Mayan Texts Burned in 1552
In 1552, the Bishop Diego de Landa thought he was doing the world a favor when he burned most of the “books” of the Maya. I say “books” because they consisted of painstakingly painted picture-letters called hieroglyphics. The books were made of fig tree material. And, although they are called books, they were more like a map that folds out accordion-style.
Bishop de Landa burned almost all the hieroglyphic records of the Maya’s history and religion as well as destroying many “idols,” inscribed stelae, and altar stones.
I assume Bishop de Landa was in the throes of Inquisition fever since the Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 and was not officially abolished until 1823.
However, he did regret his actions and wrote all he could remember of the Mayan texts in: Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan.
He did the dastardly deed in Mani, a town in the Mexican state of Yucatan, southwest of Chichen Itza. When visiting Yucatan in January 2008, I drove through Mani. Today, it is a peaceful hamlet surrounded by orange orchards. You would never know it was once the scene of such a tragedy.
Copyright 2008 Carol Chapman
