Why did the Mayans sacrifice humans?
Quick Answer
The Mayans sacrificed humans for religious reasons, such as dedicating a temple, entreating gods for favors and preventing natural disasters. Human sacrifices also marked special occasions, such as the coronation of a new king. Sometimes losers in sporting games were sacrificed as the price of defeat.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
Mayans did not practice human sacrifice as often as the Aztecs, as their ceremonial sacrifices usually involved slaughtering animals, such as jaguars, dogs, deer or parrots. Religious and political leaders also performed ritual bloodletting from their own body parts, such as the ears and tongue. The blood was then smeared on idols or ritually burned. However, during festivals and rituals, Mayans occasionally practiced human sacrifice on purchased slaves and prisoners. Excavations show that young children were also used as sacrificial offerings.
Most often, the victims were held down by their four limbs while their hearts were quickly extracted. Sometimes they were shot with arrows, thrown from a height or decapitated. The heart and blood were integral to the ritualistic significance of the event. Human sacrifices marked political events, such as coronations, to make the ruler appear more god-like. Human sacrifices after sporting events may have been payment to the deities that assisted the winning team.
Learn more about Ancient HistoryRelated Questions
-
Q:
Why did the Mayans build the Temple of Inscriptions?
A: The Mayans built the Temple of Inscriptions as a tomb for K'inich Janaab' Pakal, who ruled Palenque for around 70 years in the 7th century. Construction on... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What did the Mayans eat?
A: The four staple foods in Mayan cuisine are squash, beans, maize and chili peppers, and they were often combined with meat or seafood. Squash, beans and mai... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What did the Mayans invent?
A: The Mayan people invented complex and highly accurate calendars based off astronomical readings. They are also believed to have discovered the technique of... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What have the Mayans predicted?
A: Some observers believe that the Mayans predicted the end of the world on Dec. 21, 2012. While scholars hypothesize that the date was an end to one Mayan ca... Full Answer >Filed Under:
