The Mayans are highly religious people, for them death was something to be feared and revered. For them, their god's judgment is something to be considered important, which makes them afraid of the world beyond, even while they believed in a heaven-like afterlife. They have a great respect for their dead, they mourn extensively and keep their memory alive by telling the dead's achievements in life. Although the procedure for burial transformed through the years, the thing that didn't was the sophisticated method in which they'd conduct it.
Do Mayans Believe In Heaven And Hell?
One belief of the Mayans is that some deaths were nobler when compared to others. Men and women who gave themselves for sacrifices, died on the battleground, or perished caused by childbirth were believed to have passed away nobly and thought to have been taken straight to heaven to experience the afterlife.
Those who enjoyed their lives in greed and also crime, nonetheless, were damned to suffer for all eternity in the Xilbalba, the Mayan's version of underworld. For the people that didn't belong to the two of these categories, it was considered that they left on a journey, with heaven as their end goal, and might receive a second life on earth by means of rebirth. Those of vital family tree, nonetheless, were made into deities that watched over their surviving families as well as the descendants that followed.
Age Old Burials
The deceased themselves were laid to rest at places that oriented around access to another world. There are some burial sites which were made in order for them to point north or west which are the two heavens that the Mayans believed in. Yet others are buried in caves which they believed to be entrances to the other world. Regardless of whether they were laid to rest in a cave or in a monument, or perhaps below the ground, when it comes to commoners, excellent preparation as well as ritual went into ensuring that they'd have a good journey to the other world.
Nearly all of the bodies were buried with maize in the mouths, simply because their family wished them to have food for their trip into the other world. For the dead's journey to the after life, jade or stone beads are the currency which is commonly placed in their mouths. Stuff including whistles along with small carvings of deities and animals also were located as a burial offering, as they simply were expected to aid the departed find their way to the spirit world. The color of rebirth and death for the Mayans is red, and most of the time painted on the bodies themselves and on the walls of the tomb.
The exact burial of the person normally depended on the era whereby they lived and died. Ages ago, the bodies were entombed in flexed position, nevertheless, shortly after, they were laid to rest flat on their backs, similar to the way we bury our dead at present. In the old days, cremation have become a more common means to bury a person, contrary to the complex sites.
Social Status
The way a body was buried was influenced by social status. Usually, commoners are buried near or under their homes. People of high-rank frequently were laid to rest in family crypts, however it wasn't unusual for them to be entombed under the home too. Just the city's most significant ruler had the resources, man-power, as well as ability to construct sophisticated tombs inside of ceremonial buildings, like a pyramid.
Do Mayans Believe In Heaven And Hell?
One belief of the Mayans is that some deaths were nobler when compared to others. Men and women who gave themselves for sacrifices, died on the battleground, or perished caused by childbirth were believed to have passed away nobly and thought to have been taken straight to heaven to experience the afterlife.
Those who enjoyed their lives in greed and also crime, nonetheless, were damned to suffer for all eternity in the Xilbalba, the Mayan's version of underworld. For the people that didn't belong to the two of these categories, it was considered that they left on a journey, with heaven as their end goal, and might receive a second life on earth by means of rebirth. Those of vital family tree, nonetheless, were made into deities that watched over their surviving families as well as the descendants that followed.
Age Old Burials
The deceased themselves were laid to rest at places that oriented around access to another world. There are some burial sites which were made in order for them to point north or west which are the two heavens that the Mayans believed in. Yet others are buried in caves which they believed to be entrances to the other world. Regardless of whether they were laid to rest in a cave or in a monument, or perhaps below the ground, when it comes to commoners, excellent preparation as well as ritual went into ensuring that they'd have a good journey to the other world.
Nearly all of the bodies were buried with maize in the mouths, simply because their family wished them to have food for their trip into the other world. For the dead's journey to the after life, jade or stone beads are the currency which is commonly placed in their mouths. Stuff including whistles along with small carvings of deities and animals also were located as a burial offering, as they simply were expected to aid the departed find their way to the spirit world. The color of rebirth and death for the Mayans is red, and most of the time painted on the bodies themselves and on the walls of the tomb.
The exact burial of the person normally depended on the era whereby they lived and died. Ages ago, the bodies were entombed in flexed position, nevertheless, shortly after, they were laid to rest flat on their backs, similar to the way we bury our dead at present. In the old days, cremation have become a more common means to bury a person, contrary to the complex sites.
Social Status
The way a body was buried was influenced by social status. Usually, commoners are buried near or under their homes. People of high-rank frequently were laid to rest in family crypts, however it wasn't unusual for them to be entombed under the home too. Just the city's most significant ruler had the resources, man-power, as well as ability to construct sophisticated tombs inside of ceremonial buildings, like a pyramid.
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If you're interested in the ancient Mayan culture, travelling to Palenque or other special Mayan cities look no further than Onejungle Adventures. Lots of great and informative articles can be found at their Mayan ruins section.
