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Wu Zetian was the first female emperor of China and one of the most influential women of Chinese history. She was born a...
05/07/2023

Wu Zetian was the first female emperor of China and one of the most influential women of Chinese history. She was born around 624 CE to a high-ranking and wealthy family. Her father had strong ties to the court and he even encouraged his daughter to pursue a proper education (unlike many women from that age). The moment Emperor Taizong met Wu (she was 14 at the time), he made her carin (a title defining a fifth-rank concubine). He also called her "Mei-Niang", meaning "beautiful" or "charming". Despite her status as a concubine, Wu expressed her desire to pursue art and music at the palace and continuing her education this way and not giving up on her interests managed to set her apart from all the other girls from the imperial harem. Actually, she would go on to become the emperor's secretary. Spending time with Taizong this way and handling a number of important documents, she learned about state affairs, something that would become useful later on. When Taizong died in 649, as concubine, Wu was supposed to shave her head and become a nun, but she had earned the affection of Taizong's son, Li Zhi (who would become Emperor Gaozong). When Li Zhi came to Ganye Temple in honor of his father, Wu seduced him and asked him to take her back to court. Gaozong's wife, Empress Wang, had not managed to give her husband any children, a fact which had led to a rift between the spouses. Eventually, Wu was brought back to the royal court and became the zhaoyi (second concubine). She gave birth to two sons, Li Hong and Li Xian, but, after she gave birth to a daughter in 654, the baby was found strangled in the crib. Wu passed the blame on Empress Wang claiming she had been jealous of the child and additionally accused the empress and her mother of witchcraft. Once Empress Wang and Consort Xiao left the royal court, Wu ordered that they be eliminated. There are many speculations about this particular context. A number of historians even uphold the idea that Wu took her daughter's life herself to turn the situation in her favor so that she might become the empress of the Tang dynasty. As soon as her position of power was secured, Wu dispatched a secret police to terminate those who did not support her. Later on, Emperor Gaozong suffered a stroke. Due to the ordeal, he went blind, so a number of significant administrative duties were passed to the empress. However, the emperor was worried in regard to Wu's rising power and influence. He got Shangguan Yi to depose the empress, but she quickly found out and had Yi taken care of. In 683, Emperor Gaozong passed away and Wu arranged everything so that the throne could go to Li Hong, her eldest son. He became Emperor Zhongzong. Still, his wife, Lady Wei, attempted to rise as the new empress. Wu would not have it, so she replaced her eldest son as emperor with Li Dan, her younger son. He became Emperor Ruizong, but, truly, he was no more than a puppet in Wu's hands. In 690, she made him abdicate and rose to power herself. She named herself "Zetian" meaning "Ruler of the Sky" and "Wu" meaning "military" or "weapon". Also, she commissioned statues of the Maitreya Buddha (a Buddhist sage saving suffering beings) to be made in her image and called herself the additional name of Empress Shengsen (meaning "Holy Spirit"). Empress Wu had become a living Buddha. Still, despite the excesses, she was loved and respected by women and commoners. Wu considered those in need and started to lower taxes for farmers and the poor. She built irrigation systems and supported women's rights. Women obtained positions in the courts and scholars were hired to write about the achievements of notable and influential women. Women got more freedoms and possibilities to express themselves and were encouraged to actively take part in politics. Wu became respected and loved by the people. In private, even though she was no longer young, the empress had an affair with the fake monk Huaiyi and, then, with the infamous Zhang brothers. However, Wu got so caught up in her affair with the Zhang brothers that she began to neglect her responsibilities. At this point, the members of the court had had enough. In 705, they ordered that the brothers be eliminated and Wu was forced to abdicate her position as empress. With Zhongzong restored as emperor, the Zhou dynasty came to an end and Wu remained in retirement for the final months of her life until she passed away at 80 or 81 years old. Even though her reign brought many improvements to the lives of her subjects, as a result of the many scandals related to her, her tombstone was left blank. Also, no contemporary images of the empress exist, all known depictions of her having been made later on. Most nations have had at least one significant female leader, but such women were rarely chosen to occupy the ruling position. Usually, they came to power by default or stealth, with a king having no sons or a queen taking power from her incompetent husband. Despite the initial context, it has been harder for women to rule effectively than for men, especially during the earlier ages of history. This was a time when rulers were, first of all, military leaders and power had to be claimed by force. Reigning female rulers had to rule like men and, while doing so, they were not exempt from criticism. Still, out of all these female rulers, Empress Wu stands out. Leaving aside all controversy, she wielded such high amount of power and managed to become the only woman to rule in her own right throughout over 3,000 years of Chinese history. Had she been a man, none of her actions would have sparked any criticism. All Chinese emperors had used violence to gain power and keep it, they had all had concubines, etc. Therefore, there is significant doubt in regard to whether Wu was truly guilty of many of the wicked things history or male historians have attributed to her.

The cochineal is a scale insect belonging to the suborder Sternorrhyncha. Such insects constitute the source from which ...
05/07/2023

The cochineal is a scale insect belonging to the suborder Sternorrhyncha. Such insects constitute the source from which the natural dye carmine is made. Native to the tropical and subtropical areas of South America, these insects live on cacti from the genus Opuntia. This is due to the fact that they feed on the plant's nutrients and moisture. Carmine is a red food coloring derived from cochineal bugs. Carmine and cochineal extract have a long history, having been used as dye for cosmetics, food, textiles and pharmaceuticals. The historical use of cochineal bugs goes back to the time of the Aztecs, a civilization employing them to make red dye. This small, cactus-dwelling insect produces a pigment of vibrant red color. As a result, cochineals began to be harvested by Indigenous people. The practice continued for thousands of years and, with the Spanish invasion of the Americas, the cochineal reached its new status as a globally traded commodity. Native to Latin America, in the present day, these insects are mainly farmed in Peru. Yearly, millions of cochineal insects are harvested for the purpose of making the coloring. The red dye is extracted from the females of the species, over 70,000 such beetles being required for the production of a mere 1 pound of dye. The pigment is obtained by crushing the bugs in order to isolate the carminic acid from their shells (known as E120, CI75470, cochineal, crimson lake or carminic acid). So the beetles gathered from prickly pear cacti are dried and crushed and the pigment resulting from the entire process is used to dye textiles, cosmetics (like blush, lipstick and eyeshadow) and drugs. As far as food coloring goes, carmine and cochineal extract constitute excellent natural colorants with great light, heat and acid stability. The shade options cover a wide range from pink and bright red up to lavender, orange and dark violet. This is why cochineals have been used for centuries. Before the use of microscopes, there was a time when European scientists would argue whether cochineals were plants, animals or minerals. Obviously, in the present day, it is clearly known that cochineals are female scale insects having an oval shape around 0.2 inches long. The exact source of the red dye obtained from the dried bodies of female cochineals is actually cochineal hemolymph. This is the insect equivalent of blood and the reason it is red is because it is full of carminic acid. On food and cosmetic labels, cochineal can be listed as carmine, E120, Natural Red 4, cochineal, carmine or carminic acid. In cosmetics like blush, nailpolish, lipstick and others, carmine is used for the red and purple hues, but companies producing food and beverages also employ it to give color to their products. In the case of textiles, cochineal led to the production of red fabrics presenting undisputed sheen and intensity. While the reds made cochineal famous, it can also produce shades like pink, purple, peach and even black. In what concerns its use in the case of food, cochineal is neither toxic nor carcinogenic, but, in isolated cases, it can present the potential to induce allergic reactions. In making beverages, while it lends no flavor or aroma, cochineal is used by craft distillers for bright red drinks. Cochineal is also present in strawberry ice cream, fruit juices and pretty much anything dyed red. The best example is that of red velvet cake. While some imagine that red velvet cake might be some kind of chocolate cake with additional red food coloring, it is not. While the cake does include some cocoa powder in its composition, it is not a chocolate cake and the secret ingredient to the cake's amazing color is linked to cochineal. As a side note, in terms of color additives, Red Dye 40 can also be encountered in dairy products such as flavored milk, yogurt, ice cream (like strawberry ice cream), popsicles and puddings, savory sauces, cakes and other desserts, dips, fruit juices, etc. While it is produced from coal (and no bugs), it can pose greater health risks. Back to topic, over time, cochineal got related to red M&Ms, some Starbucks products (like the Starbucks Strawberry Frappuccino), Skittles, Tropicana Ruby Red Grapefruit juice, Dannon Boysenberry yogurt, Campari and others. Some of these have given up the use of cochineal. For example, around 2005, Campari stopped using cochineal as a color additive and turned to food coloring. While the use of cochineal extract for foods and pharmaceuticals is allowed in the US, there are individuals who dislike the idea that the color additive comes from insects. Even so, many people across the globe have been consuming insects in one form or another over their entire lives. And this is not something new or shocking. Even Cleopatra made her lipstick from crushed ants and beetles, so it is not surprising that brands like Maybelline, NYX and Mac have employed carmine for their products (while some colors remained, indeed, carmine-free). Now that all of that has been explained... Bon appétit!

Over the centuries, a lot of gold, many priceless artifacts and other valuables have been lost to the depths as ships tr...
04/07/2023

Over the centuries, a lot of gold, many priceless artifacts and other valuables have been lost to the depths as ships transporting such precious cargo have sunken beneath the waves. The promise of treasure and fame linked to treasure hunts meant to find lost shipwrecks has, in time, sparked a real obsession for explorers and adventurers. Despite the numerous searches, a number of valuable shipwrecks remain lost at sea, eluding those coveting their riches. The most famous ship of the sort is the Santa Maria, Columbus's flagship. Upon first setting sail on the 3rd of August 1492, Columbus took three ships along for the voyage: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. But, in 1492, on Christmas Eve, the helmsman decided to go take a nap and let an inexperienced cabin boy take over. The boy ended up sailing Columbus's flagship directly into the closest coral reef, in the region off of present-day Haiti. Receiving help from local natives, the crewmen emptied the cargo and provisions, but the ship sank and it is thought that it has become buried under sediment. In this way, the Santa Maria remains the Holy Grail of lost ships, as its exact location is a complete mystery. Then, there is the HMS Endeavour, the ship of the famous British explorer Captain James Cook from his first voyage of discovery. He used it to explore the Pacific Ocean between 1768 and 1771. After Cook's first voyage and upon his return home, the ship was sold. The private buyer had no interest in the ship's heritage and even renamed it Lord Sandwich. Later on, during the American Revolution, the ship was chartered by the British Royal Navy so that it could carry troops to New England. Moored in Newport Harbor (in Rhode Island, in 1778), the ship was used along with others to form a blockade against the French and sacrificed. Historians have an idea about where the ship's remains should be, but, regardless, they have not yet been found. While ships like these are sought after because of their historical importance, other lost ships are sought after for financial gain. Such is the case of Flor de la Mar, a sunken ship thought to have had a precious cargo of diamonds, gold and other riches at the time when it sank. The ship was laden with valuables after the conquest of Malacca, but it sank when it set sail to return to Portugal. It got caught in a fierce storm near the Strait of Malacca and it is believed that it was carrying about 2.6 billion US dollars worth of treasure when it was taken by the waves. A ship that would be worth tens or hundreds of millions of US dollars if found is the Merchant Royal, a trade ship full of gold and silver that sank in 1641. Upon returning to London after a trading trip in the West Indies, the ship sprang a leak. Also being over its recommended load and in poor condition, when it encountered an area of rough water, the pumps broke down and the ship sank right off Land's End, in Cornwall. Thought to hold about 1.5 billion US dollars worth of gold, the Merchant Royal has been nicknamed the "El Dorado of the Seas". In 2019, the ship's anchor was found. Despite this fact, the location of the ship continues to elude explorers and treasure hunters. Other lost ships include the Bonhomme Richard (one of the most searched for lost ships on the globe), Le Griffon (a French ship nicknamed the "Holy Grail of Great Lake shipwrecks" which operated in America's Great Lakes in the 1760s), the USS Cyclops (one of the most famous victims of the Bermuda Triangle which disappeared while sailing from Rio de Janeiro to Baltimore) and the USS Indianapolis (a Portland-class heavy cruiser belonging to the US Navy that sank in 1945). Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project and Australian National Maritime Museum have been searching for the remains of the HMS Endeavour in the waters around Newport. After some success, in the early part of 2022, they claimed to have found the ship, but more research remained necessary to determine exactly what they had found. With help from advanced unmanned deep-sea submarines, the Endeavour may have been found, thus offering hope that, with the evolution of technology, all these lost ships could one day be found.

The Aztecs regarded the jaguar (ocelotl) as "the king (tlatoani) of animals". They also worshipped the quetzal, hummingb...
04/07/2023

The Aztecs regarded the jaguar (ocelotl) as "the king (tlatoani) of animals". They also worshipped the quetzal, hummingbirds and the golden eagle, these beings playing important parts in the context of Aztec customs and constituting vital aspects in that respective worldview. The jaguar was thought to be the animal double of Tezcatlipoca (a god believed to hold great powers and acting as protector for rulers and sorcerers). Tezcatlipoca was one of the four main Aztec gods along with Quetzalcoatl, Huitzilopochtli and Xipe Totec, all regarded as the children of Ometecuhtli. As the god of magic, Tezcatlipoca was also linked to the festival of Toxcatl. Huitzilopochtli was the Aztec sun and war god, usually depicted in the form of a hummingbird or an eagle. Also one of the main Aztec deities, he was additionally referred to as "Xiuhpilli" ("Turquoise Prince") or "Totec" ("Our Lord"). Considered the strongest of all Aztec gods, Huitzilopochtli was also linked to sacrifice. When Aztecs emerged from a war victorious, they would revere the god for his help, favor and support. Upon having experienced defeat in combat, they would perform sacrifices in order to attract benevolence from their most feared and respected deity. Coatlicue was the Aztec earth goddess. Symbolizing the earth in a double aspect, as both creator and destroyer, she was mother to gods and mortals. Related to the legend discussing the founding of Tenochtitlan (the Aztec capital), an eagle holding a snake in its beak while standing on a cactus plant (nopal) has become one of the most famous symbols of Mexico. This emblem dates back to the point when the Aztecs came to the Valley of Mexico. The sister city of the Aztec capital was Tlatelolco. The city was known for the fact that, during battle, women would join the fighting by striking at the enemy and even shooting arrows. The women of Tlatelolco also used to tuck up their skirts and wear the regalia of war. At the National Anthropology Museum from Mexico City, there is a worldwide famous artifact dating back to the end of the Mesoamerican Postclassic Period. The famous sculpture is known as the "Aztec sun stone" or "Piedra del Sol" in Spanish. Modern studies suggest that the stone was carved between 1502 and 1521, however, the exact date when it was made remains unknown. What is known is the fact that the monolith was buried in the Zocalo (Mexico City's main square) not long after the Spanish conquest and was rediscovered on the 17th of December 1790, when repairs were being made to the Mexico City Cathedral. In the central disc, the name glyph of the Aztec ruler Montezuma II dates the sculpture to his reign. Montezuma II was the ninth Emperor of the Aztec Empire, his reign taking place from 1502 or 1503 until 1520. Additionally, at times, the 16th century monolithic sculpture is also referred to as the "Aztec Calendar Stone". Remaining one of the most famous Aztec monuments and including various mythological and astrological signs and figures, in the distant past, Aztec priests made use of the calendar for keeping track of the main festival dates.

In the context of Norse mythology, cats are linked to Freyja, the goddess of love, fertility, beauty and good fortune, a...
03/07/2023

In the context of Norse mythology, cats are linked to Freyja, the goddess of love, fertility, beauty and good fortune, among other things. She was said to travel in a chariot pulled by cats and, under the influence of this association, cats ended up in becoming a usual wedding gift among Vikings. Even more so, Norsemen preferred women who liked cats due to the belief that such fondness was likely to increase the possibility of building and enjoying a happy marriage. In a different part of the globe, Mafdet was an Ancient Egyptian goddess depicted wearing a cheetah skin and believed to protect against snake bites and scorpion stings. She was worshipped during the First Dynasty, being prominent during the reign of Pharaoh Den. She was also a deification of legal justice and of capital punishment. During the New Kingdom, Mafdet ruled over the judgment hall in Duat. There, the pharaoh's enemies were decapitated using Mafdet's claw. During the Second Dynasty, the worship of Bastet increased. She was worshipped at Bubastis as a cat goddess representing a gentler aspect. In Asia, white cats are believed to bring good luck. For example, in general, the Japanese maneki-neko ("the beckoning cat") is depicted as white and statues of it are used to attract good luck and prosperity. At the Celts, Ceridwen was the goddess of rebirth, transformation and inspiration. Also as a goddess of wisdom, she employed white cats as messengers to carry out her bidding on Earth. This led to white cats being associated with purity. In Russia, white cats are believed to attract money. Owning a white cat in this country is supposed to bring financial wealth to the household. Plus, there is an old Russian myth which talks about seven fairies arriving at the birth of a princess. They had come to bestow gifts upon the child. Thus, they offered a brave spirit, a loyal heart, beauty, grace, the possibility to wear only silver and velvet, two big and shining emeralds and the ability to make friends all over the world. However, the fairies were young and lacked experience. Therefore, instead of placing the gifts near the child, they placed them in the basket close by where the cat was sleeping. In this way, the cat became the beneficiary. This cat was the Russian Blue. Different cat breeds have their own features and stories. Another example is the Bengal cat breed which was obtained in 1963, in the United States. It is scientifically called "Prionailurus bengalensis". Such cats are beautiful, intelligent and they love to play in water. Also, black cats do not attract bad luck. Instead, according to beliefs, they have the highest power in terms of eliminating negative energies. Additionally, black cats can bring their owners a state of calm, inspiration and magic abilities. After all, in the distant past, all cats used to be revered as living gods. Studies have shown that black cats get adopted much harder than other cats. This is influenced by the color of their fur which many believe brings bad luck due to prejudice. These are simple superstitions, black cats being just as loving as other felines. The 27th of October is the celebration day of black cats. An interesting note is the fact that historical figures like Alexander the Great, Napoleon and Genghis Khan suffered from what is known as ailurophobia. This is the term which defines the persistent and excessive fear of cats. Leaving this aspect aside, one Irish legend claims that a witch can possess the ability to turn into a cat and back. However, the witch can only do this eight times. Upon the ninth transformation, reverting back to human form would become impossible. In such a case, the witch would have to begin the final life in permanent cat form. This legend is provided as explanation for the origin of the saying stating that: "A cat has nine lives".

Even though it is called "bumblebee jasper", this colored semi-precious stone does not contain quartz. So, technically, ...
03/07/2023

Even though it is called "bumblebee jasper", this colored semi-precious stone does not contain quartz. So, technically, it is not a jasper. In terms of composition, bumblebee jasper is said to come from a mixture of minerals like hematite, anhydrite, volcanic ash, sulphur, ilmenite and arsenic. Therefore, the stone can be relatively toxic if not sealed. This spectacular stone displaying a superb yellow and black coloration forms in fumaroles. These are cracks in the ground where gas and steam can escape, but, as it contains sulphur and arsenic, the stone is included on the toxic crystals list. Tumbled bumblebee jasper can be safer to handle than raw, but washing one's hands is also recommended after having handled such stones for additional precaution. The formation of this stone as a process starts with an active volcano. This required condition for formation makes bumblebee jasper quite a rare stone. The vivid colors present on stones of this sort come from arsenic and sulphur compounds. While safe to wear, such stones should be kept out of the reach of small children because they might be tempted to put it in their mouth. In fact, bumblebee jasper is sulfidic travertine that has a calcite base which makes it both soft as well as brilliant colored. Because of the arsenic present in its composition, bumblebee jasper is not for placing in water. This carbonate-rich stone was first discovered during the 1990s, on the island of Java, Indonesia. Bumblebee jasper is soft (its Mohs hardness being around 5 or below) and, as a rare limestone, it mainly includes calcite and volcanic ash in its composition. The stone's white/gray color is calcite, while the black layers are pyrite and the superb bright yellow/orange color is realgar. In terms of beliefs, while, due to its toxic composition, such stones cannot be cleansed in water, they are linked to the idea that they have the power to raise the level of self-esteem and enhance creativity. It is also said that bumblebee jasper can ease stress and release the individual from worries related to the opinions of others.

In Ancient Egypt, Set (or Seth) was the god of storms, disorder, deserts, violence and foreigners. His major cult center...
25/06/2023

In Ancient Egypt, Set (or Seth) was the god of storms, disorder, deserts, violence and foreigners. His major cult center was at Ombos and his symbols included the Was-sceptre and the Set animal. With his wife Nephthys, he fathered Anubis. Also, he had had relationships with Anat and Astarte (two foreign goddesses), from which the crocodile deity Maga was born. As for what scholars call the "Set animal", this is an enigmatic being which is not identified with any known animal. Set's mythology presents an important episode which refers to the god's conflict with Horus (his brother or nephew) for the throne of Egypt. The violent confrontation had at its core the decision of who should inherit the kingship. The conflict between Horus and Set is a key episode of Ancient Egyptian mythology. In this context, Horus is intimately abused by Set. The act is meant to degrade Horus as a rival, but it also reflects Set's force, potency and indiscriminate sexuality. After being asked by Set to agree to in*******se, Horus accepts but only on the condition of Set sharing some of his strength. In the old Egyptian beliefs, semen was regarded as a very potent and highly dangerous substance, similar to poison, so Horus was at risk. Indeed, Set's semen makes him ill upon entering his body. Later on, Isis retaliates, returning the favor. She places Horus' semen on lettuce leaves which are included in Set's food. Unknowingly, he eats them and he is defeated. The semen results in a golden disk appearing on his forehead. As he had been impregnated with the seed of his rival, the result is the birth of the disk. An account from later on states how Thoth takes the disk and places it on his own head. However, the earlier accounts mentioned how Thoth himself had been the result of the anomalous birth. Within the context of the conflict between Set and Horus, the two opponents inflict mutilations upon each other. On one hand, Horus injures or steals Set's testicles, while on the other, Set tears out one or both of Horus' eyes. This means the loss of virility and strength for Horus. As he was a sky god, in the case of Horus, his right eye was the Sun, while his left eye was the Moon. The theft of the eye of Horus meant the darkening of the Moon (either during its cycle or during eclipses). The restoration of the eye of Horus refers to the return of the Moon to full brightness. Also, this is the return of kingship to Horus. Near the conclusion of their feud, Set's testicles are also restored, both gods becoming whole again. As a reconciled combatant, Set had a vital role. His positive aspect intervenes when accompanying Ra on his barque. In this context, Set is the one who repels Apophis, the major opponent of light. Backed by the story of the rivalry between Horus and Set, in Ancient Egypt, lettuce was regarded as an aphrodisiac. Even Min, the Egyptian god of fertility was thought to have been very fond of lettuce. Even more so, a relief from the funerary temple of Ramses III presents the pharaoh taking part in a harvest festival organized in honor of Min. For the occasion, a procession of priests carried large stalks of lettuce as ph***ic symbols. Another famous relief in reference to the rivalry story between Set and Horus shows the two gods binding the plants of Upper and Lower Egypt.

The pantheon defines all deities of a certain people or religion and, in the times of old, it was believed that gods had...
24/06/2023

The pantheon defines all deities of a certain people or religion and, in the times of old, it was believed that gods had dominion over the heavens and the world. Even though they could be benevolent towards humans, they could also become malevolent or vengeful when disrespected or upset. To honor their deities, humans built numerous temples and engaged in activities like rituals, ceremonies, offerings, or**es and sacrifices (in certain instances, even human sacrifices) to attract good fortune and favor from the gods. In specific contexts and circumstances, gaining favor from the gods could even be linked to the stability and continuing existence of the state as for the Mayan Empire. In this context, the reigning king and queen engaged in the royal blood-letting ritual. All performed in honor of the gods, the priests would bring a bowl paired with a needle and a serrated string. Such a set was presented to both the king and queen who had to pierce their tongue, ear lobe or intimate areas in a specific way that blood would flow along the string and into the bowl. The priests would then take the bowls to offer the collected drops of royal blood to the gods. The Mayan belief system emphasized the importance of blood potency. It was believed that if royal blood lacked the appropriate potency required to please the gods, difficult times would soon follow. Difficult times implied natural disasters, famine, drought, disease, etc. Any incidents of the sort were regarded as consequences of the gods being displeased. And, as the royal blood offered in the context of the blood-letting ritual had lacked the potency to please them, the rulers had to be executed and replaced. To the Mayans, blood was of core importance, being the very force of life. According to local beliefs, in the beginning of time, even the gods had sacrificed their own blood so that the world could come into existence. Therefore, ever since the moment of creation, humans owed blood to the gods. The human sacrifices constituted a method of repaying this debt and it was believed that the best blood was that of noblemen. For this reason, the noblemen of the enemies were a prized catch in wars and it was customary for the Maya to maintain a form of farms of noblemen that would be offered as sacrifices on various ceremonial occasions. While Mayans remain infamous for their human sacrifice practices, their rulers engaged in the blood-letting ritual as a form of sacrifice on themselves. They pierced the soft parts of their bodies (most often the tongue or the ge****ls) by employing sharp objects like obsidian, shark teeth or stingray spines. The royal blood would ultimately be collected on paper made out of bark and burned so that the smoke could convey the message to the gods. All claiming authority had to take part in these ceremonies. The pain endured by royals established a connection between them and the realms beyond revealing that they had unique spiritual powers. Rituals of this sort were usually performed on occasions when the ruler asked for a sacrifice from the people such as the willingness to go to war. To make the point, the ruler would engage in the blood-letting ritual organized before large gatherings of people in significant locations such as a plaza or the top of a pyramid. Additionally, this expressed the fact that rulers were at the same time careful in regard to initializing risky ventures.

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