What Were The Beliefs Of The Mayans
The Ancient Mayan Civilization, located in today’s Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco, the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, and portions of Honduras and El Salvador (Coe 1966:17), was built upon a rigid caste social structure based on their religious beliefs. The Civilization founded in the Pre-Classic Period c. 2000 BC, reached its ‘golden age’ in the Classical Period c. AD 250-900; and ultimately collapsed after severe drought c. 1200 AD. Independent Maya civilization continued until 1697 when the Spanish conquered, the last independent city-state. Known for excelling in agriculture, mathematics, architecture, writing, pottery, and calendar-making, the Maya were deeply religious. Their religious devotion would seep into all aspects
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If they were not sufficiently appeased then drought or disaster could be brought upon them. It was believed that sacrifice was a major component in satiating the gods, and the Maya went through great lengths to ensure that they were doing all they could to stay on the gods good sides. Sacrifice was a theme interwoven throughout the everyday lives with the Mayan peoples. Daily bloodletting was practices by many. Through the priests, the Mayans possessed great knowledge of astronomy, which allowed them to create an accurate calendrical system. As part of their calendar they had fixed days to hold festivals and rituals to celebrate the 166 deities. Part of the rituals was bloodletting, burning fires, the use or offering, and sacrifices of animals. Human sacrifice was not a part of such …show more content…
Only men were permitted to play. The field where the played was considered to be a vestibule to the Underworld and was therefore sacred. The ball had to be I constant motion, which represented the cosmos movement. At the end of the game the losers would be sacrificed. Their belief in an afterlife bolstered the popularity in the ballgame. Some Mayan ball courts uncovered would have been too small for legitimate play and have been suggested to have been solely constructed for the purpose of ritual sacrifice. The ballgame and the myths behind it was a significant part of Mayan culture and helped connect a complicated
If they were not sufficiently appeased then drought or disaster could be brought upon them. It was believed that sacrifice was a major component in satiating the gods, and the Maya went through great lengths to ensure that they were doing all they could to stay on the gods good sides. Sacrifice was a theme interwoven throughout the everyday lives with the Mayan peoples. Daily bloodletting was practices by many. Through the priests, the Mayans possessed great knowledge of astronomy, which allowed them to create an accurate calendrical system. As part of their calendar they had fixed days to hold festivals and rituals to celebrate the 166 deities. Part of the rituals was bloodletting, burning fires, the use or offering, and sacrifices of animals. Human sacrifice was not a part of such …show more content…
Only men were permitted to play. The field where the played was considered to be a vestibule to the Underworld and was therefore sacred. The ball had to be I constant motion, which represented the cosmos movement. At the end of the game the losers would be sacrificed. Their belief in an afterlife bolstered the popularity in the ballgame. Some Mayan ball courts uncovered would have been too small for legitimate play and have been suggested to have been solely constructed for the purpose of ritual sacrifice. The ballgame and the myths behind it was a significant part of Mayan culture and helped connect a complicated