Portal to mythical Mayan underworld found in Mexico

[n2doc]

By Miguel Angel Gutierrez



MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican archeologists have discovered a maze of stone temples in underground caves, some submerged in water and containing human bones, which ancient Mayans believed was a portal where dead souls entered the underworld.

Clad in scuba gear and edging through narrow tunnels, researchers discovered the stone ruins of eleven sacred temples and what could be the remains of human sacrifices at the site in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Archeologists say Mayans believed the underground complex of water-filled caves leading into dry chambers -- including an underground road stretching some 330 feet -- was the path to a mythical underworld, known as Xibalba.

According to an ancient Mayan scripture, the Popol Vuh, the route was filled with obstacles, including rivers filled with scorpions, blood and pus and houses shrouded in darkness or swarming with shrieking bats, Guillermo de Anda, one of the lead investigators at the site, said on Thursday.

The souls of the dead followed a mythical dog who could see at night, de Anda said.

more:

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN1442474520080815

[Judi Lynn]

1. Hoping to hear more about this. Thanks for being the one who broke the news here.

There's so much ahead to discover in Latin America about the civilizations which existed before the more powerful European conquerors arrived.

Everything recovered is a triumph.

[bklyncowgirl]

2. Interesting, thanks for posting. nt

[ForrestGump]

3. I've done an awful lot of diving,

but I'm not sure I'd be in a hurry to submerge in a river said to be filled with scorpions, blood and pus (or, indeed, most American inland waterways that'd fit that comparison).

There's always something left to discover, or uncover. Indiana Jones lives.

[yellowdogintexas]

4. Cave Diving is a combination of two high risk activities, and is very dangerous

I would not do it, in the cleanest purest water available.


I would however snorkel a cenote in a heartbeat.

[BrotherBuzz]

9. Some even added sky diving and rock climbing to that list of thrills

I know an outfit in California that pioneered some expeditions down to Mexico for the specific thrill of jumping into the the deep holes (cenotes) in the jungle. The group had expert rock climbers and professional movie stunt jumpers. I suspect it is rather mundane today, and anyone can do it if they pony up the dough, but back then it was pretty exotic.

I personally would have difficulty swimming in a cenote when I can't see the bottom, but that's just me.

[yellowdogintexas]

10. the cenotes that you get to snorkel in the Mayan Riviera are very clear and not

very deep. Check out the websites for Tulum and the surrounding area. That looks like major league fun. I wear a snorkel vest anyway. I suck at swimming LOL

[nashville_brook]

5. here's another story: Mayans Used Young Boys Not Female Virgins As Offerings

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/249248

It looks like the Mayans didn't sacrifice them virgin girls to appease the Gods, instead they threw young boys and men into watery caverns. That finding could change the history books.
Before the 1500's the Maya were the leaders of Central America and Mexico building palaces and temples throughout the jungles until the Spanish conquest.

In the city of Chichen Itza Mayan priests offered human sacrifices to the gods for rain and a bountiful crop. The sacrificed children were thrown into "cenotes", sinkhole caves. The Mayans believed that this source of water was also the entrance into the underworld.

Archaeologist Guillermo de Anda from the University of Yucatan has been able to piece together 127 bodies that were found at the bottom of one of the most sacred caves in Chichten Itza. His findings show that 80 percent of the boys appear to have been young boys between the ages of 3 and 11. The other 20 percent were most adult men.

[Marrah_G]

6. Awesome! I hope they do a documentary on it.

[elehhhhna]

7. Are these caves part of the Cenotes?

[a la izquierda]

8. Hmm, interesting.

I'm actually IN Mexico and watching the news daily. Haven't heard a thing about this until today. Pretty much all the Mexican government is interested in is the PEMEX reform.
Thanks for posting.

[AzDar]

11. So very, very, COOL.

:hi: