La Ruta del Maya: 1. Rise of the Sun God

The Mayan civilization originated in the Guatemalan highlands around 1500BC, before spreading into today’s Belize, Honduras and Mexico. Over the course of time, lifestyles shifted from nomadic encampments of hunter gatherers to a grounded agricultural subsistence. The development of corn, bean, chile and squash cultivation required a permanent water source. In the Yucatan province of Mexico, where rivers and lakes are few and far between, freshwater was extracted from copious sinkholes which dot the porous limestone landscape, known as Cenotes. These, like mirages in an otherwise hot and humid landscape, are hauntingly beautiful networks of tunnels, caves and underground rivers filled with stalagmites and stalactites. When the chambers open up to the sky they fill with brightly coloured birds, insects and plant life.

Because of their life-giving role, they became a vital part of the religious and ceremonial practice of the Maya. Moreover, their appearance as portals to an underworld meant that they became sites of ritual sacrifice. The excavation of these today continue to reveal the bones of thousands of sacrificees. The Mayan belief system reflects their intricate relationship and fascination with nature. The World Tree (represented by the silk cotton) is used as a symbol of our place in the universe; its roots are fixed in the earth whilst its branches reach into the heavens. K’inich Ahau, the Sun God is the supreme deity, who at night becomes the Jaguar, guiding the way to the underworld of the Cenotes below.

The development of these beliefs is reflected in an increasingly intricate architectural and sculptural style. In parallel, the improvements in agriculture resulted in an increase in population size. The extent to which this played a role is illustrated by the vast network of cities which sprang up, and the increasingly hierarchical organization of society. Whilst in Europe the Roman Empire was in decline, between 250-900AD, technological, artistic and scientific advances abounded with the Maya. This rise and rise resulted in the clearing of many of the wilderness which were the original inspiration of this increasingly detached civilization.