Mayan Life Afterlife

Introduction

Ancient Maya has long stood a civilization cloaked with an aire of mystery and intrigue, its secrets having become the tantalizing object of fascination and enchantment for many. The culture, tradition, and superstitious beliefs of the ancient Mayans have all but left the world mystified, as it seems, intrigued by its extraordinary complexity and particularly shrouded nature. Much of this fascination lies with the uniquely intricate theological beliefs of ancient Maya, beliefs that came to shape and influence much of the great civilization’s culture; this impact can be seen throughout several different aspects of Mayan life, including art, architecture, ritual practice, government, social class, and even scientific beliefs and

In a striking contrast to many other religious views of the afterlife, however, the Mayans believed that the majority of individuals- regardless of whether their actions in life were viewed as “good” or “bad”- would enter the underworld after their death; this foreboding and hellish place, known as Xibalba, was full of much torment and suffering, ruled by fearsome deities known as the Lords of the Underworld (Cartwright, 2014). Only kings, sacrificial victims, and those who died under violent circumstances were to be exempt from this dismal fate, resulting in a widespread fear of dying by natural cause amongst Mayan citizens (“Maya Underworld”,

Victims were also often tossed into the depths of wells, often known as cenotes; sacrifice to appease the rain god Chaac were often carried out in this manner (Gomez, 2015). Methods may also include decapitation, removal of limbs, and piercing the heart with several arrows in a highly ceremonial fashion (“Maya Human Sacrifice”, 2015). The victims of sacrifice were varied; specifically, captives of war and children were commonly subjected to these grisly practices (Gomez, 2015). As religion often became heavily integrated with warfare, human sacrifice was a highly important occurrence during times of conflict; emphasis was often put on taking in captives to sacrifice, and the ceremonial shedding of human blood was often seen as a way to earn the favour of the gods and improve luck in battle. The ceremonies and rituals of human sacrifice were administered by priests, referred to as nacoms, and were generally conducted on the heights of Maya’s striking temples (“Maya Human Sacrifice”, 2015); the bodies of the victims were to be tossed off the sides when the sacrifice was complete. In many ceremonies, the victims were to be entirely covered with blue paint, and some