Summary:
A comparison of the Mayas and the Aztecs, two cultures that lived far apart from each other in time and place, but who still shared many similarities. These similarities include the relationship between humans and supernaturals; the need to satisfy their gods through rituals of blood sacrifice; the ideological function of religion in society; and the expression of religion in art.
It is really surprising how two civilizations can share so many similarities in their religious beliefs having ocuppied different areas and having lived in different centuries. The Mayas and the Aztecs were two indigenous communities which inhabited part of Mesoamerica during the III and the XVI century. Even though they did not live in the same place and century they were quite similar in religious aspects, such as the relationship between humans and supernaturals, rituals of blood sacrifice, the ideological function of religion in the society and the expression of religious themes in art.
To start with, the relationship between humans and supernaturals was one of the beliefs shared by these two tribes. According to Robert Sharer (1994:514), the Mayas thought that all things (animate or inanimate) were imbued with an unseen power. Besides, it was believed that human destiny was linked with celestial beings like the sun and the moon. Similarly, Aztec priests personified their deities in a cosmological attempt to renew the universe and avoid darkness and celestial monsters believed to come down to eat all humans. In addition to this, the cyclical conception of time and the mythological foundation of rituals were typically Aztec. (Berdan, 1982:119)
Secondly, both civilizations tried to satisfy their gods through rituals of blood sacrifice in special ceremonies. As stated in "Maya Religion" in relation to Mayas' customs, blood sacrifice was performed by means of cutting themselves and letting the blood fall into a special paper that was then offered to gods with the purpose of guaranteeing some order to the world. These ceremonies usually began with purification consitsting on fasting and absistence. Likewise, the Aztecs used this kind of sacrifice as a means of satisfying their gods when they believed that they were angry for some reason. When an individual was sacrificed they would climb to the top of a pyramid, stretch out over a stone and finally a priest would cut out their heart. This was done because they thought there was no new life without death. ("Aztec Religion").
The last two similarities between the Mayas and the Aztecs were the ideological function of religion in the society and the expression of religious things in art. Regarding its ideological function, religion gave authotity to rulers and elites, justified wars, comforted individuals and provided social unity. Related to art, Mayas and Aztecs also expressed their worship by drawing or painting their deities' images and blood sacrifices on masks, monuments, graffittis, pottery and walls. (Sharer, 1994:516)
To summarize, both the Mayas and the Aztecs shared many similarities related to religious beliefs in spite of developing their communities in different areas within Mesoamerica during different centuries, which makes them more similar than it is usually believed.
This is the complete article, containing 449 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
