Essential Question

What were some of the unique aspects of Mayan society?

Stuff to Do For Fun

Pok-a-tok!

• Kind of like soccer…

• And a bit like football…

• Little bit of basketball too…

• If you lose, you usually get sacrificed.

• And, oh yeah, if you win, you might get sacrificed too!

Mayan Beauty

The Mayans had a very different idea of what was beautiful…They found flat foreheads to be very attractive…

How and Why• Basically from birth

babies would have boards strapped to

their heads.

• This was done (we think) to make the heads look like a piece

of corn.

And just is case the flathead didn’t impress

the ladies…They also liked crossed eyes…

How about hats?

More Feathers = More Beauty

Other options:• Jam a piece of rock into your

teeth.

• Get lots of tattoos.

• Pierce lips and ears.

... .

Draw a good-looking Mayan.

Writing

• Wrote using syllables and sounds not just pictures.

• Only people in the west to write like that.

• Only a few of their books remain, the Spanish burned most of them.

CATK + AT

Sound Guide

• a

• e

• i

• o

• u

• x

• ‘ah’

• ‘eh’ like effort

• ‘ee’ like feet

• ‘oh’ like open

• ‘oo’ like moon

• ‘sh’ like bush

Common Phrases

• Bix a belex?

• (Hi, how are you?)

• Maloob.

• (I’m fine)

• Yum botic.

• (Thank you.)

Mayan Religion

• The Maya worshipped many gods.• They believed the

gods required sacrifices to be happy.• A sacrifice could be an animal,

corn or even human blood.

"They should cut themselves open, that from under their ribs up under their

armpits their hearts should be torn out. Before everything, sacrifice. By this

you will obtain grace. Next, make holes in your ears, and likewise prick your elbows and knees. Offer as sacrifice

the blood that flows from them. In these ways, your gratitude will be

shown."

-The Popol Vuh

Mayan Calendar

• Mainly used to know when to plant crops.

• Also used to know when to do religious rituals.

• Predicted this “age” will end in December 2012.

... .

What do you think will

happen on Dec 21, 2012?