The Maya cosmos was a complex, three-layered universe connecting celestial, terrestrial, and underworld realms. This worldview shaped their understanding of time, space, and the divine, influencing every aspect of Maya life and culture.

Maya religion centered on a pantheon of powerful deities who controlled natural forces and human affairs. Rituals, including bloodletting and human sacrifice, were performed to maintain cosmic balance and communicate with the gods, while shamans served as intermediaries between worlds.

Maya Cosmology and Worldview

Describe the basic structure of the Maya cosmos

• Three-layered universe organized celestial, terrestrial, and underworld realms
  • Celestial realm (Overworld) housed celestial bodies and deities
  • Terrestrial realm (Middle world) inhabited by humans and earthly creatures
  • Underworld (Xibalba) realm of death and ancestral spirits
• World tree (axis mundi) connected all three realms symbolized by sacred ceiba tree
• Four cardinal directions associated with specific colors and deities (east-red, north-white, west-black, south-yellow)
• Cyclical nature of time manifested interconnected cycles of creation and destruction (13 baktuns)

Explain the significance of the Maya calendar systems

• Long Count recorded historical events based on 5,125-year cycle starting from mythical creation date 3114 BCE
• Tzolk'in (Sacred Calendar) 260-day cycle used for divination and religious ceremonies combining 13 numbers and 20 day names
• Haab' (Solar Calendar) 365-day cycle used for agricultural and civil purposes divided into 18 months of 20 days plus 5 unlucky days
• Calendar Round combined Tzolk'in and Haab' creating unique 52-year cycle for naming dates

Maya Religion and Deities

Identify major Maya deities and their roles

• Itzamna supreme creator deity associated with writing and knowledge often depicted as elderly man or celestial bird
• Kukulcan (Quetzalcoatl) feathered serpent deity associated with wind and learning important in Postclassic period
• Chaac rain god important for agriculture depicted with axe and lightning bolt
• Ix Chel moon goddess associated with fertility and medicine often shown as young woman or elderly midwife
• Kinich Ahau sun god patron of warriors represented by jaguar symbolism

Describe Maya religious practices and rituals

• Blood-letting rituals performed by royalty and elites nourished gods through tongue, ear, or genital piercing
• Human sacrifice reserved for special occasions employed methods like decapitation and heart extraction (Chichen Itza cenote)
• Vision quests communicated with ancestors and deities often involved fasting and hallucinogenic substances (mushrooms, tobacco)
• Ball game held religious and political significance symbolized cosmic struggle between forces of life and death played in I-shaped courts

Explain the role of shamanism in Maya religion

• Shamans acted as intermediaries communicated between human and spiritual realms through trance states
• Divination practices utilized calendar systems and sacred objects (crystal balls, mirrors) to foretell future
• Healing rituals combined spiritual and herbal remedies addressed physical and spiritual ailments
• Transformation beliefs enabled shamans to transform into animal spirit companions (way) like jaguars or birds