Mayan Calendars

Popalotl, put down his polishing stone and looked at his work with pride. The high priest of the Temple of the Sun had come to him to create five great stone calendars for the new temple. Popalotl had just finished the fourth and it was beautiful. The granite shone in the late afternoon sun which filtered into the workshop through the half open door. Every character had been carved deeply into the face of the stone. He knew the gods would be proud of his work and he would be acclaimed the greatest mason of his time.

“It’s late,” he said to himself. Putting on his feathered cloak, he walked towards the door. “I’ll start on the last calendar tomorrow..”

The work had taken him three years already and he knew the next calendar would be months in the making. “No rush.” He whispered as he closed the door behind him and began to walk towards the track which would lead him through the jungle to his home and family.

“Did you hear the news about Popalotl?” The High Priest of the Sun ran his fingers over the smooth polished surface of the fourth calendar.

“Yes.” said the Temple Treasurer. “Bad thing/ Getting eaten by a jaguar like that.”

“Yes.” agreed the high priest. “Problem is. What do we do now? His work was so magnificent. We can’t get a mason equal to him to complete the calendar sequence. Do we just stop at four?”

“Seems like we have to.” Said the treasurer.

“What will future generations think?” pondered the high priest.

“Maybe they’ll see the end of the world!”The treasurer laughed.

“Nah! They wouldn’t do that.” The high priest shrugged, “All though I don’t know some people.” A slight smile crossed his lips. “It is wonderful workmanship. Poor Popalotl.”


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