The Ritual Human Sacrifice In Mayan Life
The ballgarne existed as an integral facet of Mayan life. Ritual and mythic expression are inextricably linked to the execution of the ballgarne and are deeply integrated into Mayan culture. Ritual human sacrifice is an unquestionable aspect related to the ballgarne. The Maya rulers extended the outcome of the ballgarne by satisfYing th., deities through ritual and human sacrifice (Scarborough 1991 :143). The Quiche book of epic narratives, named the Papal Vuh, is a recurring theme in the exploration of the ballgarne and it is deeply weighted with mythic significance. A discussion of how this theme is interwoven into the political, social, and religious aspects of Mayan society wil! be addressed in this paper. The architecture of the ballcourt