya HieroglyphsMorley, Sylvanus G.F1435.3 P6 M66 19751 copy
      8. La … de los mayas (partly legible)(spine)F1435.3 P6 O741 copy
      9. El orden organiza… (partly legible)(spine)F1435.3 P6 S361 copy
      10. Maya Hieroglyphic WritingThompson, J. Eric S.F1435.3 P6 T47 19711 copy
      11. Crítica lingüística sobre los jeroglíficos y signos mayas (partly legible)Whorf, Benjamin LeeF1435.3 P61 copy
      12. Maya GlyphsHouston, Stephen D.F1435.3 P61 copy
      13. El despliegue del poder entre los mayas: nuevos estudios sobre la organización políticaIzquierdo y de la Cueva, Ana Luisa (ed.)F1435.3 P7 A532 copies
      14. Ancient Maya PoliticsMartin, SimonF1435.3 P7 M381 copy
      15. El movimiento maya en la década después de la paz (1997–2007)Bastos, Santiago & Brett, Roddy (eds.)F1435.3 P7 M681 copy
      16. Multiculturalismo y futuro en GuatemalaBastos, SantiagoF1435.3 P7 M851 copy
      17. Nuevas perspectivas sobre la geografía política de los mayasOkoshi Harada, Tsubasa; Williams-Beck, Lorraine A. & Izquierdo, Ana Luisa (eds.)F1435.3 P7 N842 copies
      18. Conversaciones inconclusas: mayas y extranjeros entre dos guerrasSullivan, PaulF1435.3 P7 S85183 copies
      19. El …nado y la cuestión étnico nacional en Guatemala (partly legible)(spine)F1435.3 P7 V551 copy
      F1435.3 · Religion, myth and ritual 28 titles
      1. Introducción al estudio del Rabinal AchíAcuña, RenéF1435.3 R3 A673 copies
      2. Leyendas de los mayasAyalaF1435.3 R3 A931 copy
      3. Mitos y leyendas de los mayasAyalaF1435.3 R3 A931 copy
      4. Humor ritual en la altiplanicie de ChiapasBricker, Victoria R.F1435.3 R3 B731 copy
      5. Art and Myth of the Ancient MayaChinchilla Mazariegos, OswaldoF1435.3 R3 C451 copy
      6. Con… cambios y rupturas en l… maya (partly legible)Garza, Mercedes de la & Valverde Valdés, María del Carmen (coords.)F1435.3 R3 C653 copies
      7. Las señoras de la lunaCruz Cortés, NoemíF1435.3 R3 C782 copies
      8. De la mano de lo sacro: santos y demonios en el mundo mayaRuz, Mario Humberto (ed.)F1435.3 R3 D452 copies
      9. … descubrimiento del culto crotálico (partly legible)Díaz Bolio, JoséF1435.3 R3 D531 copy
      10. Maya CosmosFreidel, David; Schele, Linda & Parker, JoyF1435.3 R3 F741 copy
      11. El hombre en el pensamiento religioso náhuatl y mayaGarza, Mercedes de laF1435.3 R3 G373 copies
      12. Rostros de lo sagrado en el mundo mayaGarza, Mercedes de laF1435.3 R3 G381 copy
      13. … la construcción humana y no humana del sentido del mundo … ante el dios Pochó de la muerte (partly legible)(spine)F1435.3 R3 L491 copy
      14. Los mayas: vida, mitología y arteLaughton, TimothyF1435.3 R3 L38182 copies
      15. La Reina RojaMalvido, AdrianaF1435.3 R3 M353 copies
      16. La cosmovisión mayaMatul, DanielF1435.3 R3 M38 20072 copies
      17. La noche de la Reina RojaMalvido, AdrianaF1435.3 R3 M3481 copy
      18. Dioses y seres del viento entre los antiguos mayasNájera Coronado, Martha IliaF1435.3 R3 N342 copies
      19. El don de la sangre en el equilibrio cósmicoNájera Coronado, Martha IliaF1435.3 R3 N352 copies
      20. Psicotrónica de los mayas(spine)F1435.3 R3 P761 copy
      21. La imagen de ChaacQuezada García, OctavioF1435.3 R3 Q842 copies
      22. Religión maya(spine)F1435.3 R3 R461 copy
      23. El ritual de los bacabesArzápalo Marín, RamónF1435.3 R3 R572 copies
      24. Las bocas del infiernoRivera Dorado, MiguelF1435.3 R3 R5761 copy
      25. Dragones y diosesRivera Dorado, MiguelF1435.3 R3 R5783 copies
      26. Maya Creation MythsKnowlton, Timothy W.F1435.3 R31 copy
      27. Protestantismo en el mundo maya contemporáneoGarma Navarro, Carlos & Ruz, Mario Humberto (eds.)F1435.3 R32 copies
      28. The Maya: Life, Myth, and ArtLaughton, TimothyF1435.3 R31 copy

      03Culture Library

      Many Maya peoples.

      The Maya are not one people but many related peoples who share a language family and a long history. Their cosmology shares common threads: a world of three levels (the sky, the earth and Xibalba, the underworld) joined by the ceiba tree; four directions with their colors; and time counted in interlocking cycles kept by daykeepers.

      30 Maya peoples
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      Fly through the peoples: press ▶ to fly

      Gastronomy

      The Mayan table.

      Dishes, drinks and ingredients of the milpa and the forest. The map of the table of every library ↗

      Read more: Mayan gastronomy

      Philosophy and cosmovision

      Ways to understand the world.

      Creation, duality, time and the sacred, in the words of the peoples of this library.

      Read more: Mayan philosophy

      04Nature Library

      Animals, plants and remedies.

      The Maya forest is the largest tropical forest in the Americas after the Amazon. These are some of the species the Maya world lives with and has named for centuries. Traditional knowledge of living communities, shared for culture and study. It is not medical advice.

      Read more: Mayan nature

      Species

      The species of the Mayan world.

      Land, sea, sky and forest: the living neighbours of the peoples of this library, each with its scientific name.

      Read more: Mayan nature

      05Science Library

      The day in its three counts.

      The Tzolkʼin counts 260 days with 13 numbers and 20 signs; the Mexica Tonalpohualli is its sister count, and the NEO day follows the Earth on its orbit and the Moon in its phase. Choose any day: the wheels turn until its sign stands on top.

      • Maya Tzolkʼin · Haabʼ…260 days · 365 days
      • Maya Long Count…Days since the creation, 13.0.0.0.0
      • Mexica Tonalpohualli…260 days: 13 numbers × 20 signs
      • Gregorian…Solar · the civil calendar of the world
      • The Moon…Phase of the day
      • Hijri…Lunar · Islamic calendar
      • Hebrew…Lunisolar · Jewish calendar
      • Chinese…Lunisolar · year of the cycle of sixty

      Read more: Mayan calendar Tzolk'in, or Cholq'ij

      The four directions

      The twenty days, in the four directions.

      Read in groups of five, each day-sign belongs to one direction and its colour. Today’s sign shines in its place.

      North Xaman · White

      The white side of the world

      West Chikʼin · Black

      Where the sun goes down

      East Lakʼin · Red

      Where the sun is born

      South Nohol · Yellow

      The yellow side, of ripe maize

      The centreGreen · Yaxcheʼ, the ceiba, the world tree…

      The four directions and their colours in Yucatec Maya tradition, as in the books of Chilam Balam: east red, north white, west black, south yellow, and the green ceiba at the centre. The day-signs follow one another east, north, west, south.

      The twenty day-signs

      The signs of the days.

      Each day-sign is a nawal: a guide and a way of being. With the thirteen numbers it makes the 260 days of the sacred count. Today’s sign shines in the list.

      Day-sign 1 · East

      Imix

      Crocodile

      Primordial waters and the earth crocodile: the beginning of the count, nourishment and new starts.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 2 · North

      Ikʼ

      Wind

      Wind and the breath of life: spirit, communication and the spoken word.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 3 · West

      Akʼbʼal

      Night

      Night before the dawn: the house, dreams and the inner world.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 4 · South

      Kʼan

      Maize

      The maize seed: abundance, growth and the net that gathers the harvest.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 5 · East

      Chikchan

      Serpent

      The serpent: vital force, instinct and the energy of the body.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 7 · West

      Manikʼ

      Deer

      The deer and the hand: healing, work and the four pillars of the world.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 8 · South

      Lamat

      Star

      The star Venus and the rabbit: harmony, fertility and plenty.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 9 · East

      Muluk

      Water

      Water and offering: purification, feelings and the payment to the earth.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 11 · West

      Chuwen

      Monkey

      The monkey and the thread of time: the arts, play and the artisan.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 13 · East

      Bʼen

      Reed

      The reed and the maize stalk: growth, the home and the hearth.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 14 · North

      Ix

      Jaguar

      The jaguar: the strength of the earth, the night and the sacred altars.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 16 · South

      Kibʼ

      Waxing

      The vulture and the owl: forgiveness, conscience and the wisdom of the ancestors.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 17 · East

      Kabʼan

      Earth

      The earth in movement: thought, knowledge and the earthquake.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 18 · North

      Etzʼnabʼ

      Flint

      Flint: the mirror of truth, clear decisions and the healing of the body.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 19 · West

      Kawak

      Storm

      Storm and rain: family, community and the cleansing of the sky.

      Read more Your reading

      Day-sign 20 · South

      Ajaw

      Sun

      The sun and the lord: light, wholeness and the ancestors at the close of the count.

      Read more Your reading

      Read more: Mayan signs Learn more about the day-signs

      Numbers

      Dots, bars and the shell.

      A dot is one, a bar is five, a shell is zero: the Maya counted in twenties and knew zero centuries before Europe. Names in Yucatec Maya.

      Read more: Mayan numbers Numbers Library symbols report

      06Art Library

      The art of the Mayan world.

      Murals, pigments, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and music. The map of art of every library ↗

      Read more: Mayan art

      Symbols

      Every symbol opens its card.

      Dishes, works of art, day-signs, species and ideas: touch one to open it.

      🍖🥣🍲🫔🥥🌽🍫🍯🌿🌶️🖼️🔵🎨💎🪨🪜🗿🏺👚🎶
      🐆🦜🐾🐝🐒🦈🐢🦭🪸🐚🌳🍫🌽🍈🌰🍄📜🧭🕳️☀️🌀🕯️🤝

      The first circle of libraries

      Three libraries, one NEO.

      Every library talks to the others: one design, one catalogue, one reading form, three traditions.

      NEO Library

      The New Encyclopedia Online: the five libraries of the whole Earth, the NEO Atlas and the NEO reading.

      Your NEO reading       You are here

      Mayan Library

      The Maya world: the Tzolkʼin, the codices, the cities and the peoples of the Maya bioregion.

      Your Mayan reading

      Mexican Library

      Mexico: the Tonalpohualli, the 68 original peoples, the codices and the table of Mexico.

      Your Tonalli reading

      NEO Glossary

      The words of this library.

      The key terms, defined in plain words.

      Tzolk'in
      The sacred count of 260 days: 20 day-signs combined with 13 numbers.
      Haab'
      The solar year of 18 months of 20 days plus the 5 days of Wayeb'.
      Long Count
      A count of days in a modified base 20 (a tun of 18 × 20 days) from the era date 13.0.0.0.0, 11 August 3114 BCE, used for historical dates.
      Wayeb'
      The five closing days of the Haab', a time of caution.
      Nawal (Nahual)
      The day-sign and spirit companion that guides a person from birth.
      Ajq'ij
      A K'iche' daykeeper who keeps the count of days and leads ceremonies.
      Ajaw
      Lord; also the twentieth day-sign, the Sun.
      K'atun
      A period of 20 years of 360 days in the Long Count.
      Xibalba
      The underworld, entered through caves and cenotes.
      Ceiba (Yaxche')
      The world tree that joins sky, earth and underworld.
      Milpa
      The field of maize, beans and squash grown together.
      Cenote
      A natural well in the limestone of the Yucatán Peninsula.
      Sakbe
      A raised white road joining Maya cities.
      Huipil
      A woven blouse whose designs identify each community.
      Popol Vuh
      The K'iche' book of creation, the Hero Twins and the people of maize.

      References and sources

      Every fact has its source.

      Official and academic sources behind the figures and facts of this library. Cite this page: Sánchez González, José Fernando (2026). The Mayan Library. NEO library.org. https://mayanlibrary.org/

      1. Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Guatemala · Censo 2018
      2. INEGI · Censo de Población y Vivienda 2020
      3. INALI · Catálogo de las Lenguas Indígenas Nacionales
      4. Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH)
      5. UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador
      6. Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian · Living Maya Time
      7. Encyclopaedia Britannica · Maya
      8. Gran Selva Maya biocultural corridor
      9. Sánchez González, José Fernando · UNAM thesis (method of NEO Library)
      10. Stuart, George E. & Stuart, Gene S. (1977). The Mysterious Maya. Washington: National Geographic Society. Map of the Maya lowlands and highlands. UNAM Central Library, F1435 S87.

      Sánchez González, José Fernando · NEO library science method · AI tools were used; the author is Librarian Joséf Sánchez Coach. AI engine by SESY.AI · Semantic Systems & AI.

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