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Interesting facts about Mayan civilization
The Mayan civilization in pre-Columbian America that had developed writing. About this culture many have heard and many of heard, as a rule, has no relation to reality. Let's try to understand what was happening.
Prominent doctors.
This civilization had a unique physicians. At first Maya has always been health and medicine, as they meant a combination of not only mind and body but also science, religion, and ritual. Maya could be doctors, only those who received a good education. They were considered shamans, mediums, people who were between the spiritual world and the physical. To treat Maya used witchcraft. In addition, the witchcraft used to control the weather and foresight. Archaeologists discovered evidence that the Mayans used human hair to sew up wounds. The representatives of this civilization is unmatched treated not only fractures, but also were skilled dentists.
Analgesic.
It is proved that the Maya used a means of anesthesia. These people for various religious rituals used hallucinogenic drugs. They were used very widely in everyday life of the Maya as an excellent analgesic. A hallucinogen produced from certain types of mushrooms, morning glory, peyote and tobacco. If you had a more rapid effect, the Maya used enemas.
The last country of the Maya.
The existence of the country lasted until 1697. Independent Maya Kingdom was the city Tayasal, located on the island. In 1696 the king of the itzá were visited by Spanish priests, but now 1697году the whole Kingdom came into the possession of Spain. Chichen Itza – the most famous archaeological place in which were various monuments and architectural structures. At the moment, the land under which are various buildings, belongs to an important family, although by the monuments belong to the ruling party.
Courts for ball games.
Belonging to this civilization built the special courts, which held ball games. This game was very popular for 3000 years. Mesoamerican game can be equated to a certain ritual. The local population is still playing a similar game called ulama. Courts are not meant only for games, they also carried out various festivals, conducted various cultural events and musical performances.
A bloody sacrifice.
Still some members of the Maya practiced this ritual. Proven that the Maya as victims are often used people in religious and medical purposes. But a little-known fact, that still retains its ancient Mayan traditions. Only human blood long ago replaced the blood of chickens.
Childhood Maya.
The Maya imbued with the idea that their offspring were unnatural physical traits. Here is an example: to make the forehead was flat, for baby put Board. Interesting fact: very often, children were named by the name of the day that baby was born. Specially Maya formed in children strabismus. Instead, parents are constantly kept before the eyes of the child different objects.
Saunas.
In order to purify the body, the Maya used a diaphoretic baths. They were very reminiscent of the saunas that are familiar to all of you. Water poured hot rocks, creating hot steam. As a rule, ancient saunas were enjoyed by everyone: kings and ordinary women from the lower class.
The ancient secret.
What caused the fall of a culture like the Mayan, are still not known. In the southern lowlands was located the centers of this civilization, which disintegrated in the period from VIII to IX century. Theories, as you can imagine, there are many. Some argue that the Maya territory was invaded, other people have lost a key trade route, and the third belongs to the assumption that resettlement of the Maya. There are still a dozen theories, such as: epidemics, drastic climate change and natural disasters.
The real culture is.
At the moment there are 7 million Mayans. Many members up to our days retained its ancient cultural heritage. In Central America, Guatemala, in the Mexican States of Tabasco, Campeche, Chiapas and Yucatan, as well as in El Salvador and Honduras are the most extensive settlements of the modern Maya.
Life goes on.
As we have seen, the Mayan calendar does not predict end of the world, which was to come in 2012. This calendar is represented not that other, as the Mayan calendar long calculus. Mythology of the Mayans tells us that we are living in the fourth creation, or in the fourth world. On the calendar long calculus last creation was completed 12.19.19.17.19. This sequence was repeated 20.12.2012 year. This day was supposed to be a holiday, meaning the end of a cycle and beginning of a new era.
Source: mif-facts.com.ua