Authors of the article: Olga Li, Yakov Fayans Reading time: 10 minutes
Unusual Sexual Traditions of the Ancient Maya
The Maya were an indigenous people who once inhabited the northern part of South America. They developed an efficient agricultural system and had deep knowledge in astronomy. They built monumental temple structures but did not use the wheel or draft animals. The existence of the Maya civilization came to an end with the arrival of Spanish conquerors. In this article, we will discuss the sexual life of this remarkable people and their unusual traditions.
Sex and its veneration
Sexuality was openly depicted in various forms of Maya art, including ceramics, murals, and carvings, which sometimes portrayed erotic scenes. These depictions suggest that sexuality was not a taboo subject but rather an integral part of daily life and religious rituals. In Maya mythology and their deities, sexual connotations were often present, emphasizing the central role of sexuality in their cultural and religious narratives. Gods and goddesses were frequently associated with fertility and reproduction, indicating a reverence for sexual acts as vital components of life and spirituality.
Festival of sex and a maturity test
The sexual relationships of the Maya civilization were considered sacred and accompanied by special rituals. In Maya culture, there were even festivals dedicated to sex. During these festivals, young men underwent a special ritual called “initiation into manhood,” which symbolized their transition into adulthood and becoming men. This ritual involved the transfer of knowledge and skills from older generations to the younger:
they were taught sexual techniques, methods of arousing women, various positions, and movements during intercourse.
The learning process was overseen by priests, and practical lessons were held with experienced priestesses, all under the supervision of the same priests. The priests played a key role in these rituals, often demonstrating their physical endurance and strength. Some rituals required them to engage in prolonged sexual acts with women from the tribe, symbolizing not only their personal power but also the favor of the gods. This ritual can be seen as a kind of blessing.
After completing their theoretical and practical training, the young men had to pass something like an exam, confirming their right to be called men and their readiness for sexual life. In Maya culture, the word “man” signified sexual maturity and readiness for love.
Prostitutes
In the Maya civilization, prostitution was an important part of urban life, especially in major trading and political centers like Tikal and Palenque. Prostitution played a significant role in the economy, influencing trade and social structures. The cost of a prostitute’s services ranged from eight to ten cacao beans, which were also used as currency. In comparison, a rabbit cost ten cacao beans, while a slave was worth about one hundred.
Prostitutes in Maya society held a low social status but were an integral part of the urban ecosystem. Their services were in demand by both merchants and travelers, as well as members of the elite. These women may have been drawn to the profession for economic reasons or due to social marginalization.
In some cases, prostitution had ritual significance. Ritual sexual acts performed by priestesses in temples could serve as offerings to the gods for ensuring fertility or successful hunting. This connects the practice of prostitution with religious ceremonies characteristic of ancient civilizations. The regulation of prostitution among the Maya was informal. Unlike ancient Greece and Rome, where there were laws regulating prostitution, there is no evidence of such norms among the Maya. It is possible that control was exercised through social norms and traditions.
The economic significance of prostitution was considerable, especially in the context of extensive trade networks. Prostitutes could be part of a broader economic system, facilitating interactions between various social classes. Additionally, the intersection of prostitution and slavery added complexity to the social dynamics, as slave owners could exploit the sexual services of slaves for additional profit.
Homosexuality
The Maya allowed homosexual relationships. In the 15th century, the aristocrats of the Maya living on the Yucatán Peninsula believed that homosexuality was more beneficial for their adolescent sons than sex with women. Parents provided their growing sons with male slaves who were meant to satisfy their sexual needs. Homosexuality was also permitted among adult Maya, though less frequently. Homosexuality was acknowledged in ancient times as well. In the Nah Tunich cave (Guatemala), where many burials of the Maya from the late classical and post-classical periods (250–900 AD) are found, images made with black charcoal have been discovered. The images include homosexual scenes.
Sexual status of men
False accusations or the spreading of rumors that someone had repeatedly slept with men were equivalent to accusations of prostitution and were punished by whipping, forced labor, castration, and fines. It was not the same-sex relations themselves that were condemned, but rather the behavior of a man who found himself in a “feminine” position. According to the few facts that have survived to this day, a man who penetrated another man anally could expect great respect from his brothers and peers. The number of “sexually submissive” men was for the Maya men akin to the scalping of enemies. The more, the higher the sexual status. For example, among the Sioux Indians, a man who did not have three scalps had no moral right to marry. Something similar was true among the Maya Indians, except that instead of scalps, something lower was counted…
Self-harm and the rite of threading.
The main feature of the ancient Maya was self-harm, sometimes in the most literal sense of the word. Blood, along with semen, was considered a sacred liquid by the Maya, so the noblest and strongest individuals shed it on the altars of the gods by piercing their ears, lips, and tongues with shark teeth, cactus needles, or obsidian knives. However, the most bizarre ritual was the bloodletting from the penis.
Inquisitor Diego de Landa Calderón wrote with disgust in his book “Report on the Affairs in Yucatán” from 1566:
“Some cut pieces of flesh from certain parts of their bodies or pierced each other’s throats… others cut off the excess from the male member so that it remained like two hanging ears… On other occasions, they performed an indecent and painful sacrifice… those who had greatly sinned and wanted to receive their due gathered in the temple, lined up in order, and engaged with one another: then each pierced his manhood on the side, and then pierced another. Through the openings they made, they threaded a long cord, and thus all remained together bound and strung onto one another. With the blood flowing from these wounds, they anointed all parts of the statue of the demon; he who did the most was considered the bravest.”
According to the beliefs of the Maya, the soul and life energy resided in the blood. Being “strung” together on a cord soaked in their shared blood symbolized unity with their divine ancestors. Notably, this rite later became practiced among women as well, who pierced their tongues.
Conclusion
The openness of sexual life and unusual traditions of the ancient Maya suggest that they did not consider sex something taboo. On the contrary, they respected it as part of a fertility cult and even something greater.
When it comes to orgies, there are too few sources to say that they were a frequent and commonplace phenomenon among the Maya, as in many other ancient cultures. However, it is likely that orgies did take place, as sex was revered among the ancient Maya and associated with fertility. In many ancient cultures of other civilizations, orgies were held specifically to appease the gods and ensure a good harvest. The festival of sex also gives us a reason to suggest that orgies were conducted, as public sexual activities of leaders and priestesses were not considered shameful and were seen as normal.
Q&A
- Did the ancient Maya revere sex?
Yes, they considered sex an integral part of daily life and religious rituals.
- Were there orgies at the festival of sex?
Possibly, as the public sexual activities of leaders and priestesses at this festival were considered normal.
- Did the ancient Maya use the services of prostitutes?
Yes. Prostitutes were called “guatepol” and cost between eight to ten cacao beans.
- Was homosexuality present among the Maya?
Yes, homosexuality existed among the ancient Maya, but it was more common among adolescents than adult men. It was also depicted in rock art.
- Were orgies considered a frequent and commonplace phenomenon? No, they were not common, but it is likely that they did occur among the ancient Maya.
Sources
https://disgustingmen.com/history/seks-u-majya/
https://podrobnosti.ua/129913-kultura-strasti-drevnej-tsivilizatsii-majj a.html
https://www.google.com/amp/s/history.wikireading.ru/amp145934 https://www.rumatorg.ru/seks-drevnih-amerikanskih-civilizaciy https://www.google.com/amp/s/life.ru/p/1322689/amp
Pictures
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Djb1NdTb20QtNvmOXo_nLez 4FzbAVvEW