Hypothesis: Mayan Warfare versus Religious Practices

The Maya civilization was well-known for their religious practices and warfare. Mayan cities, including Uxmal, were constructed accordingly to the needs of religious practices, spiritual sanctuaries, and sacred temples. Since the civilization held a strong and conventional beliefs, the ruins of Uxmal (as well as other Mayan cities) suggests that the constructions within the site were built with defensive systems for the possibility of a battle to defend their beliefs. Not only that Uxmal was once enclosed by a defensive wall systems, but also each of the programs were constructed on elevated landscape or platforms for further defenses. Moreover, in a smaller scale of the defensive systems, the threshold and the entry to any of the edifice were constructed in a very narrow and limited manner. These applications of the defensive designs also define the importance of the programs, and reveal the hierarchy among each of the edifices in Uxmal.

On the contrary, many of the Mayan artifacts suggested differently that the Mayan edifices and programs were built specifically for religious practices with less concerns for their defenses. Artifacts, including the weapons, revealed the importance of the symbolism and the meaning of the weapons. Mayans believed that their gods and spirits would being them the victory. The carved stone weapon (as shown in the diagram) “suggests a zoomorph, perhaps a snake in its long, sinuous shape;” and the simplicity of the design is also apparent. This particular artifact shows the design that is inspired by an animal and may perhaps held a certain symbolism or significance, while also provides the user with a simple design to serve its functions. However, since carved stone weapons were used both in daily life, for sacrifices and as a weapon, these purposes suggest that the edifices and the programs were designed not only to hold symbolism and imagery for their gods but also for defensive purposes and daily rituals.