Lennon Addresses Christian Destruction Of Mayan Writings (Gibson's Apocalypto Does Not)

While on his first appearance on The Dick Cavett Show, John Lennon
commented that Christians destroyed most all of the Mayan
writings-leaving historians and archeologist at a loss. Why did Mel
Gibson turn a blind eye to this inconvenient truth about this legacy to
his faith?

Cazador...

Isn't Apocalypto set well before the arrival of the Spanish? Cortez
appeared from Cuba in 1519 shortly after Grijalva first explored the
coast of the Maya region. Isn't the film set at the end of the Maya
classical period or somewhere in the early post-classic? It depicts a
period of cultural collapse and social breakdown. There could be as
much as 700 years separation involved between the Spanish and these
imagined events. I haven't seen the film yet but I should think he'd
have at least hinted at the era. Chichen Itza, for example, is an
immense post-classic ruin. The movie posters seem to suggest some
filming was done there. Did that depict a period when it was still a
living city or a sacred ruin? These things have a lot to do with the
chronology.

If you're inclined to bash Gibson, whom I want to thank for having made
the first substantial film attempting a depiction of these amazing
people, homework might be a good idea.

Kith Kanan...

Well, perhaps just because the movie does not talk about Christians...

I haven't seen the move yet, however it is simple: Mayans disappeared
before spanish reached (what nowadays is known as) Mexico. All the
Mayan knowledge disappeared long before spanish -and thus christians-
arrived to these lands. When this fellows arrived, the only Mayans left
were supersticious and mostly barbarians, the remains of a great
civilization, but remains after all.

The only "knowledge" that endured could not be decoded by remaining
Mayans, and it's true that spanish destroyed some of the codes, but
also they preserved other codes.

So I think that my dear John overreacted in that interview.

Fernando G=F3mez.