Ancient Mayan Culture Research Paper
In this essay I will discuss two different ancient civilizations: Ancient Egypt and Ancient Maya. I will discuss life in Ancient Egypt and why I would want to live there. I will also discuss life in Ancient Mayan culture, and why I find it fascinating.
If I could live in any of the ancient societies we have studied, I would like to live in Ancient Egypt. I would probably serve as a priest in a temple of Heru (also known as Horus). Being that I would be a Shemsu-Hor (Priest of Horus), I would probably live in Nekhen (Hierakonpolis). I am not sure which time period would suit me best, though. I would probably want to live in the time of a wise and just Pharaoh. Perhaps during the reign of Ramses the Great or Narmer.
Ancient Egyptian culture …show more content…
was centered around the Nile river. To quote one of the Vlecs "If there were no Nile, there would be no Egypt." (Floods and Pharoahs, Vlec 1) Nekhen was the political, cultural, and religious center of Upper Egypt. It was the center of the cult of Heru. The version of Heru who was worshipped at Nekhen was Heru-Ur (Horus the Elder). He was considered the nemesis of Seth, the God of Naqada. (Ancient Egypt Online, Heru-Ur) He is also believed by some to be his brother, and one of the five children of the God Seb (Geb) and Goddess Nuit (Nut), along with Wasir (Osiris), Aset (Isis), and Nebet-het (Nephthys). Heru-Ur was believed to have eyes that were the Sun (right eye) and the Moon (left eye). One myth says that Heru-Ur lost his left eye in a battle with Seth. His eye was then replaced by Khons (Khonsu), as the moon. The "Eye of Horus" is now a widely known protective symbol. He later became the patron of the Pharaohs. All Pharaohs were seen as an incarnation of him in their lives as Pharaoh. After a Pharaoh died, he then became the incarnation of Wasir(Osiris), who was the God of the Dead. Heru was the first "National God" of Egypt. Ancient Egypt, and more specifically, the cult of Heru has always held a certain fascination for me. I honestly don't know why. I don't know if it's the naturistic, yet cultured world view. I don't know if it's the complex polytheistic religious system. But something about Ancient Egypt has always drawn me.
Out of all the civilizations we have studied, I think that Ancient Mayans are the most interesting.
I find their emphasis on human sacrifice and warfare the most interesting aspect of life for the Ancient Mayans. The movements of the planet Venus controlled everything the ancient Mayans did, from their rituals and human sacrifices, to their warfare. They saw Venus as God of War. "Resplendent in jaguar pelts, quetzal plumes, and helmets fashioned in the form of fantastic beasts, Maya warriors set out for battle on a day often ordained by the position of-Venus in the predawn sky. " (Martin, Maya Superstates, p.1) The Mayans were a very bloodthirsty lot. Even their ball games ended in bloodshed. The team that lost would be beheaded and sacrificed to the ancient Mayan Gods. The loser's skull sometimes replaced the ball. (Lost King of the Maya, 43:50) It seemed that everything the ancient Mayans did revolved around blood in one way or another. To commune with their ancestors, Mayan kings would pierce their genitalia, tongue or ears with stingray spines and then offer some of the blood to their Gods by burning the blood, which was placed on paper or cloth, in the sacred incense. (Lost King of the Maya, 41:20). I honestly do not think I would have wanted to live in such a blood-centered culture, but I do find it interesting
nonetheless.
In conclusion, I would want to live in Ancient Egypt. I find Ancient Mayan civilization interesting, but I would not want to live there. Overall, I honestly found all the civilizations interesting in their own way. But sadly, I cannot write about them all. I chose these two because I found them to be the most interesting.
If I could live in any of the ancient societies we have studied, I would like to live in Ancient Egypt. I would probably serve as a priest in a temple of Heru (also known as Horus). Being that I would be a Shemsu-Hor (Priest of Horus), I would probably live in Nekhen (Hierakonpolis). I am not sure which time period would suit me best, though. I would probably want to live in the time of a wise and just Pharaoh. Perhaps during the reign of Ramses the Great or Narmer.
Ancient Egyptian culture …show more content…
was centered around the Nile river. To quote one of the Vlecs "If there were no Nile, there would be no Egypt." (Floods and Pharoahs, Vlec 1) Nekhen was the political, cultural, and religious center of Upper Egypt. It was the center of the cult of Heru. The version of Heru who was worshipped at Nekhen was Heru-Ur (Horus the Elder). He was considered the nemesis of Seth, the God of Naqada. (Ancient Egypt Online, Heru-Ur) He is also believed by some to be his brother, and one of the five children of the God Seb (Geb) and Goddess Nuit (Nut), along with Wasir (Osiris), Aset (Isis), and Nebet-het (Nephthys). Heru-Ur was believed to have eyes that were the Sun (right eye) and the Moon (left eye). One myth says that Heru-Ur lost his left eye in a battle with Seth. His eye was then replaced by Khons (Khonsu), as the moon. The "Eye of Horus" is now a widely known protective symbol. He later became the patron of the Pharaohs. All Pharaohs were seen as an incarnation of him in their lives as Pharaoh. After a Pharaoh died, he then became the incarnation of Wasir(Osiris), who was the God of the Dead. Heru was the first "National God" of Egypt. Ancient Egypt, and more specifically, the cult of Heru has always held a certain fascination for me. I honestly don't know why. I don't know if it's the naturistic, yet cultured world view. I don't know if it's the complex polytheistic religious system. But something about Ancient Egypt has always drawn me.
Out of all the civilizations we have studied, I think that Ancient Mayans are the most interesting.
I find their emphasis on human sacrifice and warfare the most interesting aspect of life for the Ancient Mayans. The movements of the planet Venus controlled everything the ancient Mayans did, from their rituals and human sacrifices, to their warfare. They saw Venus as God of War. "Resplendent in jaguar pelts, quetzal plumes, and helmets fashioned in the form of fantastic beasts, Maya warriors set out for battle on a day often ordained by the position of-Venus in the predawn sky. " (Martin, Maya Superstates, p.1) The Mayans were a very bloodthirsty lot. Even their ball games ended in bloodshed. The team that lost would be beheaded and sacrificed to the ancient Mayan Gods. The loser's skull sometimes replaced the ball. (Lost King of the Maya, 43:50) It seemed that everything the ancient Mayans did revolved around blood in one way or another. To commune with their ancestors, Mayan kings would pierce their genitalia, tongue or ears with stingray spines and then offer some of the blood to their Gods by burning the blood, which was placed on paper or cloth, in the sacred incense. (Lost King of the Maya, 41:20). I honestly do not think I would have wanted to live in such a blood-centered culture, but I do find it interesting
nonetheless.
In conclusion, I would want to live in Ancient Egypt. I find Ancient Mayan civilization interesting, but I would not want to live there. Overall, I honestly found all the civilizations interesting in their own way. But sadly, I cannot write about them all. I chose these two because I found them to be the most interesting.