Page 35 - 201311 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - November 2012

Top 10 Fascinating Mayan Facts Top 10 Fascinating Facts About The Mayans The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Many misconceptions about the mayans exist, and this list should put an end to at least one or two of them. In addition, it will introduce you to facts that you never knew about this great ancient civilization. 10. Continuing Culture for the purpose of healing, foresight, and control of elite cultural events and ritual activities like over natural events. Since medicine was so musical performances and festivals, and of The Fact: There are numerous Mayans still closely related to religion and sorcery, it was course, the ballgame. Enclosed on two sides by living in their home regions essential that Maya shamans had vast medical stepped ramps that led to ceremonial platforms knowledge and skill. It is known that the Maya or small temples, the ball court itself was of a In fact, there are over seven million Mayans sutured wounds with human hair, reduced capital “I” shape and could be found in all but living in their home regions, many of whom fractures, and were even skilled dental the smallest of Maya cities. In Classic Maya, the have managed to maintain substantial remnants surgeons, making prostheses from jade and ballgame was called pitz, and the action of play of their ancient cultural heritage. Some are quite turquoise and filling teeth with iron pyrite. was ti pitziil. The game was played with a ball integrated into the modern cultures of the roughly the size of a volleyball but made from nations in which they reside, while others 7. Blood Sacrifice rubber and heavier. Decapitation is particularly continue a more traditional culturally distinct associated with the ballgame – severed heads life, often speaking one of the Mayan languages The Fact: Some Mayans still practice blood are featured in much Late Classic ballgame art. as a primary language. The largest populations sacrifice There has even been speculation that the heads of contemporary Maya inhabit the Mexican and skulls were used as balls. states of Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, It is a rather well known fact that the Mayans Tabasco, and Chiapas, and in the Central practiced human sacrifice for religious and 4. Saunas American countries of Belize, Guatemala, and medical reasons – but what most people don’t the western portions of Honduras and El know is that many Mayans still practice blood The Fact: The Mayans used saunas Salvador. Just as a point of interest, it is very sacrifice. But don’t get too excited – chicken possible that the word “shark” comes to us from blood has now replaced human blood. Today the An important purification element to the ancient the Mayan languages, as does the word “cocoa”. Maya keep many of the ritualistic traditions of Maya was the sweat bath, or zumpul-ché. To say “thank you” in Yucatec Maya, you say their ancestors. Elements of prayer, offerings, Similar to a modern day sauna, sweat baths “Jach Dyos b’o'otik.” blood sacrifice (replacing human blood with were constructed of stone walls and ceilings, that of sacrificed chickens), burning of copal with a small opening in the top of the ceiling. 9. Mayan Childhood incense, dancing, feasting, and ritual drinking Water poured onto the hot rocks in the room continue in traditional ceremonies. created steam, offering a setting in which to The Fact: The Mayans “enhanced” the beauty sweat out impurities. Sweat baths were used for of their children 6. Painkillers a range of conditions and situations. New mothers who had recently conceived a child The Maya desired some unnatural physical The Fact: The Mayans used painkillers would seek revitalization in them, while characteristics for their children. For instance, at individuals who were sick could find healing a very young age boards were pressed on The Mayan peoples regularly used power in sweating. Maya kings made a habit out babies’ foreheads to create a flattened surface. hallucinogenic drugs (taken from the natural of visiting the sweat baths as well because it left This process was widespread among the upper world) in their religious rituals, but they also them feeling refreshed and, as they believed, class. Another practice was to cross babies’ used them in day to day life as painkillers. Flora cleaner. eyes. To do this, objects were dangled in front of such as peyote, the morning glory, certain a newborn’s eyes, until the newborn’s eyes were mushrooms, tobacco, and plants used to make (Continued on Page 37) completely and permanently crossed. Another alcoholic substances, were commonly used. In interesting fact about Mayan children is that addition, as depicted in Maya pottery and most were named according to the day they carvings, ritual enemas were used for a more were born. Every day of the year had a specific rapid absorption and effect of the substance. name for both boys and girls and parents were Above is a statue of a Mayan enjoying their expected to follow that practice. enema. 8. Excellent Doctors 5. Ball Courts The Fact: The Mayans had many excellent The Fact: The Mayans built ball courts so they medical practices could play games Health and medicine among the ancient Maya The Mesoamerican ballgame was a sport with was a complex blend of mind, body, religion, ritual associations played for over 3000 years by ritual, and science. Important to all, medicine the pre-Columbian peoples of Mesoamerica. was practiced only by a select few who were The sport had different versions in different given an excellent education. These men, called places during the millennia, and a modern shamans, act as a medium between the physical version of the game, ulama, is still played in a world and spirit world. They practice sorcery few places by the local indigenous population. Ballcourts were public spaces used for a variety