The Mayan numeral system was the system to represent numbers and calendar dates in the Maya civilization. It was a vigesimal (base-20) positional numeral system . The numerals are made up of three symbols: zero (a shell), [ 1 ] one (a dot) and five (a bar).

In today's section we are going to check how the Mayan numbers from 1 to 1000 are written, explained for children and adults.

Mayan numbers are a numbering system used by the ancient Mayans of Central and South America. The mathematical peculiarity of Maya numeration is the writing of numbers in base 20 (called vicesimal or vigesimal base) contrary to the writing in base 10 usual nowadays.

Learn how the Mayan Numbers work, how to say it in the Mayan language and even an interactive exercise for you to practice.

The Mayan number system is basically a vigesimal number system which means that it uses 20 as its base. The use of 20 as base is also found in later civilisations such as the Aztecs. However, the number system of the Mayans was a bit more complex in …

There were two numeral systems developed by the Mayans—one for the common people and one for the priests. Not only did these two systems use different symbols, they also used different base systems. For the priests, the number system was governed by ritual.

The Mayan and other Mesoamerican cultures used a vigesimal number system based on base 20, (and, to some extent, base 5), probably originally developed from counting on fingers and toes. The numerals consisted of only three symbols: zero, represented as a shell shape; one, a dot; and five, a bar.

We developed the Mayan calendar converter to give you a detailed explanation of their way to keep track of time. The Mayan numeral symbols use a combination of dots and lines, plus the representation of a seashell for 0. A line corresponds to 5 dots, and it prompts the beginning of a new line, right above the last one.

Explore the fascinating Mayan number system, a base-20 positional notation that includes the early concept of zero. Learn how Mayan numbers work, their linguistic representations, and how they compare to other historical numbering systems.

Mar 6, 2025 · Specific sacred numbers played a pivotal role in Mayan beliefs, shaping their spiritual practices and worldview. For the Maya, numbers were not arbitrary; they were imbued with meaning that connected them to the divine and the universe.