mayan religion
- How do religious beliefs and common
cultural practices compare and contrast to modern day?
Many Mayan people today still hold on to much of the same beliefs and practices as they did in Precolombian times. Looking at religious practices in the Yucatan Peninsula shows that there is a strong undercurrent of Precolumbian
beliefs that pervade many of their religious practices.
- How are the myths/folk tales of a civilization related to how the civilization runs itself?
The major elements of Mayan mythology revolve around maize. The Mayan creation myths hold that mankind came from a single grain of maize brought into the world from the underworld by the first father. Mayan mythology beyond this central concept is varied like many other polytheistic religions and includes a host of deities, supernatural creatures,
rituals and festivals.
A UNIQUE VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE
The ancient Maya had a complex pantheon of deities whom they worshiped and offered human sacrifices. Rulers were believed to be descendants of the gods and their blood was the ideal sacrifice, either through personal bloodletting or the sacrifice of captives of royal blood. The Maya vision of the universe is divided into multiple levels, above and below earth, positioned within the four directions of north, south, east and west. After death, the soul was believed to go to the Underworld, Xibalba (shee
bal bah), a place of fright where sinister gods tested and tricked their unfortunate visitors.
By Emily White
cultural practices compare and contrast to modern day?
Many Mayan people today still hold on to much of the same beliefs and practices as they did in Precolombian times. Looking at religious practices in the Yucatan Peninsula shows that there is a strong undercurrent of Precolumbian
beliefs that pervade many of their religious practices.
- How are the myths/folk tales of a civilization related to how the civilization runs itself?
The major elements of Mayan mythology revolve around maize. The Mayan creation myths hold that mankind came from a single grain of maize brought into the world from the underworld by the first father. Mayan mythology beyond this central concept is varied like many other polytheistic religions and includes a host of deities, supernatural creatures,
rituals and festivals.
A UNIQUE VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE
The ancient Maya had a complex pantheon of deities whom they worshiped and offered human sacrifices. Rulers were believed to be descendants of the gods and their blood was the ideal sacrifice, either through personal bloodletting or the sacrifice of captives of royal blood. The Maya vision of the universe is divided into multiple levels, above and below earth, positioned within the four directions of north, south, east and west. After death, the soul was believed to go to the Underworld, Xibalba (shee
bal bah), a place of fright where sinister gods tested and tricked their unfortunate visitors.
By Emily White