The Mayans believed in gods for every aspect of life, ranging from natural elements, stars and planets, numbers, crops, days of the calendar and periods of time. There were said to be thirteen gods of thirteen heavens and nine gods for nine underworlds.
Mayan’s believed in the creation story of Popol Vuh. This stated that the world was created from nothingness by the will of the gods. The creation of mankind came first from the fashioning of mud and wood, however when this failed the thirteen gods created humanity from maize in which they created artisans to make sculptures etc to please the gods.
In their beliefs they held that the gods had the power to bring elemental harm or help, they could heal the sick, make their crops plentiful and ensure the health and safety of their civilisation if they were honoured regularly. In opposite to this, if the gods were angry they would naturally bring drought, famine and general disaster to their people.
To stave off any anger of the gods, the rituals commenced included opening a wound and allowing blood to drip onto paper, this would be burnt in ceremonial fires in which the priests were believed had the ability to see the spirits in the smoke.
A strong belief in the afterlife was held, in which, they believed that with the death of a king or nobleman their spirits would be one with the gods where they would reside in the sky forever.