This paper is centred on how and why caves became such a critical aspect of the Maya’s worldview. Caves have long been recognized as important locations for ritual (Heyden 1975 Pohl and Pohl 1983), but through the consideration of human-environment interactions at caves, one can see that the very concept of “caves” were sacred to the Maya. Maya religion was heavily influenced by it’s agricultural society and this is highlighted by the earth being symbolized as the source of power and fertility (Ishihara 2008:169). Caves, as openings in the earth, were seen as locations where the power of the earth could be accessed, as the residence and/or birthplace of the gods, and as the entrance to the underworld (Bassie-Sweet 1991). Since caves are an
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One such argument is for the practice of rain rituals especially in periods of drought (Ishihara 2008, Lucero and Kinkella 2015, Moyes et al. 2009). The Maya were dependent on rain for filling their reservoirs, a successful harvest, and a variety of other uses (Lucero and Kinkella 2015:163). Moyes et al. (2009) argue that the increase in density of ceramics water jugs at Chechem Ha Cave was due to ritual intensification caused by ongoing droughts. According to ethnographic information, the moon is envisioned by the Maya as a large water jug that contains rainwater which is why ceramic jugs are often used as offerings to rain deities (Moyes et al. 2009:179). Asides from water jugs, rain rituals may also include child sacrifice and musical performances based on human remains and musical instruments found in the archaeological record (Ishihara …show more content…
In From the Mouth of the Dark Cave (1991), Karen Bassie-Sweet combines her knowledge of Mayan art and religion to investigate the religious ideology behind caves. She comes to the conclusion that specific caves are the birth place of specific gods (Bassie-Sweet 1991:170). This illustrates why the Maya would treat caves as sacred because they are the homes of the gods and are therefore a physical connection to the supernatural world. Furthermore, Bassie-Sweet argues that in Mayan religion there were four mythological caves in which the sun deity, the moon deity, the Venus deity, and the rain, lighting, thunder, and wind deities inhabited respectively that marked the four corners of the world
One such argument is for the practice of rain rituals especially in periods of drought (Ishihara 2008, Lucero and Kinkella 2015, Moyes et al. 2009). The Maya were dependent on rain for filling their reservoirs, a successful harvest, and a variety of other uses (Lucero and Kinkella 2015:163). Moyes et al. (2009) argue that the increase in density of ceramics water jugs at Chechem Ha Cave was due to ritual intensification caused by ongoing droughts. According to ethnographic information, the moon is envisioned by the Maya as a large water jug that contains rainwater which is why ceramic jugs are often used as offerings to rain deities (Moyes et al. 2009:179). Asides from water jugs, rain rituals may also include child sacrifice and musical performances based on human remains and musical instruments found in the archaeological record (Ishihara …show more content…
In From the Mouth of the Dark Cave (1991), Karen Bassie-Sweet combines her knowledge of Mayan art and religion to investigate the religious ideology behind caves. She comes to the conclusion that specific caves are the birth place of specific gods (Bassie-Sweet 1991:170). This illustrates why the Maya would treat caves as sacred because they are the homes of the gods and are therefore a physical connection to the supernatural world. Furthermore, Bassie-Sweet argues that in Mayan religion there were four mythological caves in which the sun deity, the moon deity, the Venus deity, and the rain, lighting, thunder, and wind deities inhabited respectively that marked the four corners of the world