Mayans: Deception by Temple Rituals

In the ancient world, “secret knowledge was perceived as a key to power.” The Mayan Empire was no exception, as students will discover in this entry from the Cultural Legacies of Ancient Civilizations series, which provides a brief overview of the civilization that dominated the Yucatan Peninsula from A.D. 250–900. Outlining the Mayans' cultural accomplishments—including advances in mathematics and sophisticated astronomical calculations—the majority of the program focuses on the Mayans' religious rituals, including a royal bloodletting ceremony carried out in secret by temple priests to appease the gods, although it may have actually been “little more than an imaginative piece of theater.” This quality production features excellent re-creations, 3-D animation, and dramatic footage from archaeological sites in Guatemala. Other titles in the series include Egyptians: Conflicting Visions of Immortality; Romans: Inclusive Conquest & Loyal Citizens; Minoans: Public Peace & Ritual Violence; Phoenicians: The Alphabet & Carthage's Hannibal; Greeks: Olympic Mind-Body Legacy; Khmers: Creating Heaven on Earth; and Incas: Oppression Self-Destroys an Empire. Recommended. Aud: J, H. (E. Gieschen)