WARM UP
2/27/15
Who has the power during human sacrifices?
Priests, rulers or the person being sacrificed?
Explain in 2-3 sen.
Key Vocabulary

 Nacom – priest in
charge of cutting out
hearts
 Chac – elderly priests
who held sacrifices
down (named after the
god of rain)
 Bloodletting – the act
of releasing blood from
a sacrifice
 Cenote – underwater
cave
Key Facts

 Sacrifice was both of humans and animals.
 Crocodiles, iguanas, dogs, peccaries, jaguars, and
turkeys.
 Human sacrifice is the most meaningful.
 Slaves, criminals, orphans and children.
 Purpose was to appease or please the gods.
 Sacrifices were made by cutting out of the heart,
drowning, beating, mutilation, and arrow
sacrifices.
 Sacrifices were often painted blue.
Creation Myth

 Human beings were created to satisfy the gods'
desire to be worshiped.
 Humans’ ability to think and reason frightened the
gods so much that they limited humans' ability to
see.
 Humans would always have to rely on the gods.
 The Maya believed they must sacrifice human
beings so that the hearts and blood of the victims
could be used to feed the gods.
Heart Sacrifice

 “the victim was stripped and …led to an altar-like
stone. Arms and legs held by priests and the nacom
would use a flint knife to remove the still beating
heart. Skinned by lower rank priests, the skin would
be worn in a dance. If the victim had been an
extraordinary prize his body would be butchered
and eaten by nobles and spectators.”
Arrow Sacrifice

 “The victim was… bound to a stake. The priest cut
the victim and let his blood. He anointed the idols
with the blood. Dancers with bows and arrows shot
at his heart.”
Well Sacrifice

 “…performed at Chichen Itza. Men, women and
children were flung into the hole (well or cinote) as
sacrifices to the gods. If the victim was still alive after
a while they were considered to be spared by the
gods and were rescued. This sacrifice was performed
during drought to bring rain to the people. Young
men were most commonly sacrificed in this ritual
because they represented strength and power.”
How to write a narrative

Narrative Structure

ZOOM I
N
Focus on
ONE event
On your sticky note:
AND
 One thing you found interesting
about human sacrifice rituals in
Central America.
EXIT TICKET

 Your name