The Maya myth of the morning star

Discover the Maya myth of Venus, the morning star plotting revenge on his brother, the sun, and his allies.
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Chak Ek’, the morning star, rose from the underworld to the surface of the eastern sea and on into the heavens. His brother K’in Ahaw, the sun, followed. Though Chak Ek’ had risen first, K’in Ahaw outshone him, and the resentful Chak Ek’ descended back to the underworld to plot against his brother and his allies. Gabrielle Vail details the Maya myth of the morning star.
Lesson by Gabrielle Vail, directed by Basa.
Animator's website: www.basaestudio.com
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-mayan-...
Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Julio Sabatés Rodríguez, Vivian & Gilbert Lee, Fahad Nasser Chowdhury, ரமணன், John simmons, June Reiling, Khalid AlAli, Mickey Mikeworth, Nathaniel Lupus, Yansong Li, Chung Wah Gnapp, Amber Alexander, Robert Patrick, Pi Guanghui, Barbara Younker, Ai Ejima, Soma Ali, Roman Pinchuk, Raheem, Hector Quintanilla, Leen Mshasha, Mariana Ortega, Angelo Urzua-Milla, Danny Romard, James Bruening, Ricki Daniel Marbun, Malcolm Callis, Sabrina Gonzalez, Al the Scottish Wildcat, سلطان الخليفي, Alexander Walls, Della Palacios, Vik Nagjee, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Adi V, Andrew Bosco, Craig Sheldon, Rishi Pasham, Joanne Luce, Jason A Saslow, Mary Sawyer, Scott Gass, Ruth Fang, Mayank Kaul, Kathryn J Hammond, Max Shuai Tang, Terry Minion, Sami Khan, Rob Johnson and Abdullah Abdulaziz.

[@burnburn2644]

Ted-Ed: Chak Ek' Ancient Mayans: All I hear is chaos, chaos, chaos.

[@wow32]

Pica Ortega chalk melk

[@wow32]

Chap stik

[@xacbertdebarbeira_]

@@wow32 Chop Suey! WAKE UP! (because, morning star and stuff...)

[@enderpup9289]

He's sharply dressed

[@lotusgal313]

When struggling for survival is your daily life, life is chaos ☺️

[@Dara-lu5ql]

As a Mayan, it's really unbelievable to see the stories my grandfather told me when I was young comes to life. Thank you TedEd. It hits differently. I'm very sad that my grandpa can not watch the stories our ancestors told him.

[@nepterr715]

Hummm I wonder why in your bio your Cambodian lying for attention, oh I see ;)

[@smritipandey20]

Sorry .

[@lunanina20]

@@smritipandey20 read the last sentence of her comment, sadly he is not alive anymore....💔

[@smritipandey20]

@@lunanina20 I'm so sorry i didn't clicked on read more . I can understand the pain ... I lost my grandma to aged body diseases and I saw her slowly dying for 4 years ... Def can understand .... May the both decreased souls rest in peace and enjoy the joy of afterlife without any grieve of their past Amen

[@joshuabautch8936]

Its INTERESTING To know that there are still Mayan descendants here =3

[@spacegay9309]

Chak Ek': spears a dude World: Fire, storm, hunger, pestilence, death, chaos, suffering, people screaming, sirens in the distance. Chak Ek' 8 years later: Imma do it again

[@hex_2384]

I wouldn't be surprised if chak ek' speared someone in 2018 and we are dealing with it again

[@Lotan_]

Mood.

[@siwong3368]

look at 3:31 because the twin guy is wearing a sweater😂

[@atulkishan3752]

Damn Mayans were Good at astronomy....

[@HelgaCavoli]

Also in Math. Developing the zero concept. Now imagine this: 20-based numbers. Instead of our 10-decimal based numbers/amounts.

[@maop]

@@HelgaCavoli nowdays new researchs shows the Olmecas may have use the zero before, and the maya inherited it

[@learner8509]

@@HelgaCavoli the ten left are minus numbers right?

[@noname13years62]

@@HelgaCavoli Well , the concept of 0 , the number system and the decimal value system came from India, right? . That's what I read , I don't know for sure.

[@JoseRHuezo]

@@noname13years62 it is dificult to ubderstad, in México you have to study the mayan aritmetic in elementary School and it is kind of dificult because it is base 20 and not 10.

[@_syedmx86]

This video has such a soothing voice.

[@plant5875]

everytime she says chak ek or something it sounds like she has a stroke

[@Niaaal]

@@plant5875 no it doesn't

[@user-dx5bn4yk4f]

A DOGE ???? ah, what?

[@reic.5849]

my friend every time thats why learning with ted ed makes me learn more

[@A-G-A-G]

Sounds kinda like liv Tyler

[@AlejandroHernandez-wu2kb]

As a Mexican, I am very happy that you talk about mesoamerican mythology and I am also glad that people of other cultures can be able to learn about them. Thanks TedEd! I'll be waiting for more videos of mythology of other mesoamerican cultures

[@mediterraneanmapping9657]

Could you be able to explain this video better

[@Mom-zc9zq]

:I yeah :)

[@canofsouls282]

@@mediterraneanmapping9657 just because hes mexican does not mean hes a historian on mayan culture lol. Edit: maya culture is also not exclusively mexican, in fact 8 million out of the 9 million mayas live in Guatemala. Guatemala is known as the maya capital of the world.

[@Sh4dowbanned]

"As a Mexican," is one of the most entitled things I hear 24/7.

[@themixtape440]

@@Sh4dowbanned wdym entitled

[@zack-brawlstars8915]

"To bring discord to the world" Let's Thank Chak Ek for Discord

[@TheBrokenPasta]

I was searching for thiss

[@royalty_the1892]

What cord you bringing to the world, Chak Ek'? Chak Ek': Dis cord

[@lemonguy7821]

Dude: Where’d our food go? Other dude: And what’s with all this spontaneous combustion?

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

Me: just ask our sun.

[@sascha269real]

Venus: *kills someone* Venus: I wonder who I’m gonna kill next? *584 days later* Venus: I’m gonna attack my brother

[@izuk0stories729]

Noice! 👌

[@PandorasFolly]

And I'm gonna do it again

[@manjushay6495]

@@izuk0stories729 noice?

[@snowy_mintcat7263]

holy moly this comment has 584 likes don't ruin it guys

[@Chancey388]

584 days for them is like 4-5 human dais

[@nevenacvetkovic9981]

This came at the right time of the rise and shine meme

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

Agreed.

[@rbvfeehfbudenrj]

“Why every 8 years everything catches on fire”

[@birdred4706]

Maybe magnetism

[@MaximaniaTV]

You need to wait for things to recover in order to have something to destroy

[@drawnwithlove3499]

"And why does the corn keep disappearing"

[@sebastianelytron8450]

If Earth is the third planet from the Sun after Mercury and Venus , doesn't that make every country a third world country?

[@dv9239]

Lol

[@WheelsButNoLegMan]

Ha! You've definitely got a point

[@ATERAH]

Yes

[@ZaxorVonSkyler]

(°o°)

[@BL3SSed-Bliss]

💯🏆💯

[@Galistarwater]

Very nice video. Please do more "less known" mythologies. We've been hearing about Greek's and Norse's quite often. I would love to see more mythologies from Vietnam, Australia, Celts, Malaysia, Thai, Japan, Africa, etc. They need more love

[@catoctober8005]

True There's barely or I think no myths ted ed has made from Australia

[@GachaWolf81900]

@@catoctober8005if theres any, link me to them please!

[@doppy8682]

This video was a *maize* ing! Ok maybe Chak Ek' was just sick of all the corn puns that his brother used to catch all the attention..

[@quintenwhyte6660]

Like Loki?

[@teruphoto]

What a corny joke...

[@vvvinblue5557]

Imma cob-er my ears.

[@Mom-zc9zq]

@@quintenwhyte6660 Loki lol :)))))

[@cccaaa702]

@@quintenwhyte6660 Loki hates being low-key. What a corny truth.

[@expectationofplenty]

The world needs this. There is too much mystical, semiliterate, apocalyptic nonsense floating around about Mayan Astrology. So thanks TED :)

[@meshwa-mitsuki-soni3125]

I lost it when Chak Ek' yeeted the maize God. Absolutely amazing animation 😂😂✨

[@linshuang64]

Chak: Oh boy here I go killing again

[@natcarroll1767]

I'm Guatemalan and it was so cool to see a Mayan myth!

[@sandracisneros540]

@Kevin and? That does not mean that he can't be interested in learning myths or information about the Maya culture.

[@krono5el]

@Kevin That's the dumbest thing ive ever read : D

[@fenrirgg]

@@dewycocoa you're wrong, the Maya and Aztec knew eachother, there was an Aztec colony in Guatemala, the Maya knew them as the people that sacrificed to the Gods, they learned that from a previous culture: the Teotihuacan (their real name is lost). Even when Hernán Cortes arrived to the Maya cities they presented him an Aztec princess to help him translate during his quest. And now in 2021 there are still Maya people living like their ancestors did.

[@dewycocoa]

@@fenrirgg Yeah, I was mistaken. They did know of each other in the Xoconochco (now Soconusco) region through Aztec enslavement of Mayas for cacao.

[@starcloak]

More hidden myths presented in a fun way. Love the different animation styles in between videos btw❤️.

[@heheh8877]

"To bring discord to the world he decided to attack his brother and his brother allies" Thank you chak e for an amzing application

[@HelgaCavoli]

Absolutely marvelous!!!! 😍😍😍😍 When I visited Cancun I went to the pyramids and sacred places etc. I heard a tiny bit of this culture. I loved it!

[@melissathieme9555]

3:20 "Dang it not again!!!" "Maybe Venus just needs some therap " "HE BURNED OUR FREAKIN MAIZE JON!!!!"

[@__arzoosharma]

i have seen your videos a 1000 times and still i dont feel bored......i myself dont know why thanks to TED ED for developing my taste

[@NordenzurZukunft]

Correct term is “Maya”, which refers to the people/culture. “Mayan” refers only to the language.

[@Skadi609]

I didn't know this slight difference. Thanks 🙂👌

[@josephujoostaa4462]

Thanks! Good to know.

[@rocksomejidawg]

so you mean "the maya people" and "the mayan language" ?

[@rajamouryasimhareddy1478]

Maya means magic in few indian languages

[@deevee5348]

Maya = noun, mayan = adjective?

[@Dagreatdudeman]

I'm always amazed at how the ancients conflated the stars into myths.

[@DegreesOfThree]

Freddy Romo They're not myths entirely. They're historical descriptions of a time when planets discharged electricity between each other. The asteroid belt is the material that was blasted off the surface of Mars.

[@Christopher-ej2bs]

It amazes me that in 2023 people still believe in the same type of nonsense but call it Christianity. Whether it's believing that the stars were your dead loved ones ,or warriors ascended to glory, Or that some obscure hybrid Jewish/Akkadian god hung them there adhering a seven day gestation period. It's amazing that in the lack of fact man will suffice to myth simply to feed the ego of being wiser than the one standing next to you.

[@MsCla106]

Ted-Ed team you guys truly are a blessing. I feel like I dont deserve all these amazingly crafted animations... Thank you thank you thank you

[@weshouldcreatelightsabers8978]

Ted is just to powerful at this point let’s all bow down to this powerful KZbin channel 👏🏾,great work as always

[@--Paws--]

I wish more of the Maya living now would continue this chronology or even improve how time is measured today.

[@katzea.a7880]

They're more like descendants now, sadly most of them follow catholic/christian faith and you gotta get deep into the guatemalan villages to find the ones that are close to maya mythology

[@Threezi04]

@@katzea.a7880 There is only one Maya tribe now that hasn't converted to Christianity, it's the Northern Lacandon Maya if I'm not mistaken. They descend from lowland Maya who fled into the jungle from Spanish conquistadors in the 15/16th century, and evaded major contact with the outside world until the 19th century. Their brothers with a similar history, the Southern Lacandon were also pagan until the 50's when they were converted en masse.

[@MyLifeWithV.Prisha]

1:44 Bring DISCORD to the world did i see and hear that right

[@mewsingsbynatk]

K'in Ahaw: (Shines brighter than Chak Ek') Chak Ek': I'm about to end this god's whole career.

[@XxvaxionxX]

I hope a film studio to pick this story and make an animated series or a movies out of it. This is awesome.

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

I agree with you

[@StarBoundFables]

Very beautiful Thanks, Ted-Ed, for sharing this story with us all 😃🙏🏽

[@yeshmela5699]

The BEST youtube channel. Super entertaining.

[@stanislawwitkowicz918]

Wow. I mean - wow. How precise this cycle is... There is almost as many numbers as names!

[@user-ci2lg1lw5b]

아침 별의 마야 신화의 재미있는 이야기를 들어보는 재미있고 의미있는 시간이 되었습니다. 천년도 더 된 옛날부터 언제 어디서 금성이 나타날지 예측했었다는것이 놀라웠습니다. 정말 재미있는 시간이 되었습니다. 감사합니다.

[@VanLightning900]

pls do an african myth next. Love to see the Mwindo Epic animated

[@clllark]

I love your contributions; it’s so very helpful and overwhelming I bet. 😊

[@gothicdragonwarriorqueen5819]

I love Mythology of all cultures!!!😀❤👍

[@bekoriko2816]

Your graphics are always so amazing!!

[@FelipeeGz]

Awesome story! Thank you people of Ted. ❤️

[@atenakitabi3769]

This is an amazing channel, great contents

[@Leo-gq1yi]

I like how how giant K’in Ahaw somehow managed to fit in the little tunnel

[@lynxddragon]

The animations and artstyle though! Love seeing that

[@loszhor]

Love the art style!

[@shivendrasingh3318]

Great video again

[@TheGirlTalk223]

her voice was so relaxing def need more videos w her

[@siddhantkumar6340]

i love these mythical videos. i would just like to recommend you to explore the vast treasure of Indian mythology and make some videos on them.

[@l.j.2917]

I really enjoy these videos 😊

[@johnversosas8298]

What an informative video. Please do Philippine Mythology next.

[@drawnwithlove3499]

*like a few months or so later* "Oh gosh dang it not the corn disappearance again" "Are you kidding me there's fire now????"

[@Arttojisannn]

Please do a Filipino folklore... I suggest Ibong adarna.❤🕊

[@jacobpdeleon2747]

No Yung Alamat ng Pilipinas.

[@zed9095]

Hatdog

[@lexiekay7365]

@@zed9095 hatdog

[@Zak-tk8wv]

Congrats at your 10 millions subscriber count ted ed 👍👍👍👍

[@sophiailic1274]

I love theses myth videos and the unique styles of animation so much! Great appreciation for this channel ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@melissasalasblair5273]

Thanks so much 🌟🌌

[@nepinemi8885]

The animation in this video was beautiful

[@Premenyc]

Back when u could see space from earth😢😢 we need to do a mandatory lights off for 5 minutes a year so we could see space.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

The Mayans are so intelligent that they made relevant inventions...which is why it is a head-scratcher as to how they disappeared.

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

No it isn't. Spanish and other european invasions along with disease brought a downfall to the empires.

[@tibiademon9157]

@@dontspikemydrink9382 The Maya civilization had already collapsed by the time the Spanish arrived, I suppose their predictions of chaos came true

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

@@tibiademon9157 no they didnt. The spanish formed an allyship after fighting for a short while. I rhink

[@tibiademon9157]

@@dontspikemydrink9382 I don't mean they no longer existed (they still exist today after all), I mean they no longer had a highly organized civilization unlike the Aztecs or Incas

[@iluan_]

They're kinda still here. Go to Yucatan and you'll find that Mayan culture is still alive. People in rural areas still ethnically Mayan, speak a modern version of the language and in some cases even have some remnants of their ancestors religion. There's even people who are learning to read glyphs so they can read for themselves the writing on the ruins of the ancient cities.

[@MCorpReview]

Amazing!

[@lxzwm]

This video is the best!!!

[@thinara6197]

Her voice is so soothing and calm omg

[@antoniorivera8954]

Amazing we need more videos on indigenous stories

[@10ksubswithvideoschallenge73]

All I heard about this Ancient Mayan is just *Chaos Chaos Chaos*

[@lissathompson9723]

Respect to you Ted very interesting video

[@mcmoonstar8761]

My brain literally went THIS IS TENDOU MAYA! as soon as I saw the title

[@whathell6t]

Cliza Marvell Is that a Saint Seiya phrase?

[@dragonwhiskers42]

The other gods killed when it’s time for Venus to rise again: *Aw snickerdoodles, here we go again.*

[@mud5572]

i needed this for my class it was rlly helpful

[@amandazeller787]

Thank You! ! !

[@wahedakhan3642]

Amazing animation.

[@k92129001]

Chak ek throws frisbee Someone falls in it Chak ek: mwahaha

[@Witchy-Wonderland]

After all this rioting and civil unrest, I wonder if were in one of those ‘chaotic’ periods. Would really love to know actually 🙃

[@Camaxtli]

If you think about the idea that the world ended in 2012 according to the Mayan calendar (meaning it starts over) that would've been the end of the 5 cycles during a roughly 8 year period. I don't know if the numbers actually match up, but this year would be the end of the next 5 cycles/8 year period and the beginning of the next 5 cycle/8 years. I'm certain that I'm wrong in this, so don't quote me on it.

[@michaelpettit4961]

Please try and do some more Irish Mythology it’s so underrated but absolutely incredible

[@blyttgh]

wow this art style

[@Tlacaelel1124]

All that tells me is the Mayan's were keenly aware of the cyclical nature of chaos and accounted for it in their system of time.

[@mariosanders4515]

You can glimpse the wealth of information hidden in the colorful stories.

[@anshuman_eek]

Why you should read "Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe"...please!

[@andrewtatetopg9425]

Love all your vids Ted Ed, so educational! Keep on teaching us great things!

[@abc-cy3sc]

"andrewtatetopg" lmao

[@andrewmejia3102]

Pls do more of these I really like these

[@andrewmejia3102]

I should try to find a story about Hecate the Greek goddess

[@CalvinOhler]

Someone: *exists* Venus: oh boy here I go spearing again!

[@reellegends2929]

K'in ahaw : did you bring discord to the world ? Chak ek' : yes K'in ahaw : what did it cost ? Chak ek' : the existence of mods

[@MariaFM6]

I'm loving all these mythical videos

[@joycejoy4119]

Love you animation style

[@hunngryento]

This reminds me so much of that episode of Star Trek: The next generation. Masaka and Korgano's endless cycle of hunt.

[@oshorai3258]

This is amazing. To make geography and astronomy easier, mayan scientists told everyone a fairy tale.

[@ivanbarbosa81]

Amazing

[@nefertiti18z]

Do one about Mayan myth of world's ending please! 🤗

[@arfn1973]

When is early and you see a Jojo comment. "Good grief...".

[@sebastiandevosi7043]

where ?

[@sebastiandevosi7043]

ohh, wait ... Now I get it

[@arfn1973]

@@sebastiandevosi7043 There is actually one, just put new comment and see there is a guy who commented "Star Platinum Za Warudo".

[@JustADioWhosAHeroForFun]

@@arfn1973 I know right? JoJo incels

[@sobtt1280]

Just A Dio Who's A Hero For Fun ..... his comment itself is a jojo reference so you just got wooshed

[@vigneshk198]

Sometimes being immortal is a curse. Ever lasting brother feud makes me feel bad for them.

[@gurjitkaur6649]

Very nice ❤

[@Max-el7zd]

Haven’t been this early.

[@rahulas2002]

Love how venus waves while going. 😅

[@plontetris3297]

another myth these are my favourites beside riddles

[@Colochoide]

Europe: Pretty shinny star hehe Mayans: ...It's a bit more complicated

[@eaglewolffox6275]

TedEd should do Slavic Mythology...

[@redjirachi1]

One of my wish lists for the Mayan part of Smite

[@stefanmuleke3293]

Rise and shine!!

[@satnamo]

By the morning star, He says: The earth is my witness And then becomes awaken. He who speaks only das truth and nothing false is a Buddha. Strange indeed; But hidden in de heart of every living interbeing there lies a seed of Buddhahood like fire is hidden in wood.

[@roadkill-creations7628]

Chak Ek’ woke up and chose violence.

[@annarose932]

Would love to see you do a video about Federico Garcia Lorca; soecifically in a "Why You Should Read The House of Bernada Alba" video.

[@RichardCano]

Basically a drawn out way for Myans to say "Life has its ups and downs."

[@BL3SSed-Bliss]

They resemble the creature from “Sweetheart” an awful lot. 😳 Eye literally just saw that film this past wknd.