The Mayan Priesthood

The priesthood in its entirety was the keeper of knowledge concerning the deities and the cult. They had an extensive education of the calendars, astrology, divination, and prophecy. Because of their ability to interpret the heavens and the calendar, they had control of the populace’s daily activities. They knew when to plant and harvest, when to expect the dry or rainy season, etc. Their understanding of time, seasons, and cycles was immense. This intervention has created spaces for the priests and their daily activities in the Mayan society. The front, open public space and platform is for the Mayan rituals. Priests schedule these rituals and sacrifices according to alignments of the calendars and their history. These ceremonies were public events for the Mayan residents to observe the priesthood presenting but not necessarily participate in. The priests who performed the sacrifices (called “ah nakom”) were on the bottom of the priesthood hierarchy. They led the captive from a chamber below and to the calendar on the platform to do the dirty work. This public space is also where the town priest (called “ah k’in”) would announce their prophecy and instruction to the public. Following the platform around the side, you’re led to the first interior, private space for the priesthood. This room is a place for gathering and meeting. Each priest had his own role, and it’s in this space that they were able to collaborate with one another and their studies. This is where the oracle priest (called “chilan”) would inform the town priest on his predictions, to direct the town priest toward his next public instruction. This is also a place of teaching and learning. The high priest of the region (called “ahua cari mai”) taught the novices how to read and interpret the calendar and how to write in Mayan script. The following room is a place for the priests’ writings. Knowing their history heavily influenced the priests and their prophecy, for the Maya believed if you understand the cycles of the past, you can understand the cycles of today and of tomorrow. The high priests recorded their history in Mayan script for the next generations to study and learn from. This second private space serves as the home for these writings and a space from studying them. When exiting these internal spaces, you’re led to an enclosed corridor that opens up into another open platform in the rear of the intervention. This is a private space for the priests to study the heavens. The Maya are famous for their intensive study of astrology; it is how they developed their accurate, advanced calendars. The priests are able to observe and chart the movement of the planets in their private, rear, exterior space.