The ancient Maya pictured a luxurious hereafter. Those lucky enough to arrive would not need to perform grueling work such as the typical cutting of terraced fields from mountainsides or thick jungle, but could rest from the hunt or the long trading journeys they had made in their lifetimes. They would find luxuriousness all around them and lie in the sweet shade provided by the cosmic tree. When they were thirsty they could gather cacao beans to make chocolate drink. These scenes are usually depicted in Mayan pottery and carved in pyramids and monuments.
Maya hero twins
The Quiche Maya Popo Vuh (a type of Maya bible) tells the mythical accounts of the Hero twins. It narrates the Twins’ decent to the underworld where they faced many tests and a ballgame to the death. But the tests were stacked against the Twins. The lords of the underworld had learned the proper names of the twins, and to the Maya, knowing ones proper name gives power over the individual.
Eventually the Twins defeat death and rise victorious to the heavens. It was in general believed that their triumph paved the way for those that came after them.
Trials of the hero twins
Unfortunately for most, Maya traditions held that only a few lucky souls would be admitted to this heavenly realm. Most souls were destined for the underworld where many grueling and terrifying tests awaited them. It was possible to ascend to heaven from there, but only by defeating the lords of the underworld. If successful in this task, the soul of the victor would emerge from the underworld in the appearance of a jaguar god and would be greeted by offerings. Thereafter, death could not hold him and could not expect to hold any of his descendants.
View vibrant images on Mayan pottery
Your website is awesome! I appreciate you for putting this up online and making issues easy for the avarage person!
I like your blog, has interesting information, I would like you to give us your sources, because you say things I have never read anywhere else and I have read a lot about maya and aztec cultures and I would like to research those statements.
It would be good if you write the name of the sacred mayan book: POPOL VUH, because as you write it “POPO” in Mexico means the equivalent of pup for English.
Thank you very much
The sources are varied but a great number of them come directly from descendants who still practice the old ceremonies. Current researching archaeologists also contribute “pre-publication” findings. Thank you for your interest, we share an admiration for ancient knowledge and culture.