The Mystery of the 260-Day Mayan Calendar

The Maya civilization tracked a mysterious 260-day calendar that does not align with the solar year. Researchers still debate its origins, with theories ranging from human gestation periods to ancient agricultural cycles.

Unlike our 365-day calendar based on the Earth orbiting the sun, the Tzolkʼin functioned as a sacred count. It combined 20 named days with 13 numbers to create a repeating cycle that lasted only nine months. This calendar was used primarily for religious ceremonies and divination rather than tracking seasons. Its exact mathematical foundation remains one of the most intriguing puzzles of ancient Mesoamerican culture.