Once the Heart's Committed, There's Really No Choice

I've been really interested in the Maya ever since I wrote a book about this ancient civilization for young readers. So I was happy to stumble upon Archaeology magazine at my local library. The January/February 2009 issue features an article on the ancient Maya, focusing on just one aspect of their fascinating culture: their quest for physical beauty. What's interesting is that this quest wasn't based on vanity, as is prevalent in our modern society. Rather, the Maya sought out physical perfection as a way to honor their creators.

The ancient Maya were deeply religious, as are the Maya today. The ancients, however, worshipped hundreds of gods, including the gods of rain, lightning, even the sun. According to Maya legend, humans were created from corn (maize). Thus, the Maya sought to align their features with that of a corn stalk. So they elongated their foreheads, and then piled their hair atop their heads so that it flopped about -- much like corn silk spills from an ear of corn.

Changing the shape of their skulls happened early, typically soon after birth, while the skull bones were still soft. Mothers would position their baby's skull between two long pieces of wood and apply pressure. Eventually, the skull flattened. 

As adults, the Maya elaborately tattooed themselves, and even drilled holes into their teeth, so they could plug the holes with pieces of jadeite. Jadeite, found in the highlands of what is now Guatemala, is a very hard stone that ranges in color from blue-green to nearly black. The ancient Maya prized its green color, in particular, because it reminded them of fields of green corn stalks.

Too, the ancient Maya pierced their bodies, so that their life-sustaining blood flowed. Why? Because the Maya believed blood offerings strengthened the gods, enabling them to keep the world from spinning out of control.

While I hold none of these same beliefs, I am awed by and deeply respectful of the Maya's commitment to their ideals. But the question I most want answered is "Why were they so committed?" 

Were the Maya motivated by love and gratitude? Or was it fear? Because when you serve so many gods, there's gotta be one main worry that ricochets around your brain 24/7: "Who did I forget to honor today?" 

The ancient Maya greatly feared death, and considered an "ordinary" death to be the worst way to die. In fact, they believed that dying from disease or old age doomed them to an eternity in the cold and unhappy underworld. The honor of living in paradise, they believed, was only guaranteed to warriors who died in battle, to women who died in childbirth, and to sacrificial victims.

So, when Spanish conquistadors and priests threatened death as the single alternative to the Maya not accepting Christianity, the Maya didn't shake in their sandals. Most likely envisioning the paradise awaiting them, many willingly chose the torture and death. (Not a great moment for the church, by the way. Christ never forced anyone to follow him; he is all about freedom of choice.)

Perhaps their tragic end, in the hands of those who should have demonstrated God's love, is what most captures my imagination about the ancient Maya. I'm inspired by the commitment that flowed through their veins. The Maya were certainly into physical beauty. But I find their hearts and souls incredibly beautiful, too. 

note: Here's an excerpt of the Archaeology article, Extreme Makeover, by Mary Miller. It includes a photograph of a skull that has been manipulated into the shape sought by the ancient Maya.