Bloodletting was a ritual practice of many, if not most Mesoamerican societies. It was part and parcel of many celebrations within the Mayan civilization, used to note births, marriages, deaths, wars, the rise of kings to power, and many many other events.
Yaxchilan Lintel 24. Photo by Michel Wal
In a new article called "Ancient Bloodletting Rituals of the Maya", contributing writer Nicoletta Maestri describes this ancient ritual and introduces us to Lintel 24 at Yaxchilan, a piece of ornamental architecture at a temple in the ancient Mayan site which tells us a great deal about the importance of this ritual.
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