The Maya

The Mayan civilization arose in what is now Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize in 250 A.D. and flourished until around 900A.D. They were still thriving in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico through the 16th century. The Spanish conquered the remaining Mayans and converted them to Roman Catholicism around 1519.

Around 900 A.D. the Mayan culture suddenly declined and most of its magnificent cities were abandoned. The reason is unknown, but there are several possibilities: Loss of trade routes due to war A devastating disease Extensive drought Poor agricultural practices Social upheaval due to a loss of faith in their rulers Natural disaster

glyphs The Maya developed a written language that can be found on their stelae, pottery and in their codices. stele codex

The Maya worshipped a pantheon of nature gods each of which had both a good and a bad side.

The most important god was Itzamna, the creator god and the god of fire. Chac was the hooked-nosed god of rain. Kinich Ahau or Ahaw Kin was the sun god.

A Maya ruler was seen as person with a direct line of communication with the gods and as semi-divine himself.

They were buried in elaborate tombs that were shaped like pyramids. They offered sacrifices of their own blood to keep the gods happy.

MAYAN AFTERLIFE The Mayan afterlife consisted of a dangerous voyage of the soul through many layers of the underworld. Most Maya, including the ruler, had to take this voyage.

Enclosing a woman dead in childbirth People who died by suicide, sacrifice, complications of childbirth and in battle were thought to be transported directly into heaven. Sacrifice by drowning in cenote Sacrifice by cutting the chest open and removing the beating heart Ixchell – Goddess of childbirth Mayan warriors Goddess of suicide-Ixtab Enclosing a woman dead in childbirth

The Mayan ball game was a win or die sport. The losers were sacrificed. Most opponents were prisoners of war.

ONLY HIPS, LEGS AND HEADS RULES: NO HANDS NO FEET ONLY HIPS, LEGS AND HEADS 4. THE FIRST TEAM TO GET THE BALL THROUGH THE HOOP WON. 5. POINTS WERE EARNED BY HITTING THE BALL ON SIDE PLAQUES. WATCH THE GAME…

The social order of the Maya was a pyramid shape. Rulers Nobles Peasants Slaves The ruler or ahua was at the top and everything was provided for him and his family. The nobles often lived in the cities or in the surrounding villages and were set apart from the others. The peasants lived outside the cities and relied on the rulers to keep the gods happy. Slaves were usually captured from wars and were not mistreated although they had to do all of the hard labor.

The Mayan Calendar The Mayan calendar consisted of a solar year of 365 days – 18 months with 20 days followed by 5 unlucky days. There was also a 260 day sacred year calendar.

To better understand the Maya calendar, click on the sun:

According to Mayan Mythology, we are living in the fourth world or “creation” so to speak. The Maya Long Count dates this fourth world’s creation at 3114 BC and the end of it at December 12, 2012.

According to the Mayans this is a time of great celebration for having reached the end of a creation cycle. It does not mean the end of the world but the beginning of a new “age”. The Mayans make many references to dates that fall beyond 2012. The idea of 2012 being the end of the world was actually first suggested in 1987.

THE MAYAN LOOK

At a very young age boards were pressed on babies’ foreheads to create a flattened surface. This process was widespread. Another practice was to cross babies’ eyes. To do this, objects were dangled in front of a newborn’s eyes, until the newborn’s eyes were completely and permanently crossed.

The Maya also chipped their teeth to points and often inlaid them with precious stones. They also painted their bodies as well as marking them with tattoos made by scarring the skin. Both men and women wore their hair long and braided and men burned the top of their heads to create a bald spot.

Mayans also had large holes poked in the lips, ears, and nose so big, heavy ornaments could be laid in them. They would break the nose and reshape it to make it look more hooked.

HAVE THINGS CHANGED?

Ancient Maya US today Both Deliberately crossed the eyes Fix those with Crossed eyes Men get hair plugs to cover bald spots Men burned a bald spot on their heads Tatoos Body Piercing Braids Paint the Body/Make-up Inlay front teeth Surgically repair mishapened heads Elongated babies skull Have plastic surgery to repair hooked noses Wanted hooked noses