What was a common practice in Mayan rituals?

In Mayan rituals, human sacrifice was a significant and common practice, deeply rooted in their belief system and cosmology. The Maya viewed human sacrifice as a way to honor their gods and ensure that the forces of nature remained in balance. They believed that the gods required nourishment, which could be provided through the offering of human life.

The Maya often associated these sacrifices with important ceremonies designed to ensure favorable outcomes, such as good harvests, successful battles, or the well-being of the community. Various forms of human sacrifice were employed, including offerings made during ceremonies that coincided with significant calendar events, such as the end of a baktun, or during the dedication of new temples.

While other forms of offerings, such as fire or animal sacrifices, were practiced, human sacrifice held a unique and profound place in the Mayan religious framework, reflecting the civilization's complex understanding of life, death, and their relationships with the divine.