The Maya also had a calendar of 365 days, based on the orbit of the earth around the sun. These days were divided into 18 months of 20 days each, plus 5 days at the end of the year. The Maya considered these last 5 days of the year to be extremely unlucky. During that period they fasted, made many sacrifices, and avoided unnecessary work. The Maya used herbs and magic to treat illness.
Scholars know little else about Maya medicine.
Arts and crafts. The Maya produced exceptional architecture, painting, pottery, and sculpture. Highly skilled architects built tall pyramids of limestone, with small temples on top. The Maya also built large, low buildings where rulers and other nobles lived. Many buildings had flat ornaments called roof combs, which extended from the high point of the roof.