Priests carrying out the sacrifice
One of the most famous rituals of the Maya was human sacrifice. As the Mayans believed the gods were nourished by human blood, people worshiped them by sacrificing themselves. They believed this would help solve problems in the civilization and prevent chaos and disorder. Prisoners and slaves were most frequently sacrificed but many voluntarily sacrificed themselves to live among the gods and to not have to face Xibalba.
Bloodletting and self-torture were also common practices. Like sacrifice they were used to nourish or please the gods. The higher power a person had, the more blood they were expected to give, so aristocracy did not get out of it. Divination, the practice of seeking the future by supernatural means, was also practiced. This was centered around the calendar system and their knowledge of astronomy. Mayan priests would be the main people to practice it, as their job was to inform the people which days were lucky or unlucky to plant, harvest, wage war, and more. The ball game Pok-A-Tok was an important practice to the Maya. The point of the game was to work with a team to get a rubber ball through a small hoop. These games were often very brutal, with the losing team sacrificed to the gods. Other practices included dancing, competitions, dramatic performances, and prayer. Place of Practice Pyramid-like temples were built for religious purposes. One type of pyramid was meant to be climbed and used for sacrifice. The second type could not be touched, these were sacred. Only priests could use them to be close to gods. Caves were also important locations to the Maya. They were viewed as gateways to the underworld. Caves were very sacred: dead were buried there, and rituals for ancestors were conducted. Ancestors were very respected and praised by the Maya. Religious Leaders Priests were religious authorities who determined the "lucky days."Ceremonies and rituals were carried out by rulers and elite priests called shamans. Shamans communicated between humans and gods to gain favor. They also discovered meaning of events and determined what the future might hold. High priests conducted ceremonies and had many jobs. Sacrifices were carried out by several types of priests: a chilam, 4 chaks, and a nacom. Holidays The Ancient Maya did not celebrate many holidays but did celebrate major life transitions. After the invasion of the Spanish and their conversion to Christianity, they merged Christian holidays with their beliefs. A modern day holiday is Hanal Pixan, a day to remember loved ones. The Maya merged their worship of Gods of Death with the Spanish day of the dead. It takes place from October 31st to November 1st. On the first day souls of deceased children are remembered and prayed for, and on the second day souls of deceased adults are. Crazy February is another modern Maya celebration. This is also an example of the Maya merging their religion with Catholicism: the 5 "lost days" at the end of the Mayan calendar coincide with Lent. This holiday is a five day carnival celebration with dances, feasts, and reenactments of religious and historical events. Modern Maya also celebrate the Holy Week before Easter, and Christmas. |
The Mayan Calendar: what divination was centered around
A Mayan Pyramid-temple
Two priests sacrificing a parrot
Hanal Pixan: a modern Mayan holiday
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