Maya Religion

Mayan Myths: What the Evidence Shows
Were the Maya peaceful people whose leaders lived in large empty palaces studying astronomy and mathematics, who disappeared for mysterious unknown reasons? Read what the evidence shows about the most popular misconceptions about the Maya.

Ix Chel
Ix Chel was the Maya moon goddess, and patron deity of fertility, childbirth and weaving.

Chaac
Chaac, the Mayan god of rain, water and lightning, is a deity borrowed from ancient Mesoamerican cults.

Ceiba Pentandra the Sacred Tree of the Maya
Ceiba is one of the tallest tree in the Central American tropics, and sacred to the Maya.

The Maya Hero Twins
Hunahpu and Xbalanque are Maya Hero Twins, whose story os narrated in the Popol Vuh,the sacred book of the Maya Quiché of Guatemala...

Chultun
Chultuns is the Maya name for underground cavities used to store water and food, and possibly for other purposes as well

Itzamná
Itzamna was the Maya god of creation, said to be the inventor of writing, and of divination...

Tobacco and the Maya
Tobacco was an important part of the religious and secular life of the Maya civilization, particularly during the Classic Period (AD 300-900).

Maya Codices
There are three surviving Maya codices known in the world: Dresden, Madrid, and Paris, named because that's where the codices ended up, in museums in those cities.

The Role of the Plaza in Maya Festivals
Like many pre-modern societies, the Classic period Maya (AD 250-900 AD) used ritual and ceremony performed by the rulers or elites to appease gods, repeat historical events, and prepare for the future. But not all ceremonies were secret rituals; in fact, many were public rituals, theatrical performances and dances played in public arenas to...

Ancient Maya Bloodletting Rituals
Bloodletting rituals and sacrifices were practiced by many Mesomerican societies; this article examines the importance of bloodletting to the Maya civilization.