By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin
The Mayan prophecy and culture, which have accurately predicted numerous 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 is hosting the "2012 Doomsday Special Exhibition—Cataclysm and Rebirth." A towering nine-meter-high "Chichén Itzá Temple" stands in the museum’s oval plaza. On the evenings of the 13th to 15th, the exhibit will make an exception to stay open for extended hours, featuring the "Maya Under the Stars—Doomsday Special Exhibition Projection Night Show" and a weekend night special screening of the Space Theater's "Mystery of the Maya." Visitors can explore the ancient city ruins and majestic pyramids of the Mayan civilization through the Space Theater’s oversized 70mm films and the dome’s immersive visual and audio effects.
The temple’s panoramic theater can accommodate about 50 people and will introduce Mayan culture and its precise calendar system. (Photo provided by National Museum of Natural Science)
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 key Mayan cultural landmark—the "Chichén Itzá Temple"—right in the center of the museum’s oval plaza. The panoramic theater inside the temple can hold around fifty people and will introduce the refined culture of the Mayan people and their five-thousand-year-old accurate calendar system. Through the interplay of light and shadow in the theater, visitors can immerse themselves in the history and wisdom of the Mayan ancestors and delve into the mysteries behind the doomsday prophecy. The “Doomsday Clock” on the temple serves as a reminder that the countdown to the end continues unabated.
From now until the 15th, visitors can admire the colorful temple at night and learn about the ancient Mayan culture. (Photo provided by National Museum of Natural Science)
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 the relationship with meteorites on Earth's surface, visitors will also gain insight into historical records and real-life scenarios of how extraterrestrial objects could bring devastating disasters to our planet. Museum Director Sun Wei-Xin also hopes this special exhibition will illustrate that "rebirth" follows "cataclysm." Even though Earth has endured multiple catastrophes, various forms of life continue to thrive anew, prompting reflection on the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe. For more exhibition details: www.nmns.edu.tw.
The first special exhibition room will focus on the solar system, explaining the relationship between celestial bodies and surface meteorites. (Photo provided by National Museum of Natural Science)
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