The Stones Have A Voice
Part 1
I just returned from a trip to Central America. I used the opportunity to visit the site of a very important Mayan archaeological ruin in the Yucatan, named Chichen Itza (no, not Chicken Pizza). Many thoughts occurred to me during and after that trip. I will now present some of the information I learned as well as those thoughts.
Farewell To Dinosaurs
Most of this document I am presenting is in the context of history and philosophy. However, before I get started on that, I will go further back and recall a pre-historical event. That event was one of the single most important ones leading up to man’s existence. One day, about 65 million years ago, a huge asteroid set on a collision course with Earth found its mark in the Yucatan. The remnant of that impact is evident at the Chicxulub Crater. The most current evidence points to this being the impact that caused the major extinction event of 65 million years ago. Although this probably was not the only cause, it was the main culprit for the extinction of the then dominators of Earth: the dinosaurs. Out of the void that was created, a small furry creature emerged from its hole and spread into niches previously occupied by giant reptiles. Eventually, that little furry creature gave rise to man.
I was cognizant of the fact that I was close to the site where a major turning point in human evolution took place. Through an astronomical accident, the equivalent of a car running a red light, evolution directed a new path. It was a path that brought humans, higher intelligence, and civilization into this world. It is a humbling experience to be close to such a site.
Perhaps God fell asleep at the wheel (as usual) and when he woke up from the sound of the accident, in order to save face he said: “Let there be a big crash, which will wipe away almost everything I created and nurtured for hundreds of millions of years. Then, let there be man…however not just yet. Let there be a small mammal that will slowly transform into man. It will take about 65 million years, but that’s okay, I can be patient.”
Translation: “I meant to do that.”
With that evolutionary and pre-historical reference to Yucatan’s significance noted, it is time to direct attention to its historical importance.
A Brief Background Introduction
The Maya were a civilization of Native Americans that inhabited Central America for three millennia. They had numerous cities, the most important of which was Chichen Itza. It is in the middle of a jungle. This city was built in phases from the 6th century until the 11th century, during which time it served as the major cultural and religious center of the Maya. After the 12th century, war caused its decline, and by the time of the Spanish Conquistadors it was abandoned.
The Maya were fascinated with Astronomy, Astrology, Mathematics, and Architecture. They did not just keep track of time. They were obsessed with it. Theirs is the most accurate calendar ever conceived. This extremely accurate calendar was a prerequisite for their aforementioned interests as well as for agriculture. There is an ancient observatory as well as numerous other buildings scattered in the site. The main feature of the ruins is the 75 foot tall Pyramid of Kukulcan (one of their main Gods, which is a serpent God). They revered certain animals, namely the eagle, jaguar, and the snake. The Pyramid is aligned in such a way that twice a year during the Spring and Fall Equinox the rising and setting sun sets a perfect shadow of repeating isosceles triangles of shadow and darkness along the sides of the pyramid, resembling the slithering body of a snake. The bottom of each side of the pyramid has a large statue of a snake’s head, so the shadows form its body. It is quite astonishing.
The pyramid of Kukulcan
Jaguar decorating motifs and statues are found throughout many rooms. As far as the eagle, it is depicted as an acoustic tribute. If one stands directly in front of the center of the pyramid on any of its four faces and claps one’s hand, the echo of that clap returns not as a simple clap, but as the cry of an eagle. Everyone else that’s not standing at that precise location, however, hears only a clap. This is very intriguing. I kept clapping and moving side to side. I heard a clap, then an eagle, and then a clap.
What Is A Stone Carving Of A Persian Doing In The Yucatan?
The very first room that our guide showed us was a room that was meant to pictographically depict the world. From top to bottom, and side to side the entire room was filled with stone carvings of mostly human images. I was astonished when the guide pointed out the different people. From left to right, first was a Persian, then a Roman, then an African, then an Arab. Above were images of North American natives. All around were images of the Mayans and the other tribes of Central America. In the very center was the image of a Viking and his ship. They must have revered the Vikings as demigods, judging by the way they were depicted in this room. Their dragon shaped ships must have played a factor in this. The Viking carving was at the center of the room, with all other cultures facing directly at the Viking. The carving also included a Viking ship next to him, with the serpentine motif of the Viking dragon well emphasized, as it extended outward from the ship and surrounded the figure of the Viking warrior.
I was amazed to see that the Mayans obviously had contact with all these people somehow. The question is, did these people travel to America and meet the Mayans, or did the Mayans travel there? There is no historical mention of all these civilizations traveling to America (except the Vikings) in the first millennium, so it is probably more likely that a group of Mayans traveled to Asia. The Maya were not sea fairing people, however. Either way, this is an enigma.
Regardless, I could not believe that I was looking at a stone frieze of a Persian in a sacred room of a Native American city in the middle of a jungle in the Yucatan. There was no mistaking that carving. He was clearly Persian, as depicted by the ancient Persian clothing and spear. He looked also a little like the Immortals guarding the stairway in Persepolis. The Mayans obviously knew about the importance of the Persians in the world. The fame of the Persians (as well as some other cultures) had reached the New World almost a millennium prior to Columbus. Is this not amazing?
Now that I’ve dispensed the pleasantries, I shall move on to the horrors.
Religion’s Ugly Face Is Omni-Present
I presented a few of the beautiful and marvelous substances of the Mayan civilization. However, no civilization is without its malice. Malice is no stranger to the American Natives, including the Aztecs, Incas, Mayas, and others.
The ruins have an awe and magnificence about them. However, I am reminded of the horrors they presented long ago, in addition to their beauty. I am reminded of the purpose that most of these structures served, and the events that took place there. Almost all of these ruins served a religious purpose. In the case of the Mayans (and even more so with the Aztecs), human sacrifice played a central role in their religion.
The setting of the sun was seen as an event that corresponded to the sun battling the forces of the dark during the evening. As the sun arose the next day, they believed that it was weakened by its battle, and that it required nourishment. That nourishment was in the form of blood, of course.
They also believed that in order to keep their Gods happy, human offerings would have to be made. Offerings to Kukulcan (the Snake God) were made to him atop a pyramid, whereby a priest ripped the victim’s heart out, and the body was tossed down. Offerings to Chaac (the Rain God) were made by drugging teenaged girls, placing heavy jewelry and clothing on them, and then making them jump down a well. Infant girls born on certain Holy days were handed by the parents to the priests and were raised by the priests for the sole purpose of sacrificing them when they got older. From infancy, these special children were taught day in and day out about the Rain God and how some day they would have the honor of going to meet him.
The Rain God, Chaac
The Snake God, Kukulcan
Many of the victims were prisoners of war. No doubt these sacrifices served mainly a religious purpose. They probably also served a political purpose. Human sacrifices propagated psychological terror against their enemies as well as their own masses. Such brutality terrorized all into submission and acceptance of the power of the ruling elites and religious class.
Does this sound familiar? The ruling class, in conjunction with the religious class oppressed the commoners via terrorism and violence. This was of course justified by invoking imaginary Gods, and using superstition to instill fear. It is religion’s nature to create a lie, and then conveniently allow the keepers of that lie (the religious authorities) to control and oppress the population without the population ever being the wiser.
Many victims were obviously sacrificed involuntarily, but there were also many voluntary victims. For them, it was an honor to be sacrificed to these Gods. It goes to show the grip that religion and superstition can have on a brainwashed society.
If one is to be sacrificed to the Gods, why not make a whole production out of the event? Let’s play ball…
The Cosmic World Cup
Long before the modern World Cup of football, the Mesoamericans had their own special game of football, mixed with some basketball and lacrosse. The rules were similar to the modern game of football, in that any part of the body except the hands could be used to hit the ball. They held special rackets and bats in their hands with which they could hit the ball. The difference was that the goal was a ring only slightly larger than a Basketball ring. This ring is positioned on a wall, about 25 feet high, and rotated 90 degrees so that the axis is parallel to the ground (instead of perpendicular to the ground as with modern Basketball). Also, a 5-foot high wall sits in front of the main wall and under the goal, so that a direct angle of approach is not possible from the player to the goal. The ball must be bounced off of the wall in order to enter the goal.
Imagine the difficulty of the task of scoring a goal! The players cannot use their hands. Plus, the goal is directed sideways (not up and down like a basketball hoop), making an arcing drop impossible. Plus, the goal is very high up. Plus, the lower wall prevents a direct shot, and any successful goal must be via a ricochet.
The Mayan version of Football / Basketball was played in this court. Note the high ring, its position, and the decorative wall in front of the main wall.
They played the game with a rubber ball. In fact, this is the first occasion of the use of rubber in all history. Rubber is a major resource of the Yucatan, harvested from the indigenous trees. When the Europeans first observed the Mayan rubber ball, they were both appalled and intrigued. Most thought that the ball was evil and the creation of the Devil, since it bounced and this was unnatural to them. In the typical manner that religion instills ignorance, they called that which they did not understand as the work of the Devil. Eventually, they imported the ball to Spain, which also awed the native Europeans. The rest of the world then grasped the concept of rubber and the ball.
The game was symbolic of the Cosmos. The ball (about 4 to 10 lbs, and made of rubber) was symbolic for the sun and the court was symbolic for the Galaxy. The game would end when the first goal was made, giving whole new meaning to the term “sudden death.” Even so, since it was close to impossible to score a goal, the game could last anywhere from hours to days.
Once the goal was made, the winning team was overcome with jubilation, as a special treat awaited the captain of the winning team. He would have the special honor of being decapitated by the captain of the losing team, and have his head held up for all to see.
There is some controversy as to who did the decapitating and who was decapitated. Most Westerners hold that it was the captain of the winning team that decapitated the losing captain. There is no direct evidence for this, and it is only from the stone carvings that it is inferred that one captain decapitated the other. It is only an assumption that the winner killed the loser.
The Mayans themselves believe that the loser decapitated the winner. Again, there is no direct evidence for this, other than the oral traditions handed down. Given the character and beliefs of the Mayan civilization, however, I find that it is more likely that the winner is the one that got decapitated.
One would expect that the winning captain would decapitate the losing captain, but that carries with it the assumption that their goal was life and avoidance of death. However, that was not the ultimate goal. The goal was to have the honor of being the chosen one to meet the Gods that day and rejoice in the afterlife. Furthermore, they wanted to offer their best to their Gods. The Gods wanted their winners, not their losers. In either case, both teams voluntarily participated in the game, meaning that they were all prepared for the event of being sacrificed to the Gods. There was tremendous clout to be a participant in the game.
Remember the 5-foot high walls that are immediately in front of the main walls, thereby blocking a clear shot at the hoop? They served another purpose as well. On both sides of the court, onto these stone walls is a long displayed carving of the final act of the game. There are seven players of one team on one side, facing the seven players of the opposite team on the other side. In the very center, directly underneath each goal, are the captains. The loser has a knife in one hand, and the severed head of the winning captain in the other. Seven sprouts of blood are dripping downwards from that severed head, merging into seven snakes. Opposite him is the decapitated body of the winning captain. Seven sprouts of blood are emerging upwards from that body, emerging into seven snakes and vines of flowers, fertilizing the world. The blood of the winning captain is seen as life giving, and rejuvenating for their society.
The relief on the lower wall of the court. The losing captain has beheaded the winning captain, holding his head in his left hand. In his right hand is a knife. Opposite him is the decapitated body of the captain. Seven streams of blood are squirting from both the head and the body, continuing on as snakes and flowers.
Incidentally, the number seven is a motif for this game. The pyramid of Kukulcan has seven triangles of light on its side at the equinox, resembling the twisting body of a serpent. Seven players, seven sprouts of blood from both the body and the neck, flowing into seven snakes and flowers. The best part is the following, again involving acoustics. If one claps one’s hands in the field standing between the two main walls, one will hear the echo of that clap bounce off the walls exactly seven times.
As intriguing as I found the game, I could not help but be reminded of a similar concept in our modern world: the concept of the Shaheed and suicide bomber.
The difference between those ball players and suicide bombers is that at least those ball players did not seek to destroy and kill everyone around them, including women and children. That task is unique to the suicide bombers and Jihadis.
The similarity between them is that they both look forward to death. They both want to be sacrificed. They both rejoice to meet an afterlife. What has brainwashed, corrupted, and lied to both of these men? What has made them choose death over life? The answer is religion.
The afterlife is the main lie that is the pillar of every religion. Without it, almost every religion would fail. It provides the false promise that makes almost any act seem palatable. The number of people that would choose death over life would drop astronomically if the belief in the afterlife did not delude them. This delusion has facilitated submission to countless acts and ideas of cruelty, abuse, and needless deaths.
Fortunately, modern, loving, and peaceful ones have replaced that type of pagan, barbaric religion. Have they really?