Maya myth revealed

Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009 4:36 PM by Alan Boyle

Moises Castillo / AP

Idaho State University anthropologist Richard Hansen shows a 2,300-year-old
stucco frieze found at the El Mirador archaeological site in northern Guatemala.

Archaeologists have unearthed a pair of monumental stucco panels in Guatemala that appear to depict one of the New World's oldest-known creation stories, going back thousands of years to what experts call "the cradle of Maya civilization." The discovery suggests that the saga, known as the Popol Vuh, was a centerpiece of Maya beliefs for well more than a millennium and stands as one of the world's enduring religious stories.

The Popol Vuh chronicles how the Maya gods created the world and made several attempts to fashion people to live in it, including "mud people" and "wooden people" that didn't quite meet the grade. Finally, the gods got it right, creating the people who inhabited the urban site now known as El Mirador - where the panels were found - and the hundreds of thousands of acres comprising the Serpent Kingdom.

A Quiche Maya text of the Popol Vuh was found in the highland town of Chichicastenango in 1700 and transcribed by a Dominican monk named Francisco Ximenez. The saga's two main characters are the Hero Twins, named Hunahpu and Xbanlanque, who are sort of like a double dose of Hercules.

The 26-foot-long (8-meter-long) El Mirador panels were made of carved and modeled lime plaster, and lined a water collection system in a part of the city known as the Central Acropolis. They date back to the Late Preclassic period of Maya culture, which goes from about 300 B.C. to the early 1st century A.D., according to an account of the find from Idaho State University.

msnbc.com

Click for video:
Msnbc.com's Dara Brown
reports on the mythic
Maya panels.

The amazing thing about the panels is that they show a pair of swimmers, framed by cosmic monsters including an undulating serpent and an old-man deity with outstretched wings. Idaho State University's Richard Hansen, president of the Idaho-based FARES Foundation, said the swimmers appear to represent the fabled Hero Twins.

"One of the swimmers has a decapitated head on his flanks, which is likely the decapitated head of his father, who was known in Maya mythology as Hun Hunahpu," Hansen is quoted as saying in the university's account. The other swimmer wears a jaguar headdress, which would typically be associated with Xbalanque ("Young Jaguar Sun.").

"All in all, the scene is a complex blend of early Maya mythology and cosmology," Hansen said.

Hector Escobedo, Guatemala's vice minister of culture, said the find "suggests that the antiquity of the Popol Vuh as an authentic creation story extends far into the Preclassic eras." The find also adds to the importance attached to the Mirador Basin as a center of ancient Maya culture.

Hansen has been doing research for years in the remote Mirador Basin, which is at the center of a major forest conservation program established by the Guatemalan government. The Idaho researcher served as a consultant to actor/director Mel Gibson on the controversial movie "Apocalypto." And although that film is now far back on the DVD shelves, Gibson is still taking an interest in Mirador. Recently, he called the site "arguably the greatest archaeological find in the Western Hemisphere."

For more about Mirador, check out the Mirador Basin Web site.

Update for 10 p.m. ET: There's a lot of discussion in the comments below about the use of the word "myth" - in this context, I meant it in the same sense that one would talk about Greek or Roman myths. I've also reworded some references in this item just to avoid using the word "myth" over and over again.

Update for 11:55 a.m. ET March 13: I've added in the video about the find.

Update for 5 p.m. ET March 18: Here are some thoughtful observations from anthropologist/archaeologist James Q. Jacobs:

"I do not know who chose the title ['Maya Myth Revealed'], but I find it deceptive. What is revealed is a physical object. The 'myth' aspect is an interpretation based on writing from about 2,000 years later, and from a different location. We do not even know if the same culture group was extant when the Popol Vuh was written.

"The huge distinction between evidence and interpretation is often overlooked in archaeology in favor of our myths about the past. Science writers can aid in elucidating this chasm, especially when the temporal gap is this immense."

I admit that I wrote the title. Although the archaeologists involved with the dig emphasized the Popol Vuh connection, Jacobs makes a good point that one (or two) stucco panels may not be enough to nail down that connection. Here's an article in which Jacobs discusses the bugaboos involved in intepreting ancient art.

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Comments

It seems awfully stupid to turn a simple discovery into an argument over whether or not God exists, since ultimately it cannot be proven either way. It really boils down to is why does anything exist? Matter, planets, time, space, thought, or conscience. I doubt that anyone on this thread can presume to know for a fact why the universe is what it is. Therefore this is merely an expression of belief (or opinion, if you like) and silly to suggest that one side is correct and the other is wrong. You are free to believe whatever you like and shouldn't be chided by the ignorance of people who don't know themselves. It is hard to believe that there is a single entity that controls everything but it also seems strange to me that the universe was a giant rock which showed up at some point and exploded for no apparent reason. However I don't discount either because the bottom line is, like the rest of you, I don't really know for sure. The difference with some of you is I don't act like I do.

Common Sense, New York (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 5:13 AM)

Take it from a Jew, Genesis is allegory, it's a myth. We wrote it, you Christians bought it, but seriously, you must have missed the Hebrew disclaimer that said "this text should never be taken verbatim."

Second of all, the Mayan calendar doesn't say ANYTHING about the world ending on 12/21/12. It is simply the date that the calendar ends its 13th cycle. The calendar itself was a series of long dates drawn in an almost proto scientific notation style. Now, eventually you have to let them end the cycle and start from the beginning again, because carving an infinite calendar into stone would SUCK.

If every printing press and electronic information conduit died tomorrow, and all of the calendars that were printed didn't extend beyond, oh say, 2011, would that automatically mean the world would end in 2011? Or would it just mean that we would either need to make a new calendar (hello Gregorian calendar system! Newer than that old stone age, dates in infinite notation thing) or, draw ourselves up a new calendar along the same lines.

You guys are the fail.

T Weiss (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 6:03 AM)

Ok, now really who cares? Seriously!
The Mayans "supposedly (note the quotes there!)Have the rest of us all dying in either 2012 or 2013, so why worry about digging up a bunch of artifacts now?
Who's going to care when we are all gone?
The roaches?

Bill Phoenix, az (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 6:59 AM)

One posible point might be that older myths, such as the Mayan, were trying to control current events, such as rainfall. With the advent of the monotheistic religions we get more of an attempt to control events after death. I've prepared the following to examine these more current ideologies.

IDEOLOGY

Ideologies hold out the promise that the future will be better than the present. There are two types of ideology: a state-based ideology, such as communism, socialism and fascism, which promises a better life while the person is living, and a metaphysical-based ideology (MBI), which promises a better life after the person is dead. [Capitalism, the description of an individual human’s desire to acquire; and Tribalism, the description of a collective desire to acquire or protect, are not ideologies.]

This paper will deal with the MBI, which adds two more critical traits. First, the follower fears the expiration of existence and desires continuation of existence past physical death. Second, the follower must have a suspension-of-disbelief.

There are five types of people involved in the ideology, the Visionary, the Leader, the Early Follower, the Later Follower, and the Enforcer. There are two basic human emotions involved, fear and desire.

The Visionary thinks outside of the current tradition, has little fear, and desires either to create a better general human condition or to have power over others. The Leader, those who take over leadership after the Visionary is out of the way, has desire either to have power over others or to accumulate wealth. [The Leader, while publicly professing belief, may or may not have belief in the ideology, for public perception is more important than private reality.] The Early Follower is unhappy with the personal current social situation and wants change. The Later Follower draws self-worth from belonging, has fear of the unknown, or desires approbation of society. [Later Followers may also fill the role of Enforcer.] The Enforcer draws self-worth from enforcement and desires current self-benefits.

I will focus on the Later Follower, which forms the vast bulk of the body politic. Later Followers can be defined as shown in the following hierarchical table.

Mono-ideologist Believes there is one right path. Since this is contained within the individual’s thoughts no one else need know about it.
Evangelist Has the urge or mission to spread word of the path. Sometimes intrusive and irritating; nevertheless is peaceful and not a physical threat.
Fundamentalist Insists that public law reflect the path. If thwarted, the fundamentalist may introduce violence, for the insistence, citing the desire of a deity, is without internal constraint.
Dominionist / Dominationist Some analysts use a forth category for Fundamentalists who resort to violence. It may be of value to analyze this category separately.

(See the paper “Countering an Ideology”.)
Chuck Elliott
A Better Course
22 October 2008

Chuck Elliott, Corpus Christi, TX (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 7:25 AM)

JD from Washington -- Very interesting concept of the frieze. Before reading the article I, too, "saw" the person as a "diver" with some sort of "aqualung" or what have you on his back. Or, maybe he's giving the jaguar a "piggy back" across the body of water, :).
Regarding the cat swimming thing, tigers are very fond of water and in fact, are avid swimmers -- most big cats have more experience with swimming than do the domesticated pet.
In reference to the "myth" subject, there's truth in all comments made: "storytelling" has always been part of all cultures. Life experiences were handed down through stories (most often with morals), significant persons or events became legends and over time most became "myths". As I've always said, "the truth" is in everything. We just have to peel the onion (as someone said earlier). That's what we're here to do, experience life on this planet and learn from our 'living' and from each other.
Which brings me to my final comment: I, also, consider myself a Christian -- which translates to nothing more than an 'emulater' of Christ, who by the way, was a separate being from God (Jews are not Christians but they do beleive in God,;)). I am not so insecure in my beliefs that I recoil at another's remarks. (Remember what the "good book" says: if someone slaps your cheek, you're to give the other cheek to slap as well -- think on that awhile. ;) If you're confident in your beliefs, nothing anyone said would "offend" you.
Want to "test" your belief system(?), watch "Religulous"! The senior Vatican priest is a 'riot', LOL!!! It's worth watching just for his comments! :)

PS -- One last word to the "Christians"! Regarding the "tolerance" thing: that word implies you'd rather not! How about "respect" for the differences between us -- wouldn't that be more Christ-like?

Debra Cisneros, Tustin, CA (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 8:00 AM)

I wonder if the Mayans would have spent most of the time arguing about the meaning of a word? Perspective is a wonderful thing. I hope that the United States of America gets some after it has been around as long as the Mayan, Aztec, Roman, or any of the other "failed" civilizations have been. If the panel is for religious purposes, I suspect it is being used to show why one type or class of individual is inferior to another. Seems to me that no matter the religious tome, there is always someone around to tell us that it means "they" are better than "we". Marvel in the discovery of those long gone, leave everything else judgmental out of it.

p henning madison wi (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 8:22 AM)

In order to explain the purpose and useage of "myth", let's use a modern day one. In the Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. When Luke Skywalker asked the Master Jedi Obi Wan Kenobi why Obi Wan had told Luke that Luke's father had been murdered by Darth Vader, here is the dialog:

Luke: "Obi-Wan! Why didn't you tell me? You told me Vader betrayed and murdered my father!"
Obi-Wan: "Your father was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I told you was true... from a certain point of view."
Luke: "A certain point of view?!"
Obi-Wan: "Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."

Let's take our "myths" as what they are - an embodiment of certain truths that the adherants to that "traditional story" or "parable" or "religious
message" or even "scientific pricipble" a people or community accept as vital/foundational to their worldview.

Roland Hill, Greenwood, S.C. (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 8:36 AM)

"themayans also said th eworld will end in a few years,, wonder if they re right? i sur ehope so, good way to end the housing and job market problems"

When I toured some Mayan ruins, with a Mayan guide, he laughed about the 'world coming to an end' prophecy. His explanation is Dec (whatever) 2012 is the end of the CURRENT Mayan calendar. He shrugged it off as no big deal, and basically those not understanding Mayans misinterpreting their systems.

Susan, Middle Tennessee (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 8:45 AM)

I am intolerant.
When their religious myths affect personal rights, freedom of choice and speech, blue laws, advancements in science, education, exempt tax status and all the other dogmatic bull crap I tend to get irritated, intolerant and angry.
There are churchs on every corner...keep that crap in there.

Hugh Mungus (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 8:50 AM)

it is more than a roman etc.. "myth", every part of the world and/or culture has this twin hero story. All stories from all religions can be traced beyond said religions.

we have lost our memory of such things a long time ago. It is sad that we can not break free of this prison we find ourselves in.

Psyon, wash state, US (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 9:12 AM)

Yes the mayan blood is still strong but the mayan
brain trust was taken and from them and they were
retrained or killed by christians. The lack of a
solid written history Since it was mostly a verbal
story telling that was passed down(kind of like tv
around the fire) Any of the codexes that were found
were destroyed by priests. Why do the christians
vehmenantley destroy and belittle any other beleif
system? If you want to see evidence of evolution on
this planet visit a sand pit, There you can see how
over time the seas deposited layers of different types
and the fact that there are fossils down there. Show
me the passage that explains how the earth used to be
smaller and describes let's say the megaladon.

tonya, orlando, Florida (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 9:32 AM)

"myth
Pronunciation: \ˈmith\
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek mythos
Date: 1830
1 a: a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon b: parable , allegory"
-Mirriam Webster Dictionary

The primary definition of a myth does not serve to defame or otherwise ridicule a belief system. There are several definitions of the word which do define the word as indiciative of false notions. It all depends on the intent of the speaker.

So in essence, yes Christianity is mythology.

Exeder (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 9:34 AM)

This was a wonderful article! Joseph Campbell would have enjoyed reading it and exploring the Mayan mythology. I don't believe any apology needs to be made for using the term "myth" for that is what almost all cultural and religious stories tend to be.

I feel sorry for the gentlemen from Indianapolis and Colorado Springs who feel their religious beliefs are being attacked by the article and other comments. Is it because stories in the Bible are being called Myths? I don't get the feeling that Christians are being singled out but rather are being included in the greater context of religious mythology. Even if these Bible stories are myths (which I believe they are) that does not mean that they are not important! All myths, as alluded to by others, have "truths" and value to them, both culturally and religiously. I haven't seen any comment (so far) that I would call venomous or intolerant towards Christianity. The comments (so far) have challenged the stories in the Bible for what they are (myths) in a primarily scholarly context and I can only assume that this is what is being construed as "venom" or intolerance.

As for the criticism against science--well...much of what was cited by the gentleman was distortion of the actual "facts" to substantiate his personal beliefs. Science uses processes and observation to explore our world and solve problems and sometimes what is discovered using these methods challenges our beliefs. Science isn't exact, but it IS more factual and accurate than blind faith...

Laura, Bristol, IN (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 9:51 AM)

This is extremely interesting to me. The two twins seem awfully similar to the two witnesses in the book of Revelation in the Bible. Between the Maya's already proven-true "theories" and the current situation in world politics and government and the economy, of course, and their Baktun cycle that ends on 12/21/2012, I'm driven more and more to believe that the Maya knew/know more than we can possibly fathom. For such an ancient culture to know what happens on that date alone is insane to think about, and science has proven that that date will be a truly significant one. I don't know, but I think these Mayans were/are on to something. We'll just have to wait a little over 3 years to find out.

Timmy, Indianapolis, Indiana (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 10:00 AM)

It certainly takes more faith to believe in something other than a creation story than it takes to believe in the Bible's story of creation. The Bible that has never been proven historically inaccurate on any point. Macro-evolution has never been proven at any point (natural selection doesn't prove the creation of any new DNA in any creature) and the logic of infinite cause and effect regression can never reach any conclusion other than the supernatural creation of time/space by an infinite being.

The "so much smarter than the stupid creationists" pundits live on faith in randomness and large chunks of time. Its a matter of evidence and some people chose not to acknowledge the evidence that exists for a perfect and almighty God.

Jason Green, Kingwood, TX (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 10:10 AM)

Cool story. Those of you arguing over the meaning of the word myth need to get a life.

Eugene Kudrow, Budelitte, KY (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 10:25 AM)

the christian religion(or christian mythology)has luted some preexisting mythologies or religions.According to Bible God took earth and has given life to it..The maya mythology as it is proven now talks about MUD people.i believe something can be understood here.

Christos Pinas.PO BOX 528.CORFU GREECE (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 10:28 AM)

Alan Boyle is a myth. Someone is being paid to write these articles. I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked.

Guy S. Newell (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 10:38 AM)

It is curious how fighting over a word, ie "Myth", diverts the attention away from the stone gates' symbolism and its relationship to and place in the cosmic "whole" of Mayan culture. It is a significant find and yet no one has asked is there a relationship to other symbolic carvings in that time period and could this be another clue in the Mayan written language? Is this another alphabet letter to the thousands of incredible symbols that will eventually lead scholars and anthropoligists to the Mayan Rosetta Stone? Many symbolic figures on other stone carvings on buildings and pottery and textiles have been catalogued, so can this symbol be found elsewhere and in what context? Is it part of a creation "belief" or is it just a symbolic desire to protect the purity of the water in the well? If you put warning signs up, most people will obey, so what if they are just saying keep the dirty hands out of the community watering hole? Every society has rules, and those rules are often stated for the majority of people by symbol rather than the written word, much like our international symbols of food, rest areas and hospitals. Perhaps we should explore the ancient Mayans' more practical use of these symbols. Besides, great cultures use beautiful things to declare the culture as being present and important in the universe. Like the Egyptian, Greek and Roman buildings and statues, the Mayans also declared their environment and society as being worth a statue or two. Stop fighting about little things and look at the big picture. I, for one, would like to see a History International or Nat Geo special about the discovery and have a better look at the objects. I'm trained in the discipline of Cultural Anthropology and am capable of following a multi-scientific approach to any great discovery, so might I suggest that fighting over one word is a bit counterproductive to the ultimate goal, which is understanding why the Mayans built and carved the things in the first place.

Judi, Boise, Idaho (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 10:51 AM)

Let people believe what they want to believe. What difference does it make, as long as it hurts no one else and gets them through the day? I think this Mayan stuff is great- so complex so long ago-facinating! Also, this evolution stuff vs. creation stuff. My belief is that God created evolution as a way of perfecting life as if it were to continue forever. What an abundance of life we have here on our little planet, surrounded by rocks swirling throughout the universe. There is no life anywhere else and we all know it, yet we continue to destroy life on our rock while looking for some spec of water on other totally dead rocks that don't even have decent gravity for crying out loud. It really makes no sense. We are killing everything on this planet including ourselves and we have learned little from our past. Look at the life we are killing: everything from tiny flowers to the largest form of life ever on earth- the Blue Whale, due to our own stupidity and greed and wastefulness. Besides, what's wrong with being related to apes and gorillas? Although they fight among themselves sometimes being lower primates, they don't go around killing other life forms for the fun of it. Also, these ancient civilizations were around for long periods of time. They must have been doing something right in order to survive. They weren't stupid. How can we learn from them?

mindy (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 10:58 AM)

Great article Alan! Love to see articles on archaelogical finds that give us a glimpse back into old myths of creation. Interesting to see how the different creation myths have common threads.

What's really funny is seeing the christiaqns here trying to defend their creation myth by trying to support the Mayan creation myth as not really myth. Let's not forget that it was the christians who destroyed the Mayan, Incan and Aztec religions and civilations to prop up their own misguided religion and myths and steal lots and lots of gold and silver.

All creation myths are just that, myths. They were created by ancient ingnorant peoples to explain how they got here because they had no clue about science. Thanks to Science we now know better that these myths are wrong and that Evolution and the Big Bang are the correct answers to how we got here.

Real Science Rules!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 11:06 AM)

Neat discovery, archaeology is cool. Lot of interesting comments here, but what I think is funny is that no matter what religion or non-religion you believe in, we humans have been around a long time, however we don't know what the hell we did in the past. All that we really have learned digging up the past is that we come and go and will continue to do so and each civilization of us changes with the time and will continue to do so. Enjoy the ride cause it's short!

Mike Jones, Idaho (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 11:12 AM)

There are myths that have been created based on historical facts that have been distorted by each culture as they get further removed from the original event,yet they bear a resemblance of the orginal.The Bible tells us the Original history,starting with Genesis and ends with Revelation.IT is the only book that gives us prophecy that is happening , and accuratly tells us where and when these things have happened and when they will happen.Christian have added stories and changed holidays and merged paganisim with the truth so much so the Original is hard to discern.The calander we use is not the one Yahway gave Moses,Chrismas and Easter are not part of the three Main holidays taught in the Bible which tell us of prophetic events that did happen and are Yet to happen.Since Constantine there has been a great falling away from the Truth that was once delivered to us.

Carl Keppley,Boyertown,PA. (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 11:18 AM)

Even if nothing existed, that nothing would exist. Take it easy on christians for calling other faiths myths, the other faiths call christian belief myths, you just don't blog there.

duhhh da dun dunt, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 11:26 AM)

As an amature archaeologist who has spent more than 25 years excavating Mayan Sites in Southern Mexico, Guatamala, Belize and Honduras, I find this discovery amazing. It will add to and substantiate many of the yet unproven assumptions of Mayan cosmology.

ChacB, San Pedro, Belize CA (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 11:41 AM)

I hope to see this in my lifetime. As for the myth label, it is very dismissive. This belief was the religion of many ancient Maya. The ancestors of the Maya are still alive, and they keep some of these religious beliefs and practices. To say this is a myth puts it on the level of the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. THOSE were myths.

JD in LA, CA (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 11:42 AM)

As a creationist, I also would like to commend Alan on his fair and impartial presentation of the facts. This article is an excellent example of professionalism on the part of a journalist. Thank you also for your thoughtful clarifications and comment replies. I look forward to hearing more about Mayan discoveries in the future.

On the other hand, I would like to suggest to some of my Christian brethren that calling evolutionary scholars "hacks and shysters" does not promote an evironment conducive to uplifting dialogue. While we may disagree on deeply held beliefs, "attacks on the man" serve only to alienate the people around us.

Miriam, DC (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 11:43 AM)

"Its interesting to see people still believe in magic. Nothing is got to happen on Dec 21 2012....and still peoplewant to run away and embrace this doomsday 2012 prophecy. I guess it make there life more exciting...as if the wonders of science are not enough for them."

steve is right, we will all probably die WAY before 2012!

Charles, Dallas (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 11:43 AM)

I think it was Joseph Campbell that said most people veiw any religion that is not their own as a myth. Cute stories that mean very little other than moraltiy plays or adventure tales to explain what science had yet to reveal. We should all find it offensive that the "magical thinking" of the christian plays such a role in our modern society. We are the worse for it.

Keyser Soze, Virginia (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:06 PM)

A great find.I would really like to see a picture of this as the Mayan people would have seen it when painted in the vivid colors that they are known to have used.Also I wonder if the late Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek" stories be viewed in the future as a myth,religon,or just a'belief'?

Frank Brownback,Butte,Montana (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:17 PM)

Woe be it that someone might suggest that this may just be an artist interpretation of a drug induced hallucinogenic experience. Or a Frazetti type creation of a Conan character. It makes good speculation and conversation especially when “myth” is added to it.

G. Randel, Texas (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:21 PM)

The focus of the article is well beyond recognizable anymore. So lets just put it to rest with all these definition comments. Ready? Here we go, "Myth" M-Y-T-H "Myth.

Oh and by the way, very interesting article Alan. I enjoyed reading it.

SoundersFC fan, University Place, WA (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:22 PM)

Too bad this didn't dispell the incorrect rumors regarding the end of the Mayan Calendar...people, there's no such thing! We will be here well after the dreaded date!

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:25 PM)

Hay, I see stuff like this on passing freight cars every day. Wonder what they are going to make of those 2000 years from now? You can bet if its worth a buck someone will take advantage of the opportunity.

G. Randel, Texas (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:29 PM)

I suspect there are "christian" and "religious" genes being passed through the generations that instill a kind of desire for having myth created to guide "morality".

Thomas Ashby, Calgary (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:34 PM)

The term myth is used by anyone who does not believe or has not seen the story that is told.The term only
tells what the teller believes.

Russell Young OFallon MO. (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:45 PM)

Read Uriels Machine.

susan NY (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:50 PM)

Christianity and Islam and all other religions and their ideologies are considered myths by many so don't feel bad.

chad, L.A. Ca (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:56 PM)

People,

all religions, including christianity and all the others are myths, because they were invented by humans. it's all fake.

Janae, Dallas, TX (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 12:58 PM)

Wow, it's crazy how all I wanted to do was find a bit more information on article only to be offended. It's hard right now to be a Christian. Why would someone want to demonize me? I like this article. I think it's great that we take value in lost cultures. I also believe in evolution. If you want to radicalize all Christians, then it's ok for Christians to radicalize other faiths with generalization. I don't think that is the right path. Those that want to harm others, physically or verbally, just for the sake of doing it are radicals themselves.

Elizabeth K. Norman, OK (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 1:27 PM)

Well people, you can coose religions and "believe" what you like, but you can't pick and choose what science you would like to believe. If you choose not to believe evolution and in carbon dating, and choose to believe the world is only 6,000 years old instead of billions, why do you believe in DNA,western medicine, and drug therapy? The next time you are sick, skip the doctors and pray to the god of your choice for help..

Matt, New York (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 1:37 PM)

This is a significant find. I do believe that the bible is all myth both old and new testament. The myth is the bible of the ego of power the means to attain it is by intimidation and fear. When you are freed you can be released from the bonds of myth. It can become an interesting mythological story period.

Gloria Messemer, New YOrk (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 1:51 PM)

Has there been a full sense of the stories that the Mayans talking about creation and their pantheon of deities? Did the scientist talk about the comparisons that other people have mentioned here about the similarities of stories; many have flooding stories; there was mention of twins like Romulus and Remus from the Romans.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 2:00 PM)

MrEd,

Wow...just wow. First of all, what you call "venom and hatred" is what we call critical thinking. And, correct me if I’m wrong, the original "venom and hate" comes from the church. More people have died/killed in the name of religion than any other reason.

Also, science does not and cannot every disprove something that cannot be tested. You see the difference? The best scientific theory (see, we don’t call it fact like you do) constantly challenges itself. Lucy, by the way, is just a VERY small piece of the puzzle of evolution. Even if what you say was true (which, it is not) it would have little bearing on the overall picture we now have of evolution. Any "holes" in time are rapidly being closed.
I find it funny that you so graciously accept all in your life that science brought you; your car, the lights you turn on, medicine, TV, Phones, and GASP the computer. But, GOD forbid, they actually may have something that may or may not affect your personal beliefs. If we listened to people like you, we would still be in the dark ages.

Adam, Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 2:08 PM)

In the academic world, the word myth is used to describe a story that accounts for the creation of the world and/or its people. By that definition, the word myth works fine to describe the mayan creation story along with the biblical creation story. Use of the word myth does not mean the story is "false" per se. It simply means it is a creation story.
When religious beliefs are easily threatened by the views of others, I always question how strong the individual's faith in his or her said beliefs.

Angela, Jackson, Tn (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 2:24 PM)

Mr Ed, [...] You claim you are right and therefore everybody else is wrong yet you sound just as vehement as someone espousing an opposite viewpoint. You provide no evidence, and ironically you ignore the MOUNTAINS of geological, astronomical, and biological scientific evidence that supports the current view of the world. Sorry if you think science is actively trying to disprove God; that isn't the case. Science is attempting to discern the truth. If it has failed to validate any of your mythological beliefs, then that's a reflection of the validity of your beliefs and not a flaw with science.

Lucy, by the way, is generally accepted to be a single skeleton, one of several HUNDRED found in that area. Your statement is based much more on wanting to disbelieve evolution than on any objective study of Lucy. [...]

Jim Grey (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 2:25 PM)

How very cool. This Boompa (grandpa) is going to share with his grandchildren, who at 4 and 6 show an amazing ability to understand "myths" like this.

Boompa, Fort Worth, TX (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 2:36 PM)

I must say that there are alot of people commenting on here that hate Christians. You say that we Christians are afraid of anything that goes against our belief system. That we downgrade everything that goes against the Bible, the core of our beliefs. Man that is the pot calling the kettle black. You people never cease to amaze me. You say we hate and see nothing wrong with the incessant rambling and venom you spew forth.
It seems to me that many of you also believe in your own religious thoughts on the beginning of the universe. You know the inane belief in the big bang theory. That is why every news article I have read calls it a theory because that is all it is.
No one can dispute the Judeo-Christian creation belief ( Remember when you spew this hate that you understand Christians are not the only ones who believe in the God of Abraham)with science and prove its incorrectness, likewise you can not prove that the big bang ever happened. Main reason who was there to record the moment. Can anyone really, truly believe that out of nothing, something exploded and then everything came into existance. As far as I can remember from all my science classes that nothing can not include something or anything.
So do not call names until you get your facts straight, not theories. Look in the mirror before you call Christians hateful or ignorant. As a Christian I believe I am right just as a non-believer you have the freedom to do the same. When it is all said and done, if you are right then I'll never know. But, just imagine if me and other Christians end up being right, oh how certainly you will know. And you are willing to take that chance.

Kevin , Knoxville, Tennessee (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 2:49 PM)

I totally agree with Brian, Ed, and Sue. We Christians are persecuted constantly.

P.S. #1. You cannot belive in evolution and still be a Christian.
#2. Look up Genesis 1:1 and Jeremiah 9:23-24

Lina, Mount Clemens MI (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 2:50 PM)

I also really enjoyed Apocalypto and wish everyone would get off Mel Gibsons a$$, he makes better movies than the average coming out of hollywood, i wish he would make one on the destruction of the library in Alexandria, that would be a great movie (if he makes it)

Vercingetorix (Sent Friday, March 13, 2009 2:55 PM)

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