FAQs
The Chilam Balam were elite spiritual leaders of the Mayan culture, their social positions being similar to those of priests. Many of the Mayan towns had their own Chilam Balam, whose book would take the name of the town.
What is chilim balam? ›
The Books of Chilam Balam (Mayan pronunciation: [t͡ʃilam ɓahlam]) are handwritten, chiefly 17th and 18th-centuries Maya miscellanies, named after the small Yucatec towns where they were originally kept, and preserving important traditional knowledge in which indigenous Maya and early Spanish traditions have coalesced.
Why is Chilam Balam important for our history? ›
Books of Chilam Balam, group of documents written in Yucatec Maya with Spanish characters during the 17th and 18th centuries. A principal source of knowledge of ancient Mayan custom, they contain myth, prophecy, medical lore, calendrical information, and historical chronicles.
Who did the Mayan human sacrifice? ›
Slaves, criminals, bastards, orphans and children made up the bulk of the sacrificial victims. Children were desired because of their innocence, and they would sometimes be abducted or purchased from neighboring cities. The purchase price was paid in red beans.
Who is the Mayan earthquake god? ›
Cabrakan (also known as Caprakan, Cabracan, and Kab'raqan) was a Maya god of earthquakes and mountains. Cabrakan is a son of Vucub-Caquix and the brother of Zipacna. He serves as a minor character in the Popol Vuh, where the Maya Hero Twins defeat him.
What is the largest known Mayan ruin? ›
Called Aguada Fénix, it is a huge raised platform 1.4 kilometres long. Aguada Fénix was built around 1000 BC, centuries before the Maya began constructing their famous stepped pyramids. Its design suggests that early Mayan societies were fairly egalitarian and didn't have a powerful ruling class.
Is Ek Balam Mayan or Aztec? ›
Ek Balam is Mayan for 'Black Jaguar' or 'Sun Jaguar'. The ruins are located near Valladolid another colonial city in Yucatan located in Mexico. Famous for the El Torre pyramid, 700 AD to 1000 AD was one of the most culturally significant periods for Ek Balam.
What is the name of a famous ruin of the Mayan civilization? ›
Chichén Itzá (often spelled Chichen Itza in English and traditional Yucatec Maya) was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period.
Who are the four Mayan godly beings who held up the sky? ›
While the Maize God is the deity in the Maya creation story, the four Bacabs were gods believed to have held up the sky.
What is Ek Balam known for? ›
History of the City of Ek Balam
The ruins are comprised of iconic architectural elements such as impressively deep defensive walls, a ceremonial entrance arch, and the Oval Palace, which once was the site of burial relics.
Ah Puch is the Mayan god of death, disaster, and darkness. Some versions of Ah Puch are also the god of regeneration, new beginnings, and childbirth. However, the version known as "Cizin" is only associated with death and nothing regarding life.
