Page 59 - All About History - Issue 16-14

Secrets of the Mayans

Builders of mighty stone pyramids, expert astronomers and

perpetrators of brutal human sacrifice, discover the amazing
and shocking world of the Ancient Mayans

eep in the hot and humid tropical destroyed many Mayan artefacts, so claiming prisoners and plunging knives
jungles of Mesoamerica, an lots of their secrets were unfortunately through their chests atop their mighty
ancient and mysterious race of burned to ashes. But they were unable to step pyramids.
people thrive. Dressed in bark completely erase all trace of the Mayan Within the Ancient Mayan civilisation
D loincloths and grasping long society, and their great stone cities are lays a collision of worlds – the sacrifices,
spears crafted from volcanic rock, they a testament of their long-lasting ancient rituals of the past, the
appear at first glance to be a savage, resilience. To this day people pursuit of knowledge and
backward people, but their sensitive and remain intrigued, curious The ingenious engineering of
intellectual study of the stars, medicine and inspired by this Maya had a more advanced age.
and language hints otherwise. Spanning ancient civilisation an extensive trade Their herbal medical
network throughout
a period of thousands of years, their and the mysticism techniques are still
Mexico and Central
civilisation will create grand stone cities surrounding it. America, dealing with being studied and
so mighty that they will outlive the Centuries ahead goods from clothing and practised today, while
rise and fall of nations. The mysticism of their time, the weapons to gold the breathtaking majesty
surrounding them will grow so fervent Mayans created the first of the city of Chichen Itza
that it will be capable of launching written language of the has been proclaimed one
worldwide hysteria centuries later. pre-Columbian Americas, of the greatest wonders of the
Creating a civilisation against all expertly predicted celestial events world. Perhaps we’ll never know for
odds, the Mayans (also referred to as and developed a system of mathematics sure who exactly these enigmatic people
‘Maya’) prospered in the harsh temperate more advanced than the one used were, but due to recent discoveries of
deserts of southern Mexico and northern in Europe at the time. But they also the messages they left behind, we are
Central America. When the Spanish led engaged in brutal and bloody battles, closer now than ever to unravelling the
their brutal and bloody conquest they spreading war to neighbouring territories, mysteries of the Mayans.

Layout of a typical Steps to the gods
Arguably the most famous Mayan structures, the
pyramids were huge structures featuring steep
steps of carved stone. At over 60m (200ft) tall, the
Mayan city pyramids were large, imposing structures, and were
often used as tombs for rulers.

Windows to the stars
Keen astronomers, the Maya added
doorways and windows to their
Gulf of
buildings aligned with celestial Mexico
events. Great round temples
dedicated to Kukulan, a snake
god, would sometimes serve as
observatories, used to observe the Caribbean
equinox and map out the night sky. Sea
Pacific
Ocean

Homes of the elite
Palaces were large,
elaborately decorated
structures placed in
the centre of the city.
The palaces housed the
elite of the population
and were usually one Place of ceremony
storey high with lots Usually crafted out of limestone,
of small chambers and
ceremonial platforms were a common
an interior courtyard. sight in many Mayan cities. They were
However, larger palaces
usually less than 4m (13ft) in height
with different levels and were decorated with beautifully
were also constructed.
carved figures, altars and even the
Palaces were the sites heads of victims mounted on stakes. The
of numerous burials.
ceremonial platforms served a vital role
in Mayan society as the location of public
ceremonies and religious rites.
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