Mystery of the Maya

00:00:18 For thousands of years.

00:01:45 Today, these ruins are the inheritance

00:02:59 It's like a puzzle that is solved piece by piece

00:04:23 an explorer who had published books about his travels

00:06:25 for the beauty and solidity of the architecture

00:07:30 to stand beside those of Egypt, Greece and Rome."

00:09:51 which decorated the walls of the buildings

00:11:32 Some of the monuments photographed by Maudslay

00:13:13 comes from the writings of a Franciscan-Diego de Landa-

00:14:06 Since they contained nothing but the words of the devil

00:16:00 After the burning of the codices

00:17:38 Photographer Giles Healy was making an expedition

00:18:11 So I said "I'll give you more powder"

00:20:14 Ah, here's the response

00:20:52 They were one of only four civilizations

00:22:05 The Maya were great mathematicians

00:22:56 and fortunately on stone, too

00:24:52 It was ceremonies such as this

00:26:50 As we cleared the passage several steps appeared

00:29:25 This slab was supported by an immense block

00:31:32 the Maya still worship the gods of the underworld Xibalba:

00:33:30 The remains of buildings

00:34:49 In the ninth and tenth centuries

01:09:09 the whole panel could be read