Can you imagine what the world must have been like around 1500 BC? It would be like a land that is uninhabited, lush green and no one knows what's on the other side of the forest or across the river. This was the situation of our Mayan ancestors eons ago who wandered the Mesoamerican basin searching for a place to settle down. For a race that considered water being the most sacred among all elements, a great location to set up a settlement could have been close to its source, which means a cave.
The significance of caves to the Mayans
The Mayans and all of the other ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica had a multi-pronged approach towards caves. As well as being thought of as a fountain of water in forms of streams and rainfall, a cave served up as a Mayan temple, as an edge between this world and the other world and also being a place of expression of art. From these, this world is visible and highly appreciated by those who are fascinated with the Mayan ruins and undertaking historical adventure tours.
The caves are regarded by the Mayans to be the residence of Rain God Chaak and where they conducted their many different rituals to honor their deity. In the Mayan site in Guatemala called Peten, there is a chasm named Grieta and if you are one of those history lovers and want to witness this reverence then you should embark on adventure tours to Peten. Through close examination of the cave's environment, you would see remnants of the many rain related rituals. One other cave that served as a Mayan temple committed to the Rain God was discovered to feature a stalagmite sculpted to look like the deity as well as with a lightening axe.
After the archaeologists have deduced that the numerous Mayan temples were locked and bastioned with underground passages they have realized the importance of caves in the Mayan civilization which also played a seminal role in cosmology. In fact, these subway or surface features served up as canvas for hopeful artists at the same time hence validating the fact that cave art was amongst the first types of artistic expressions put into practice by humankind. Most of the content centered on natural surroundings on the subject of animals coexisting with human beings, handprints, footprints as well as geometric patterns.
Black and red are some of the most commonly used colors adorning the walls of a Mayan temple while shades of blue and yellow were hardly seen. Whilst charcoal was relied upon as a resource for black sometimes some other elements such as manganese were furthermore resorted to for getting black pigmentation. Red was obtained from inside of the cave itself courtesy of clay which comprised a high percentage of iron. Because this particular red had an orange tinge to it, artists who have been desirous of shades that are deeper and brighter utilized hematite in order to complete the end result.
Rock sculptures, glyphs carved out of stones as well as objects created from precious elements like Jade and obsidian are the other constituents of Mayan caves. Adventure tourists have also found pieces of pottery and altars of worship which validated the fact that a cave in the Mayan era was deemed to be sacred as it served as a temple for the Mayans. Worship was possibly communal or individual and although the previous required leaving a part of pottery in certain other part of the cave, the second needed ceremonial pottery for use together with the altar of worship.
Just like other tribes in Mesoamerica, the Mayans considered caves to be associated with death and life wherein anything emerging from the cave was born into the world and anyone going into the recesses of the cave was departing from the world which means facing death. Therefore should you wish to make a journey down the memory lane plus live through the lives of our 'cave-dwelling' ancestors then you definitely embark on a tour to an ancient Mayan temple.
The significance of caves to the Mayans
The Mayans and all of the other ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica had a multi-pronged approach towards caves. As well as being thought of as a fountain of water in forms of streams and rainfall, a cave served up as a Mayan temple, as an edge between this world and the other world and also being a place of expression of art. From these, this world is visible and highly appreciated by those who are fascinated with the Mayan ruins and undertaking historical adventure tours.
The caves are regarded by the Mayans to be the residence of Rain God Chaak and where they conducted their many different rituals to honor their deity. In the Mayan site in Guatemala called Peten, there is a chasm named Grieta and if you are one of those history lovers and want to witness this reverence then you should embark on adventure tours to Peten. Through close examination of the cave's environment, you would see remnants of the many rain related rituals. One other cave that served as a Mayan temple committed to the Rain God was discovered to feature a stalagmite sculpted to look like the deity as well as with a lightening axe.
After the archaeologists have deduced that the numerous Mayan temples were locked and bastioned with underground passages they have realized the importance of caves in the Mayan civilization which also played a seminal role in cosmology. In fact, these subway or surface features served up as canvas for hopeful artists at the same time hence validating the fact that cave art was amongst the first types of artistic expressions put into practice by humankind. Most of the content centered on natural surroundings on the subject of animals coexisting with human beings, handprints, footprints as well as geometric patterns.
Black and red are some of the most commonly used colors adorning the walls of a Mayan temple while shades of blue and yellow were hardly seen. Whilst charcoal was relied upon as a resource for black sometimes some other elements such as manganese were furthermore resorted to for getting black pigmentation. Red was obtained from inside of the cave itself courtesy of clay which comprised a high percentage of iron. Because this particular red had an orange tinge to it, artists who have been desirous of shades that are deeper and brighter utilized hematite in order to complete the end result.
Rock sculptures, glyphs carved out of stones as well as objects created from precious elements like Jade and obsidian are the other constituents of Mayan caves. Adventure tourists have also found pieces of pottery and altars of worship which validated the fact that a cave in the Mayan era was deemed to be sacred as it served as a temple for the Mayans. Worship was possibly communal or individual and although the previous required leaving a part of pottery in certain other part of the cave, the second needed ceremonial pottery for use together with the altar of worship.
Just like other tribes in Mesoamerica, the Mayans considered caves to be associated with death and life wherein anything emerging from the cave was born into the world and anyone going into the recesses of the cave was departing from the world which means facing death. Therefore should you wish to make a journey down the memory lane plus live through the lives of our 'cave-dwelling' ancestors then you definitely embark on a tour to an ancient Mayan temple.
About the Author:
Taking Mayan historical adventure tours is the best way to learn about Mayan history, culture and beliefs. Duende Tours offers customized tours to Mayan caves, ruins, temple pyramids and tropical jungles.
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