History The Mayan Civilization Questions
The Mayans had various rituals for prophecy and divination. One common practice was the use of a sacred calendar called the Tzolk'in, which consisted of 260 days. Mayan priests would consult this calendar to predict future events and interpret their significance. Another important ritual was bloodletting, where individuals would pierce their tongues, ears, or genitals to offer their blood as a sacrifice to the gods. This act was believed to communicate with the divine and gain insight into the future. Additionally, the Mayans used various forms of divination, such as interpreting the patterns and movements of celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and planets. They also practiced scrying, which involved gazing into reflective surfaces, such as water or obsidian mirrors, to receive visions or messages from the spiritual realm.