Human Sacrifice, Offered by Noble Families Not Slaves
Ancient People Who Believed in Resurrection After Death Saw Death as 'Glory'
The ancient Maya civilization, which originated in the central region of Mexico, was notorious for its culture of human sacrifice, where humans were offered as sacrifices. Until now, scientists have speculated that the Maya civilization selectively sacrificed the weak, such as slaves, women, and children.
However, a recent DNA analysis of the bones of children sacrificed in Maya rituals revealed a surprising twist. The sacrificed children were all genetically closely related, and rather than being of low status, they were likely children from noble families.
DNA Analysis Reveals... 'Twins' Found
The American popular science magazine Science reported on the 12th (local time) that the DNA analysis results of a "bone grave" discovered in a cave near the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza have been revealed. This bone grave was discovered in 1967, and at that time, the bones of 64 children sacrificed as human offerings were found in a mass, causing shock.
The ancient Maya civilization is known to have had a culture of human sacrifice. Until now, academia speculated that those sacrificed were children, women, and others, but there was no clear physical evidence. However, advances in technology have made it possible to uncover accurate information about the sacrificed children.
Contrary to popular belief, DNA analysis showed that all the sacrificed children were boys. Furthermore, they were genetically close relatives or siblings, including twins. It was also analyzed that they consumed similar nutrients before death. In other words, the deceased children likely lived together and were "prepared" for the sacrificial ritual that would come someday.
Ancient People Who Believed in Human Resurrection, Death May Have Been an Honor
Above all, scientists focused on the fact that among the sacrificial victims were twin boys. Twins are considered sacred in Maya culture and are sometimes treated as heroes. In a Maya myth, twins are beings who repeatedly undergo death and resurrection, and ancient Maya people believed that if twins were buried underground, they would be resurrected the following spring.
Regarding this, Maya researchers told Science, "In Maya culture, human sacrifice may not have been a sacrifice but a respected ritual or an honor given only to certain families." This completely overturns the previous assumption that slaves, war captives, and women were used as sacrificial offerings.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that the Maya civilization's human sacrifice rituals occurred repeatedly between the 6th and 10th centuries. The ancient Maya, who believed in human death and resurrection, appear to have conducted these rituals periodically to reenact the "resurrection of twins."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
