Pages

Jump to bottom

7 comments

1 The Left  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 5:27:35am

MORE BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

2 Varek Raith  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 5:47:59am

Neat.
I was wondering where I put that...

3 Destro  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 6:42:42am

I don't know if that was the case for the Maya but I recall reading that one of the drives for human sacrifice for the Aztecs was that because their food supply was poor on protein, the human sacrifices the Aztec performed, which in the end involved cannibalism, served as a source for protein to the upper classes at least.

4 CuriousLurker  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 7:56:43am

Wow, fascinating. And more than a little creepy....

I remember visiting Teotihuacán when I was around 17. We climbed up to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun and—thanks to my vivid imagination—despite the amazing view, all I could think of were the gruesome methods of Aztec sacrifice and rivers of blood running down the steps on each side. Gah! *shudder*

Nonetheless, it was great to be able to visit & see things first-hand. If you're ever in Mexico City, you don't want to miss the Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Museum of Anthropology). The Maya weren't as prolific as the Aztecs when it came to human sacrifice, but still. The artifacts you can see there are amazing, especially the fantastic ceremonial costumes and stone carvings—so gorgeous. The obsidian knives used for sacrifices, um...*gulp*. Anyway, here's a video clip (in Spanish) about the permanent Maya exhibit.

If you're ever in Texas or any of the other states bordering Mexico, check out out some of the stores that sell folk art. The Aztec preoccupation with death still runs through it, often in an odd fusion with Christian themes. At times, it's even presented in an almost comical, lighthearted way (e.g. La Catrina).

5 SpaceJesus  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 8:27:08am

they worshiped dick cheney?

6 alinuxguru  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 8:27:13am

I bet later generations of Mayans never "reimagined" their blood gods went to high school or glittered when sunlight directly hit them.

7 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Aug 3, 2012 1:29:49pm

re: #6 alinuxguru

I bet later generations of Mayans never "reimagined" their blood gods went to high school or glittered when sunlight directly hit them.

Don't give anyone ideas.

Mesoamerican religion is fascinating stuff. The dramatic mass sacrifices, of course, attract a lot of attention, (and freaked the Spanish right out), but I read when I was researching the Aztecs for a middle-school history class I taught that ordinary people would give a little blood to the gods every day, pricking their earlobes with cactus thorns. The gods gave blood to create the universe, and they were owed some back.

Immensely complicated cultures. The art is unbelievable.


This page has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT
LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal
Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
Why Did More Than 1,000 People Die After Police Subdued Them With Force That Isn’t Meant to Kill? An investigation led by The Associated Press has found that, over a decade, more than 1,000 people died after police subdued them through physical holds, stun guns, body blows and other force not intended to be lethal. More: Why ...
Cheechako
Yesterday
Views: 33 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 0
A Closer Look at the Eastman State Bar DecisionTaking a few minutes away from work things to read through the Eastman decision. As I'm sure many of you know, Eastman was my law school con law professor. I knew him pretty well because I was also running in ...
KGxvi
Yesterday
Views: 87 • Comments: 1 • Rating: 1