Mysteries of the Ancient World For many centuries people have been fascinated
by ancient cultures and treasures. During the last two centuries the science of
archeology and modern inventions allowed people to get inside of the Egyptian
and Mayan pyramids and discover the treasures of Egyptian pharaohs and Mayan
rulers. Most of what we know about Egypt we owe to the pyramids.
Thanks to Egyptian belief in the afterlife we can now find out about the
civilization that existed nearly five thousand years ago. Egyptian culture is
not the only culture that left us its heritage in pyramids. In America we find
pyramids build by civilizations of Olmec and Maya about 7th century CE. These
pyramids had different purposes and usage then the ones in Egypt but they stand
as memorials to ancient civilizations as well. Egyptian people believed in life
after death.
One of the way pharaohs prepared themselves for the afterlife journey was by
building a pyramid and putting there all their belongings and riches. Egyptian
people believed that pharaoh is the closest person to the God and treated him
accordingly. That is the reason for Egyptian tombs being full with the golden
jewelry, precious stones and art objects. Most of the time art objects were not
considered a treasury but they played their particular role in religious
rituals.
Jars were holding food and drinks for pharaoh’s journey, so he would not get
hungry and would have food and drinks to offer to the Gods. The figurative
sculptures were suppose to accompany Ka ( spiritual entity) in its lonely stay
or serve as a twin for the mummy. If something happens to the mummy the ka could
use the sculpture of the pharaoh for the revelation. As well as for Egyptians
religion was an everyday concern for many of the Maya, whether the dynastic
ruler, the zealous priest, or the humble believer.
Maya has an extensive religion structure which we can not know in details.
Chac and Itzamna are the most famous gods of Mayan culture. Hunahpu and
Xbalanque are among the most interesting mythical characters. One of the most
crucial gods was Tlaloc, who was worshiped in various guises by the culture of
Teotihuacan, the Toltec of Tula, and later Aztecs.
The Maya received the cult of Tlaloc during the 4th century more or less. The
Cauac Monster, also known as the Witz monster, is a dominant supernatural
concept in Maya religion, as are caves, cenotes, and other holy places (Maya
Civilization pars. 6). The Maya built shrines, temples, and pyramids in honor of
their gods, as well as to their kings, who ruled by all-encompassing concept of
Divine power.
Most of Mayan pyramids are temples to the gods, not the burial tombs as in
Egypt. Even though Maya sometimes buried there their rulers they always put the
temple on the top of the pyramid. Egyptians had temples near the pyramid or
right next to it for the ceremonial services, but it never was placed on top of
the structure.
Also buildings in both cultures have a lot in common in their visual
characteristics they are different structures. Egyptian pyramids originally had
smooth equal sides meeting on the top in the perfect apex. Mayan pyramids look
like one huge stairway towards the sky. It reminds of earliest Egyptian
structures-mastabas, where one layer of stones was put onto another creating the
effect of pyramid. Also The Tikal Temple on Great Plaza was originally plastered
white.
