Mayan Ceremonies

Marcelino Bacca

During the Mayan Empire, the Mayans had more than one belief. They believed that they lived in the fifth creation of the world and that the four other creations were destroyed by the great flood. It was also taught that there were thirteen heavens up above and nine underworlds. The Mayans were Polytheistic, which means they believed in many gods. A few of those gods are: Itzmana, the head god, Kinich Ahau, the sun god, and Ah Puch the god of death. The Maya also believed that the gods would be happy if they made sacrifices, prayers, and offerings to the gods. A sacrifice could be anything from a priest giving his own blood to valuable gifts, and even human sacrifices.

There were three types of human sacrifices. The first one was where a priest takes the victim, puts him on the table, and cuts his heart out while he is living, so it is beating for the gods. Another sacrifice is where the victim is tied to a pole and spears are thrown at him in the area of the heart. The third one was where the victim was thrown down a sacred well. If the victim survived the fall, and didn’t drown, he was givin special treatment because it was believed that he had received a message from the gods.

Each city-state in the Mayan empire had its own ruler who also served as the high priest. Their names were halach uinics, or “real men”. The Halach uinic ruled until death. When he died, his eldest son became ruler. If he did not have a son, the “real men’s” brother would be promoted to ruler. If the Halach uinic had no brother, the ruler’s council elected a new ruler.