Sacrifice in Maya culture

Maya mythology and religion
Maize god and Itzamna
Practices
Bloodletting Death rituals Dedication rituals Pilgrimage Priesthood Sacrifice (Humans)
Places
Cave sites Middleworld Xibalba
Deities and beings
Death gods Jaguar gods Mams Acat Ah Peku Ah-Muzen-Cab Awilix Bacab Cabaguil Camazotz Chaac Chin Cizin Chirakan-Ixmucane Ek Chuaj Goddess I God L Hero Twins Howler monkey gods Huay Chivo Hun Hunahpu Huracan Itzamna Ixchel Ixpiyacoc Ixtab K'awiil Kinich Ahau Kukulkan Maize god Maximón Moon goddess Nagual Tzacol Q'uq'umatz Vision Serpent Voltan Vucub Caquix Wayob Xbaquiyalo Xmucane and Xpiacoc Xmulzencab Xquic Xtabay Yopaat Yum Kaax Zipacna
Texts
Annals of the Cakchiquels Popol Vuh Ritual of the Bacabs Título C'oyoi Título de Totonicapán
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Sacrifice was a religious activity in Maya culture, involving the killing of humans or animals, or bloodletting by members of the community, in rituals superintended by priests. Sacrifice has been a feature of almost all pre-modern societies at some stage of their development and for broadly the same reason: to propitiate or fulfill a perceived obligation towards the gods.