Basics of Mayan Religion
Religion was an important part of life for the Maya.
Because they built their cities in the rainforest surrounded by nature
they had many nature gods who could
shape shift into animal or human form.
According to the Maya legend the earth is a giant turtle
and the sky is held up by four mighty gods.
God Bacab
The old god of the inner earth and sky he later split himself into the 4 gods (Bacabs)
Can Tzicnal - of the North, preferred colour is White.
Hozanek - of the South and prefers Yellow.
Hobnil of the East and prefers Red.
Zac Cimi - of the West and prefers Black
The sky has 13 levels split into 3 parts.
13 is a sacred number to the Mayans
Makes up the Mayan Horoscope.
The heavens full of people who died in battle.
The earth where mortals live
The underworld where the rest of the dead live.
These parts are connected by a giant ceiba tree,
roots deep in the underworld, branches supporting heaven.
A king or ruler was worshipped as a god and was said to be able to communicate
with the dead
The Maya built hundreds of stepped stone pyramids,
these were temples dedicated to the gods
where priests offered sacrifices to calm down the gods when they got angry.
Cities would go to war against each other to steal
food and capture people to offer to the gods.
They also made daily sacrifices for the sun god,
they feared that if they didn't the sun, which all life depended on, wouldn't rise
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