Maya Gods: Shaping a Civilization
The Maya civilization was initially established during the Pre-Classic period (c. 2000 BC to AD 250), however, most Maya cities reached their highest potential during the Classic period (c. AD 250 to 900), and continued into the Post-Classic period until the arrival of the Spanish. Known for their art, architecture, calendar, and complex society, the Maya was a Mesoamerican civilization centered in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and western El Salvador. The Maya are also known for sacrificing humans to their many gods. These gods inspired fear through the Maya, fear that provoked many people to devote their lives to worshipping the Maya gods. Through their ritualistic offerings and sacrificial ceremonies, as …show more content…
Eventually, the gods were shown corn by four animals: a fox, a coyote, a parakeet, and a raven. The gods decided that this would become the flesh of the new people, and that water would be their blood. So the gods created the first four people from corn. “Their flesh was merely yellow ears of maize and white ears of maize. Mere food were the legs and arms of humanity, of our first fathers. And so there were four who were made, and mere food was their flesh.” The gods were satisfied with the first four men, as they knew how to worship the gods. However, the gods realized the four men were too knowledgeable. They could see their future, and they knew everything there was to know. The gods blurred the men’s eyes, so they could only see things clearly if they were near to them. Then the gods created four women, and from these couples, the Maya people were born. This creation story continues to express the idea that if the Maya did not worship the gods, they feared they would be destroyed, like their …show more content…
Shamans and priests were designated people who allegedly had the powers to correspond with the deities, and were therefore of a higher class than others. Shamans were mostly common people who had powers to communicate with the deities and could thereby understand the universe, providing medicines, and helping foretell the future. They helped establish the Maya calendar, and were greatly sought after, because they could predict the cycles of time. This meant they could tell when the annual rains would come, so people could plant their crops on time. As Maya society became more complex, most shamans evolved into priests, who were considered elite, while shamans, associated with the farming industry were just prestigious common folk. Priests managed the calendar, divination, books of history and prophecy, and public ceremonies, calculated to inspire awe and obedience on the part of the king 's subjects. Because the kings were revered as half-gods themselves, the priests made sure that they were well-respected. It was also a priest’s job to regulate the correct kind, amount, and placement of the offerings given to the gods, as well as bloodletting ceremonies and human sacrifice. During the ceremonies, elaborately-dressed priests would conduct the music, processions, dancing, incense burning, and offerings. In this
The Maya civilization was initially established during the Pre-Classic period (c. 2000 BC to AD 250), however, most Maya cities reached their highest potential during the Classic period (c. AD 250 to 900), and continued into the Post-Classic period until the arrival of the Spanish. Known for their art, architecture, calendar, and complex society, the Maya was a Mesoamerican civilization centered in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and western El Salvador. The Maya are also known for sacrificing humans to their many gods. These gods inspired fear through the Maya, fear that provoked many people to devote their lives to worshipping the Maya gods. Through their ritualistic offerings and sacrificial ceremonies, as …show more content…
Eventually, the gods were shown corn by four animals: a fox, a coyote, a parakeet, and a raven. The gods decided that this would become the flesh of the new people, and that water would be their blood. So the gods created the first four people from corn. “Their flesh was merely yellow ears of maize and white ears of maize. Mere food were the legs and arms of humanity, of our first fathers. And so there were four who were made, and mere food was their flesh.” The gods were satisfied with the first four men, as they knew how to worship the gods. However, the gods realized the four men were too knowledgeable. They could see their future, and they knew everything there was to know. The gods blurred the men’s eyes, so they could only see things clearly if they were near to them. Then the gods created four women, and from these couples, the Maya people were born. This creation story continues to express the idea that if the Maya did not worship the gods, they feared they would be destroyed, like their …show more content…
Shamans and priests were designated people who allegedly had the powers to correspond with the deities, and were therefore of a higher class than others. Shamans were mostly common people who had powers to communicate with the deities and could thereby understand the universe, providing medicines, and helping foretell the future. They helped establish the Maya calendar, and were greatly sought after, because they could predict the cycles of time. This meant they could tell when the annual rains would come, so people could plant their crops on time. As Maya society became more complex, most shamans evolved into priests, who were considered elite, while shamans, associated with the farming industry were just prestigious common folk. Priests managed the calendar, divination, books of history and prophecy, and public ceremonies, calculated to inspire awe and obedience on the part of the king 's subjects. Because the kings were revered as half-gods themselves, the priests made sure that they were well-respected. It was also a priest’s job to regulate the correct kind, amount, and placement of the offerings given to the gods, as well as bloodletting ceremonies and human sacrifice. During the ceremonies, elaborately-dressed priests would conduct the music, processions, dancing, incense burning, and offerings. In this