Northwest Science Building
Room B103
52 Oxford St.
Cambridge, Mass.
It is widely prophesized that the end of the world will take place on December 21, 2012. In this lecture, award-winning Colgate University professor Anthony F. Aveni, an expert in the astronomical history of the Aztec and Maya Indians of ancient Mexico, explores and measures the theories surrounding this “impending” apocalypse objectively against the evidence of archaeology, iconography, and epigraphy. He also gives special attention to information from the earth sciences and astronomy about the likelihood of such a world-wide Armageddon.
Featured in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 10 best university professors in the country, Aveni has spoken or written on astronomy-related subjects on the Learning Channel, the Discovery Channel, PBS-Nova, BBC, NPR, The Larry King Show, NBC’s Today Show, Unsolved Mysteries, the New York Times, Newsweek, and USA Today. He helped develop and now is considered one of the founders of cultural astronomy, in particular for his research into the astronomical history of the Aztec and Maya Indians of ancient Mexico. Professor Aveni has written 16 books, most recently, The End of Time: The Maya Mystery of 2012.
This lecture is held in conjunction with Davíd Carrasco, Neil L. Rudenstine Professor of the Study of Latin America, and his spring course Apocalypse Now: How the World Ends (or Doesn’t) in World Religions.
Aveni’s book, The End of Time, will be available for purchase and signing at the conclusion of the lecture.