Mayan Cosmology: The Maya's View Of The Earth

Understanding how the Maya viewed the Earth, surrounding sky, and our very existence is key in grasping how astronomy played into their religion. Mayan cosmology places Earth at the center of the universe, as the first layer in a sequence of the heavens, Earth, and the underworld. It is envisioned as a large wheel surrounded by a divine water known at the teoatl, which extends to the horizon. The second layer, known as the Ilhuicatl metzli, consists of the moon and clouds. The fixed stars make up the third layer, called Citalco—home to the deity Citallicue, “She of the Starry Skirts.” The fourth and fifth layers are comprised of the sun and Venus respectively. The Ilhuicatl Mamalhuazocan is the sixth layer and home to “Stars that Smoke,”