Ancient Maya
The lost civilization
By Georgia
Of the most well documented Myan gods were: The Maize god called Ah Mun, a rain god known as Chac, a sun god named Kinich Ahau, and a moon goddess named Ix Chel who had a role in influencing weaving and medicine.
Although the Maya would use human sacrifices when praying to their gods - some scholars believe this is a misrepresentation of Maya beliefs and that they may be considered unnecessarily cruel. They argue that those being sacrificed were enemies captured in battle and that the deaths took place in altars rather than on the battle field - just an extension of the killing that is part of war.
The Mayans regarded their gods as both helpful and harmful. To obtain the help of their gods, the Maya fasted, prayed, offered sacrifices and held religious ceremonies.
Deer, dogs and turkey were sacrificed to feed the gods and the Maya frequentlly sacrificed their own blood which they splattered onto bark paper. The Maya also practised human sacrifice and would throw their victims into deep wells, or kill them at important funerals.
When sacrificing a Mayans life to the gods at religious events, ceremonies and funnerals, the priest would restrain those being sacrificed by binding their hands and legs. He then would cut open the chest and pull out the heart of the person being sacrificed and give it as an offering to the God..
It was thought that the underworld was dominated by aged gods of death and putrefacation. God L, an aged god, was one of the major deities of the underworld. The Mayan underworld was reached througn deep tunnels and caves.
The Mayans worshiped over 160 gods and goddesses. These gods played an important part in a Mayans everyday life and beliefs. Although there is still a great amount of knowledge on the Mayan religion yet to be interpreted, experts and archaeoligists have identified that the Mayans believed in three major planes: The Earth, The Underworld Beneath and The Heavens.
Mayan gods were never believed to be good or evil in character. Instead, Mayans worshiped how they participated in their life cycles, particularly with the influences of seasonal change. For example, one season may pass with no rain but after praying to their God, they believed it would improve their circumstances as the next season or cycle starts.
The life cycle of maize is a most important belief of the Maya. Maize is the most used and most respected food in the whole of the Mayan civilization. Without enough maize to feed a Mayan city, the Mayans living there would be likely to starve. The Maya would pray to Ah Mun at each stage of maize production to ensure a successful harvest each season.
Some of the Mayan gods do not have human or animal forms. Instead, they take the form of energy. The following are some examples of these.
B'alam K'itze represents East. His energy is fire. He is the generation of life and is usually associated with the colour red.
B'alam Aq'ab' represents the West. His energy is earth. His power is in the hidden, the internal and the night. B'alam Aq'ab' is associated with black.
Majukuta represents the North. His energy is air. His power is used in subtlety. He is the Mayans breath of life and generations of ideas. He is associated with the colour white.
I'ki' B'alam represents the South. His energy is water and his power is in nature. He is the Earth's supplier of vegetation and water as well as the giver of life. He is associated with the colour yellow.
The Sun (Kinich Ahau) and Itzamna, known as aged gods dominated the Maya concept of the sky.
When the Mayans were conquored by the Spainards they were forced to become Christians. Those that resisted this enforced change on their religious beliefs were killed.
Royals and leaders often cut themself to draw blood as a sacrifice to the Gods. They would cut their hands, remove their nails and pierce their tounges. Kings would also draw blood from their penis.
The importance of religion in the Mayan society was reflected in everday life. Religious beliefs affect the Mayas feelings, behaviour and actions every day. Each day of the year had a specific and symbolic religious importance, with religious festivals held throughout the year.
The Maya held special ceremonies when burrying their dead. They painted corpses red and then wrapped them in straw mats with a few of their personal belongings. A few select personal belongings were also burried under the floor of the house that the deceased had lived in.
Important leaders and rulers were burried in their finest garments within pyramids under temples. Servents were killed and burried with the leaders along with jewlery and utensils that they could then use in the afterlife.
Beliefs and Gods
