The Maya are very well known for their huge religious ceremonies. Religion played such a large role in
the
Maya existence.
The Maya believed in blood sacrifice and bloodletting. Kings would perform bloodletting rites for every stage in life, every important political or religious event and significant calendar cycle endings. For the
ancient
Maya beginnings and endings were an
occasion for a ceremony. The most sacred blood is from the ear and tongue. By piercing their ears the Maya were opening them to hear the gods revelations. In cutting the tongue, it is said that
they could speak what they had heard. The Maya Religion also practiced human
S
acrifice. In some Maya
rituals
people were killed by having their arms and legs tied
while a priest cut the person's chest open and tore out their heart as an offering. This is shown on ancient
objects such as pictorial texts, Known as codices.
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