[Aztlan] Hard evidence of Maya human sacrifice

[newsroom-l]

--- Jorge Pérez de Lara <jorgepl at estudioelias.com> wrote:

> The need that many listeros appear to feel to "hide under the rug" the 
> reality of human sacrifice among the Maya smacks me as an attempt to 
> "sanitize" the Maya and their culture for modern Western consumption. 
> Regardless of whether the volumes of sacrifices were large of small, 
> it is clear from much evidence that the Maya (as indeed most if not 
> all Mesoamerican peoples) regularly practiced it.

I think that the issue of volume is very significant, as is the meaning 
the ceremonies had to the participants. Are we dealing with a reign of 
terror? Were these killings like lynchings? Were the victims terrified, 
weeping, struggling to escape (and, if we are to believe Gibson, 
sometimes succeeding)?

We had a very fruitful discussion about the meaning of death in the 
Mayan world. All sentient beings resist death and cling to life, but the 
ability to embrace death when necessary might be considered a sign of 
advanced civilization rather than primitive superstition. To me, the 
most interesting part of Syriana was the simulation of the video 
testament of the suicide bomber. That is not to say that I support 
suicide bombers or human sacrifice, but I do perceive an entirely 
different tone from the view that is being described by those who have 
seen Apocalipto.

I don't have Linda Schele's "The Blood of Kings" at hand, but if I 
recall correctly, she described a Mayan king drawing a string barbed 
with cactus thorns through a hole in his penis -- in order to benefit 
his people. Acts such as these were solemnly recorded on stone 
monuments. So this was clearly heroism, not terrorism, and the 
sacrifices of the human victims were likely to have a similar solemn, 
dignified and voluntary tone. They were giving their earthly lives for 
the benefit of their friends, relatives and other beloved souls. They 
were, possibly, joyful martyrs.

We glorify the military heroes who go to their certain death against the 
enemy. But when it comes to the Maya, Mel Gibson and his ilk substitute 
a completely opposite set of values. In the Passion of the Christ, the 
death of Jesus is pictured as the result of a political conspiracy, I 
gather, not one man's willing sacrifice to save humanity from endless 
hell. Maybe when we begin to try see the sacrificial victims of the 
ancient pagan world as saints and heroes, just like the Christian 
martyrs, and Jesus himself, we will have a better feeling for what it 
was really like for them and their people in their time.

-- 
JULES SIEGEL Apdo. 1764, 77501-Cancun, Q. Roo, Mexico
http://www.cafecancun.com/

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