The Mayan Calendar's Doomsday Prophecy: Unveiling the Secrets of Chichén Itzá Temple at the National Museum of Natural Science

By MOOK Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

The Mayan prophecies and culture, which have accurately predicted natural disasters and proposed theories about the end of the world, will unveil their mysteries at the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung. From now until February 24 next year, the museum will present the special exhibition "2012: The End of the World—Catastrophe and Rebirth." A towering nine-meter-high "Chichén Itzá Temple" will stand in the museum’s oval plaza. On the evenings of the 13th to 15th, the site will be exceptionally open to the public, along with the "Mayan Under the Stars—Special Exhibition Projection Light Show" and a weekend night encore screening of the Space Theater’s "Mystery of the Maya." Visitors can explore the ancient Mayan cultural ruins and majestic pyramids through the theater’s oversized 70mm films and the dome’s immersive visual and audio experience.

This special exhibition explores the topic of the "end of the world" from diverse perspectives including astronomy, history, mythology, and science. The most eye-catching feature is the reconstruction of a nine-meter-high important Mayan landmark, the "Chichén Itzá Temple," right in the center of the museum’s oval plaza. The panoramic theater inside the temple can accommodate about fifty people and will introduce the refined culture of the Mayan people and their five-thousand-year-old accurate calendar system. Through the theater’s lighting and shadow effects, visitors can immerse themselves in the history and wisdom of the Mayan ancestors and uncover the mysteries behind the doomsday prophecy. The "Doomsday Clock" on the temple serves as a reminder that the countdown to the end continues unabated.

Additionally, the first special exhibition room uses futuristic sound and light designs to take visitors into the vast expanse of the solar system. In addition to learning about celestial bodies, periodic comets, and meteorites on Earth’s surface, visitors will also gain insight into historical records and real situations where extraterrestrial objects have brought catastrophic disasters to our planet. Museum Director Sun Wei-Hsin also hopes this special exhibition will convey that "after catastrophe comes rebirth." Even though Earth has endured numerous disasters, various forms of life continue to thrive. This leads to reflection on the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe. For more exhibition details, visit: www.nmns.edu.tw.

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