The ancient Mayans built a vast and sophisticated network of white roads (Post THE ANCIENT MAYAS AND THEIR WHITE ROADS. PART I), known as sacbeob, that connected their cities, ceremonial centers, and plazas. These paths, covered with a layer of white stucco, not only served as physical routes, but also had deep spiritual meaning. They were earthly reflections of the movement of the stars in the sky, a tangible representation of the connection between heaven and earth. The Mayans, expert astronomers, traced these paths in alignment with celestial trajectories, granting them a sacred value that went beyond their practical usefulness.
However, in the midst of this complex network of white roads, an intriguing question arises: why did the Mayans, who knew the principle of the wheel, never use it in their daily transportation activities along these roads? The answer, as we have explored, is deeply rooted in their religious and cosmological beliefs (1).
For the Mayans, the circle and the wheel symbolized the Sun, the source of life and energy that governed their universe. The Sun, represented as a circular figure, was a central element in their worldview, being venerated as the main god, Itzamná, or as Kinich Ahau, the god of the Sun in its most direct aspect. Using the wheel on the white roads would have been, in a way, a desecration of the divine symbol, since this would imply bringing the Sun, or its representation, into direct contact with the earth, where the dead and the forces of the underworld lived. This symbolic contact with the earth would have extinguished its divine light, reducing the Sun to a state of inactivity or death, which was inconceivable to the Mayans.
The white roads, for their part, were conceived as sacred routes, not only for the transit of human beings, but also as reflections of the paths of the gods and the stars in the sky. By traveling these paths, the Mayans not only moved physically, but also participated in a cosmic ritual, aligning themselves with the movement of the stars and the Sun. The absence of the wheel in this context highlights the importance of maintaining the purity of these roads, avoiding the desecration of the solar symbol.
It is possible to imagine that, for the Mayans, walking through these sacbeob was a way of emulating the movement of the gods and stars in the sky, an act of devotion that connected the earthly with the heavenly. The wheel, with its solar symbolism, had no place on these sacred paths, since its use would have distorted the divine nature of the path and its relationship with the cosmos. In this way, the decision not to use the wheel on the white roads was not a technical limitation, but a conscious and deeply religious choice, rooted in the Mayan worldview.
This analysis of the relationship between the white roads and the wheel in Mayan culture reveals how technology and religion were intertwined in a complex network of meanings, where each choice was loaded with symbolism and respect for the divine forces that governed the universe. The Mayans, by refraining from using the wheel, not only preserved their religious beliefs, but also maintained the purity and sacred purpose of their white roads, as routes for divine and human transit, reflecting the orderly dance of the stars in the firmament.
Walking is an ancestral act that connects the human being with the very essence of life. In a world where the wheel, a symbol of mobility and technological advancement, has transformed the way we get around, it is easy to forget the simplicity and benefits of a walk. The wheel, in its modern automobile form, takes us quickly from one place to another, but often at the cost of our health and well-being.
When walking, we leave aside the impersonal speed of the vehicle and immerse ourselves in the natural rhythm of our body. Each step is a heartbeat that connects us with the earth (Post WALKING WITH UNCHAINED PROMETHEUS), a breath that oxygenates our being and a moment of meditation in movement. Walking not only strengthens our body, but also clears our mind, offering us a break from the daily whirlwind.
Just as the ancient Mayans walked their White Paths, following the sacred trajectories of the stars, we can also find in the walk a path to inner peace and well-being. By choosing to walk, we choose a path of health and serenity, reminding ourselves that sometimes the most valuable journey is the one we take on our own feet.
I invite everyone to rediscover the beauty of walking, to enjoy nature, to connect with themselves and to remember that, although the wheel takes us far, it is walking that keeps us truly in touch with life.
(1)Loya Lopátegui, Carlos, La Rueda en los Mayas. Explorando un misterio ancestral, EMULISA, México, 2024. Version available on Amazon, Kindle Edition: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJV7151Y.