The inquiry concerns the termination date of a specific Mesoamerican calendrical system developed by the Maya civilization. Popular culture often associates this system with a predicted apocalyptic event. This stems from interpretations of the Long Count calendar, one of several interlocking Mayan calendars.
The focus on a perceived end date gained prominence due to the Long Count calendar’s cycle completing around December 21, 2012. This led to widespread speculation regarding a global catastrophe. However, Mayan scholars and archaeologists clarified that the completion of a cycle in the Long Count was viewed as a time of renewal and celebration, not destruction. The Long Count calendar simply resets to zero, similar to how a modern calendar begins a new year.
