Jaylen Simmons

Tina Katsanos

Lbst 2102

November 2017

Throughout history human sacrifice has been prevalite within human culture. The

Mayans, a Mexican indigenous tribe can be recognized for their blood shedding rituals.

Sacrifices happened daily and up to several thousands would be killed in a year. Not only were

the sacrifices gruesome but they occurred in masses. The Mayan culture believed that by

shedding human blood was necessary to keep the gods happy and through this the gods would

continue to bless the tribe with prosperity.

Many forms of sacrifice can be considered extremely painful to the average human. For

example, removing the beating heart from the victim's chest. The removal of the human heart

was seen as one of the most important rituals amongst the Mayans. The Mayans only offered the

best to the gods and so much work and effort were put into the rituals to make sure they were

properly execute. For the ritual to occur the victim had to be painted blue from head to toe to

represent all four directions. Four attendants had to present during the removal. These rituals

occurred on temples that were specifically designed for the occasion. For the completion of the

human sacrifice the priest would often cut the victim's chest with a special knife made just for

the ritual. Although this ritual can be seen a inhuman, amongst the Mayans this ritual helped

keep the tribe alive and thriving.

All sacrifices did not have the same meaning. For example sacrificing a captured slave

did not have the same meaning as sacrificing a captured king. Although it was no ranking system

for sacrifices but they was clearly approached differently. As stated before, prisoners usually got

the more horrific deaths. While kings, queens, princes, and etc were treated with care. The death
were still painful but to the Mayans they meant more to the gods. The blood of a king could

bring more to the community than an lower level peasant

Different sacrifices had different meanings. Although heart removal was an common

sacrifice, its not considered a popular one. Disembowelment and beheading are the more

popular forms of sacrifice within the mayan community. These forms of sacrifice were often

used on prisoners of war. The Ball Game also played a part in human sacrifice. The Ball Game

is a sport played within the mayans using only the hips. As stated in the article, The Ancient

Maya And Human Sacrifice The Ball game, in which a hard rubber ball was knocked around by

players mostly using their hips, often had religious, symbolic or spiritual meaning. The Ball

Game was considered important and taking seriously within the Mayan tribes. Captured captives

and prisoners lives depended on this game. Losers of the ball game often ended up part of human

sacrifices. Stated in The Ancient Maya and Human Sacrifice, carved in stone at Chichn Itz

shows a victorious ballplayer holding aloft the decapitated head of the opposing team leader.

Beheading was seen as an ritual after victories, using the skulls as forms of trophies.

Like various other indigenous tribes, Mayans believed in shamanism, which connected

the tribe with the spirit world. Shamans are the link to humans and the supernatural world. In

various indigenous tribes shamans are seen as gifted. Shamans are often picked and trained to

guide others within the tribe. In indigenous tribes shamans are healers, guiding lost souls back to

their desired destination Although we have learned about many shamans in class. The Mayan

shamans appear differently than others. Not by appearance but by their approach to conducting

themselves within the community. The Mayans believed that human blood was needed to

increase the shamans power. Animals were also used as sacrifice too, such as small mammals.
 Throughout the course we have learned about many different shamans, varying from tribe

to tribe. These shamans receive power from experience and practice. From learning through class

and various rat readings, these shamans appeared peaceful. Although the Mayan shamans can be

considered peaceful. From first glance the mayan shaman can appear as violent by demanding

human blood for power and prosperity.

The Mayan tribes are often confused as an violent culture. This is due to television using

the Mayan culture for entertainment use. For example, the movie Apocalypto, which centered

around human sacrifice made Mayans seem as uncompassionate and violent. For the Mayans,

this was a part of their culture and it was a symbol of hope. Mayans did not kill for enjoyment,

Mayans killed to keep their people and culture alive. Through the eyes of an Mayan, the

sacrifice of a human life ensured that thousands more stayed alive. Regardless of the their

background the goal remained the same: to please the gods. In some occasions the Mayans

willing sacrificed themselves to the gods. This not only brought honor to the person but it

brought honor to the family. As a Mayan being sacrificed was seen as an honor.