“Top Ten Random Facts About the Maya”
10. The Calendar Does Not Predict the End of the World
The Maya don’t have just one calendar; they have several calendars, which are often interlocked. The calendar associated with the end of the world myth is the long count calendar. In Mayan legend we are living in the Fourth world, and in December 2012 we will reach the next creation cycle.
9. The Sacrificial Stone had a Bump
During human sacrifices, the person being sacrificed would lie on his/her back on the altar. There was a bump on the altar, which pushed the person’s chest up, making it easier to remove the heart. These sacrifices and other offerings were then thrown into sinkholes.
8. The Purpose of the Ball Court
The Maya religion and ceremony included sport in its activities. The game represented the battle between light and dark. Two teams would compete to get a ball through a hoop hanging on a tall vertical surface. The winners would be showered with praise and jewels; however, the losers would be sacrificed.
7. Painkillers
The Maya people often used hallucinogenic drugs for religious purposes; however, these were also used as painkillers. Peyote, mushrooms, and other herbs were some of the more commonly used. Enemas were used for faster absorption; there are many statues depicting this.
6. Mayans Were Excellent Doctors
In Maya society, the men who practiced medicine were called shamans, and acted as a medium between the physical and spiritual world. It was essential that the shaman had vast medical knowledge, so they were given an excellent education. They stitched wounds with human hair, reset fractures, made prostheses with jade and turquoise, and even filled teeth with iron pyrite.
5. Five Unlucky Days
The Haab, or civil calendar, consisted of eighteen “months” with twenty days each, followed by an extra five days called Uayeb. The Uayeb were seen as unlucky and were called “the days without names” or “the days without souls,” and were days of prayer and mourning. It was thought that anyone born on these days would have a miserable life.
4. Domesticated Animals
The Maya society had very few domesticated animals. The two most common were hairless dogs and turkeys. The dogs would be used as hunting companions and protection. The turkeys were raised, perhaps with other fowl, such as doves and ducks, as a food source.
3. Chocolate Was Currency
Cacao, or chocolate as we know it today, first originated in Mayan culture. The Maya believed that cacao came directly from the gods, and because it was so revered, could only be drunk from gold cups, which were discarded after one use. Mayans used spices and peppers to flavor their drinks. Because cacao was so highly regarded, it was even used among the people as a form of currency.
2. Flat Foreheads Were Beautiful
In Maya society, a flat, slanted forehead was considered beautiful. In order to achieve this look, boards were tied to a baby’s forehead for an extended period, causing the skull to shape the in the desired way.
1. Crossed Eyes Were Even More Beautiful
The Mayan people also considered crossed eyes beautiful. Individuals would tie a stick with dangling objects in front of their eyes in order to create the crossed eye look that they so desired.
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