Art, obsession, and identity
The ancient Maya civilization is renowned for its sophisticated culture, complex rituals, and intricate relationship with the natural world. Among their most enigmatic practices were human sacrifices, often performed to appease the gods, as well as ensure agricultural fertility and maintain cosmic balance. For decades, scientists have made assumptions about sacrificial victims, believing that they were chosen for specific reasons. But after archaeologists discovered human remains that were then used for DNA analysis, these views have since been challenged.
What this analysis revealed could not only rewrite our understanding of Maya sacrificial rituals, but also raise new questions about the lives of the victims and the enduring legacy of this ancient civilization. Curious? Click through this gallery to see how these ancient people chose their victims.
Human sacrifice held profound religious significance in Maya culture, as it was a sacred offering to the gods. The Maya believed that the blood and life force of sacrifices nourished their deities, ensuring cosmic balance and the continuation of natural cycles.
Human sacrifice also had political factors, as rulers used it to demonstrate power and divine favor. By offering prisoners or enemies to the gods, Maya leaders reinforced their authority and the sanctity of their rule within the hierarchical society.
Sacrifices were closely linked to astronomical events and agricultural cycles, aligning rituals with equinoxes, solstices, and planting or harvest seasons. These practices were believed to ensure cosmic harmony and to appease gods like Kukulkan or Chaac.
Human sacrifice has been depicted in many Maya art pieces, and has also been mentioned in glyph texts from the Classic era (200–900 CE) and Postclassic era (900–1524 CE).
Currently, there are only three surviving Maya books that date back to before the Battle of Tenochtitlán in 1521, which saw the defeat of the Aztec Empire against the Spanish Empire and the end of the Late Postclassic period in Mesoamerica. One of these books is the Madrid Codex.
The Madrid Codex mainly contains almanacs and horoscopes that would have been used by Maya priests in their ceremonies and rituals. These included human sacrifices and how they could be used to summon rainfall.
Much of the evidence that archaeologists have regarding Maya sacrificial rituals is taken from their codices, like the Madrid Codex. Otherwise, genetic material is sometimes used when it is available. But recent discoveries in DNA may have raised new questions about how the Maya chose their victims.
In 1967, archaeologists discovered human remains in an underground cistern near Chichén Itzá, one of the most powerful cities of the Mayan civilization. These remains, spanning 800 years, offered an extraordinary glimpse into the sacrificial rituals of these ancient people.
Archaeologists had long assumed that the Maya sacrificed mainly women. However, recent DNA analysis of all 64 sets of human remains revealed that the cistern contained the remains of only boys, aged three to six.
DNA analysis revealed that many of the boys were closely related, and that at least a quarter of the victims were brothers or cousins. This raises questions about whether familial ties played a deliberate role in the selection of sacrificial victims.
Among the remains, researchers found two sets of identical twins, a highly uncommon occurrence. The rarity of such twins, coupled with their inclusion, suggests a symbolic or spiritual importance tied to Maya mythology and religious beliefs.
Archaeologists have asserted that burials like the ones seen in the cistern were more often associated with fertility offerings in the Mesoamerican civilization. These typically featured female sacrificial victims, whose hearts were stored in jars like the one pictured.
The cistern was used for more than 100 sacrificial burials for over 800 years, primarily between 500 CE and the 1300s. Experts believe that the site held an enduring spiritual and ritual significance to the ancient Maya civilization.
Archaeologists are unsure as to how widespread human sacrifice truly was in the Mayan civilization, although Spanish reports from the early 16th century detailed their prevalence after conquistadors arrived in Mayan territory.
It is now believed that the Maya mainly practiced human sacrifices only in the later stages of their civilization. This was done to seek the favor of their gods for rain, for their crops, or even for victory in war.
Mesoamerican mythology often features twins as a central theme in the Popol Vuh, a sacred text that details the history and mythology of the Kʼicheʼ people from the earliest periods of Maya civilization. The text was originally preserved through oral tradition, but was since recorded by European explorers.
The Popol Vuh includes a story about twins named Hun-Hunahpú and Vucub-Hanahpú, who descended into the underworld to play a ball game with the gods. They were ultimately sacrificed after being defeated.
Despite his death, Hun-Hunahpú’s head managed to impregnate a maiden, resulting in the birth of the "Hero Twins," Hunahpú and Xbalanqué. The twins later avenged their father by winning a game of ball against the gods. But this was only done after they repeatedly lost, were sacrificed, and resurrected in the process.
The Maya viewed caves and subterranean structures as gateways to the underworld. The placement of boys’ remains in such locations may have been tied to rituals seeking divine favor or reflecting mythical journeys like that of the Hero Twins.
The Maya performed sacrifices to ensure bountiful harvests, rainfall, and divine blessings. The burial of young boys could have symbolized their connection to the maize crop and its life cycle, which was central to survival and cosmology.
Experts have also theorized that relatives were chosen as sacrificial “partners” because twins were not always readily available. After all, identical twins only occur in about 0.4% of births, so finding twins was difficult.
The boys’ remains showed no visible signs of conventional sacrificial methods, such as decapitation or extraction of the heart. This suggests that the Maya may have employed alternative methods, possibly less visible or documented, which adds even more mystery to their rituals.
The discovery of familial relations among the sacrificial victims also raises questions about whether certain families were responsible for providing sacrificial offerings. Further DNA analysis is needed, but this practice may reflect inherited obligations or honors tied to specific lineages within Maya society.
Modern Maya populations in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula show genetic continuity with the sacrificial victims. This proves that the boys were selected from local communities rather than distant parts of the Maya empire.
The DNA analysis also highlighted differences between ancient and modern Maya genetics, showing adaptations in modern populations to colonial era diseases like Salmonella enterica.
Salmonella enterica was introduced to Maya populations during the Spanish Colonial Period, likely during the 16th century. These findings prove that European contact in the Americas created profound biological changes in indigenous populations.
By analyzing DNA, society has expanded their understanding of the Maya’s deep connection to their mythology and spiritual beliefs. These discoveries continue to shape our views of one of history’s most fascinating and complex civilizations.
Sources: (National Geographic) (CNN) (Science News) (Britannica)
See also: Megacities of the ancient world
How did the Maya choose sacrifice victims?
The study of human remains has challenged long-held beliefs about this civilization
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The ancient Maya civilization is renowned for its sophisticated culture, complex rituals, and intricate relationship with the natural world. Among their most enigmatic practices were human sacrifices, often performed to appease the gods, as well as ensure agricultural fertility and maintain cosmic balance. For decades, scientists have made assumptions about sacrificial victims, believing that they were chosen for specific reasons. But after archaeologists discovered human remains that were then used for DNA analysis, these views have since been challenged.
What this analysis revealed could not only rewrite our understanding of Maya sacrificial rituals, but also raise new questions about the lives of the victims and the enduring legacy of this ancient civilization. Curious? Click through this gallery to see how these ancient people chose their victims.