Gods
The Mayans worshiped a great lot of gods and goddesses who, they believed created and controlled every aspect of the world. The Mayans believed that the gods could be helpful or harmful and it was vital to please them in order to obtain their aid.
The Mayans had a supreme god, called the chief god. His name was Itzamna or lizard house, but he was also known as hunab ku (hoo-nahb koo), and they believed him to be the creator of the universe. He was considered to be the lord of the heavens and he was credited with teaching the Maya how to write using their sacred calender. He was usually shown as an old man with toothless jaws sunken cheeks and a long nose.
Itzamna's wife was called Ix Chel, or lady rainbow. She was the goddess of the moon, healing and childbirth. Itzamna and Ix Chel had four sons, called the Bacabs, they were giants, placed at the four corners of the universe to hold up the sky.
Mayans worshipped everything in nature and tried to explain how thingd happened due to the gods
They beieved that the world was made up of heavens and underworlds and linked together by a tree with it's branches in the heavens and roots in the underworld. Another belief was that the world was a giant crocodile or turtle and that the gods lived in the sky and the heavens and the underworld below was watery. Mayans communicated with their gods through prayers, sacrafices and visions.
The Mayans had a supreme god, called the chief god. His name was Itzamna or lizard house, but he was also known as hunab ku (hoo-nahb koo), and they believed him to be the creator of the universe. He was considered to be the lord of the heavens and he was credited with teaching the Maya how to write using their sacred calender. He was usually shown as an old man with toothless jaws sunken cheeks and a long nose.
Itzamna's wife was called Ix Chel, or lady rainbow. She was the goddess of the moon, healing and childbirth. Itzamna and Ix Chel had four sons, called the Bacabs, they were giants, placed at the four corners of the universe to hold up the sky.
Mayans worshipped everything in nature and tried to explain how thingd happened due to the gods
They beieved that the world was made up of heavens and underworlds and linked together by a tree with it's branches in the heavens and roots in the underworld. Another belief was that the world was a giant crocodile or turtle and that the gods lived in the sky and the heavens and the underworld below was watery. Mayans communicated with their gods through prayers, sacrafices and visions.