The Rise And Fall Of The Mayans

Rise and Fall of the Maya: Research Paper
The Maya were a native Mesoamerican group of people who erected one of the most sophisticated cultures in the Western Hemisphere. They inhabited areas in southern Mexico, and also surrounding Locations included Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and parts of Honduras. The Maya religion civilization came into prominence in 250 A.D., administering a polytheistic approach to worship which included human blood sacrifices to honor their gods or to culminate the crowning of a King. Historians record that the Mayan civilization abruptly and mysteriously abandoned their cities between 900 and 925 A.D.; this also marks the end of the classic period in Maya history. In this Annotated Bibliography, I will analyze
and summarize key components of the Maya religion to determine whether or not the practice of polytheistic worship and human blood sacrifice was detrimental to the Maya culture, and ultimately led to the collapse of their civilization.
The Practice of human blood sacrifice for the Maya was a key component of the culture and ritual of religious practices. In modern society, few would consider the practice of human blood sacrifice to be the mark of a sensible and civilized group that valued human life. Contrary to this mindset, Maya felt for the betterment of the people and to maintain order in the universe human blood sacrifice was necessary. For the Maya to legitimize social hierarchy and maintain social order and agricultural stability, human blood sacrifice was indeed very necessary to Maya. The rituals conducted by the Maya involving human blood sacrifice was a form of gratitude and appreciation for everything the gods have bestowed upon them during periods in between ceremonies of blood sacrifice. To fully understand the concept and purpose the Mayans had the human blood sacrifice, universe must understand the Maya’s religion and the gods represented within it.
From an historical standpoint, the religion of the Maya during the Classic Period was been seen as a faith centered on a “pantheon of anthropomorphized gods.” Archaeological findings of Maya iconographic artifacts depict many gods as various animals particularly jaguars, and they are seen supernatural beings. The divine power and authority possessed by Maya’s sacred gods was ordained by the mana they possess. The Maya equivalent to a supreme being was known as Heart of Sky which is in chronicled in the creation story of the Maya. In Mayan religion, Heart of Sky had created many of the things regarded as sacred such as the sun, the moon, lightning, and caves. Everything in nature that was alive or inanimate was considered to be sacred by the Maya. Religious ceremonies conducted by the Maya lords and priesthood were held in various types of permanent temples. The Maya religions priesthood was the only ones within the society to obtain the knowledge to decipher hieroglyphic writing and was in control of the knowledge and timing of festivals constituted by the 260-day calendar. Hierarchy of Maya priesthood served as advisors to the ruling class, and also received offerings from them as well. Aside from the fact the Maya preformed blood sacrifice of both humans and animals to appease the gods for what they have
bestowed upon them, but they also made offerings of cloth, food, and pottery to gain their favor as well. The Maya had various methods in which to perform human blood sacrifice The most common method done by the Maya for human sacrifice rituals was the removal of someone’s heart while they were still alive. This ritual was performed by “ah nacom” with the assistance of four chacs who impersonate the rain God. The four chacs would hold the victim’s limbs, then the priest ah nacom then proceeds to quickly remove the still beating heart from the victim’s body. Another method performed by the Maya in regards to human sacrifice was throwing a victim and tool a cenote were on the bottom awaited the spear or our which impelled the victim. Also an additional method used by the Maya was to throw a victim from a high Valley or peak. Also political prisoners in captives of war were the most common individuals subjected to blood sacrifice as well. The most revered among the captives to be sacrificed are often kings and rulers. Before these individuals became victims of ritual blood sacrifice they must endure the tedious Mayan ballgame. Author Martin Cohodas illustrates this in his article by stating the ball court represents “the underworld and that the ballgame is a symbolic reenactment of the battle of and night.”
The Maya’s Kings and ruling class also had their own form of human blood sacrifice rituals that was their sacred duty within the Mayan religion. The Mayan Elite blood ritual which has been practiced for upwards to 1000 years was called bloodletting. Archaeological evidence suggests that this ritual manifested from myths originating from the Mayan creation story. Emphasis is placed on the precious blood as the key component to the creation of the world, and all living things including humans. The bloodletting will or auto sacrifice ritual consisted of incisions made to the tongue, ears, nose, thighs, legs, and even to the male genitalia. The blood from the ritual is then collected paper sheets and baskets or ceramic bowls and is then lit on fire as a gift to the gods. Rituals of bloodletting took place during different events including particularly “heir designation and period ending rituals.” Not only did Mayan rulers use the bloodletting ritual as a vehicle to extract political power and legitimacy of their social standing, but it was also necessary to the elites offered their blood to the gods as a token of gratitude and “maintaining balance and cosmic order.” The rituals of bloodletting allow the elites to be seen as conduits to the gods as a bridge from natural world to the supernatural world. The purpose of bloodletting is illustrated on carved monuments and it is also found painted on pottery as well, which date back to the post classic period. The ritual bloodletting is practiced by both men and women of the Royal elite. Author David Joralemon illustrates women’s role in the ritual by stating “Yaxchilan portraits a similar scene, although in this case, spines and thrones are woven into cord which the woman pulls though her tongue is painted on the walls.” The tools used to perform the ritual of bloodletting are obsidian blades, daggers made of jade, and stingray spines.
The painful sacrifice of bloodletting often leads to the participant into a euphoric state, where the participant was experiencing hallucinations. These delusions were brought on the only by the pain induced by the bloodletting ritual, but the rulers also took hallucinogens and alcohol prior to the ritual. Regardless of the fact that this ritual was a staple of Mayan religion for the elite, one cannot regard them as a ruling class who self mutilates truly fit to govern a civilization. Although the practice of bloodletting went on for upwards to 1000 years, one could say that this practice led to the displacement of many Mayan city states due to turnover of Mayan elites.
References to the purpose of blood sacrifice within the Mayan culture in his context can be found in the iconography and Stela monuments. Studying these artifacts of the Maya which depict human sacrifice gives more perspective to the notion that blood sacrifice was only or religious purposes, but they also work political gain is well. Stela’s found in both Ixlu and Tikal gives a representation to the blood that is being sacrificed by the Mayan rulers. The images revealed “floating figures above the ruler” and are considered to be “supernatural” beings that are manifested from the sacrificial blood. The motif of the ruler is surrounded cosmic symbols representing Gods. The metaphoric representation of the blood extracted from rulers during sacrifice also makes reference to ancestors, this is a representation of how the Maya ruling class are still involved politically while their dead. Stela 2 depicts ruler and his clothing that signify “Jaguar traits” was conducted it commonly celebrated form of sacrifice that commemorates a “new cycle” from 5000 years ago. On a Stela sculpture found in Jimbal, images of floater deity’s that represent both the Jaguar and fish God who are hovering in curling blood motifs. . For the Maya the God associated with bloodletting is known as God K, and is considered “a patron of royal lineage and ancestor.” The representation of images found in Maya art has the ability to transmit recorded information and history as if it was in written text form.
There are varying views regarding the collapse of the Mayan culture and civilization.
Evidence suggests that despite the fact there is a definitive reason that led towards the collapse, the recent to suggest that the decline began around 810 A.D. Further evidence records the exile of locals in the southern low land areas increased by 900 A.D. In southern lowland areas leading up to this period of evidence shows eight “general decline and ceramics and other manufacturers; many of the ceremonial centers were completely abandoned.” reasons for the Maya will abandoned cities could be caused from instability within the agricultural system. Evidence suggests there was a lack of nutrition among Mayan civilians despite their plant-based diet.. Of basic Mayans plant-based diet wasn’t probably supplemented with “nutrients and amino acids necessary for a well-balanced diet” The erosion and degeneration of Mayan landscapes made farming a futile task. By viability of Mayan agriculture suffered due to land surfaces that are “a solid after several years of monoclonal, and erosion is removing what little soil is less,” consequently the forest would reemerge after. In regards to the Maya civilizations collapse, the Spanish conquest is viewed as factor as well. The ancient Maya religion that didn’t involve blood sacrifice was deemed as “hedonism” by the Spaniards, and quickly of their mission was to convert the Mayans to Christianity. During this process all written record of ancient
Mayan religion “uprooted with and gathered “ and then destroyed.
After gathering evidence regarding Mayan religion and blood sacrifice is conclusive that their ritual practices were not a direct cause of the collapse. Again there is no one definitive cause to the collapse of the Maya civilization. Considering the fact that during the Spanish conquest, ancient Maya religion was denounced and then replaced with Christianity. The argument could be made that the Maya’s practice of blood sacrifice indirectly plays the part in their collapse. As the Spaniards commence their conquest be deemed the Mayan religion in adequate, and the trait of a savage civilization. Whether or not the ritual practice of Mayan blood sacrifice was deemed to be savage in the form of hedonism, it was not in direct correlation with the collapse of their civilization.