10th International Congress of Maya Experts in Izamal

A total of 398 experts from 14 countries participated in the 10th International Congress of Maya Experts (X Congreso Internacional de Mayistas), which took place from Sunday June 26 to Saturday July 2 at the Yucatan State Center for Training, Research and Humanistic Broadcasting (Centro Estatal de Capacitación, Investigación y Difusión Humanística de Yucatán: Cecidhy), in the town of Izamal.

The meeting was opened on Sunday afternoon at the City Hall with the presentation “Izamal: land of miracles” (Izamal, Tierra de Milagros), by Maria del Carmen Le’on Cazares, a researcher at the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

For the first time in three years, the International Congress of Maya Experts, was not held at a state capital.

This year’s Congress motto is “The Maya, speeches and images of power” (Los mayas, discursos e imágenes del poder), and this edition was led by the UNAM and Cecidhy’s “Center for Maya Research and Institute of Philological Studies” (Centro de Estudios Mayas del Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas de la UNAM y el Cecidhy).

Experts from Germany, Canada, Denmark, El Salvador, Spain, United States, France, Guatemala, Japan, Poland, United Kingdom, Russia, Switzerland and Mexico participated in 20 different symposia, four plenary lectures and 285 tables.

A total of 397 speakers and 107 academic institutions from around the world participated in this summit.

Among the presentations were “Colonial history of the Maya area”, “Architecture of Izamal”, “War and Politics: epigraphic studies”, “Foundations and sources: the power of the past and the afterlife in the Mayan world”, “Color, aromal and funeral rites”, “The dynamics of power in the kingdom of Kaan”,” Voices and languages” and “Power, identity and mythology. ”

As part of the Congress, exhibitions were featured at Cecidhy: The Indigenous Rights Commission (Comisión de los derechos indígenas: CDI) presented “The daughters of Ixchel and the power of textile”; National Institute of Antropolgy and History (Insitituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia: INAH) presented “Izamal, ancestral legacy”; and the Yucatan School of Arts presented “Xuxa’ano’on”.

In addition, different cultural activities took place every night during the week at 8 pm:

On Sunday the “Daydream” trio played at Izamal’s Municipal Palace; on Monday, the Yukalpetén Typical Orchestra and the Ballet Folklorico of Yucatan performed at the convent; on Tuesday, the dramatized reading act “Cantata Píikil” took place at Cecidhy; on Wednesday participants enjoyed the video mapping show “Izamal, City of Light“; on Thursday “Mayan Blood” a concert of teenagers singing in maya, at the Zamná park, and on Friday, the “Cadenza” quartet played at the Municipal Palace.

Some of the participants expressed their opinion regarding the event:

Daniel Salazar

Reporter, Mexico City

Well organized and successful event.  Izamal is the ideal place to hold this Mayanists meeting. I love this town because its color is uniform. It is the second time that I’m a speaker at these conferences. I appreciate the invitation.

Zoraida Raimundez Ares

Student, Spain

I am happy to be part of the Tenth Congress. This Mayanists event has international prestige, my participation  strengthens my academic knowledge, since I come from the Complutense University of Madrid. It is the first time I have participated and visited Izamal. Before coming here, I previously toured the “Puuc Route”.

Ana Lisa Colombo

Tour guide, Italy

I settled in Playa del Carmen since 2006. I work at the Riviera Maya and I’m very interested in the plants and herbs that the Maya used for healing, among other things. It is an opportunity to learn more, it is the first time I have participated, it is interesting because the speakers are well prepared, that speaks well of Congress.

– Source: http://yucatan.com.mx/

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