Mayan sacrifice

Mayan rulers were considered intermediaries between Mayan people and gods. Rulers were considered semi-divine themselves.
Jaguar (symbol of night) was the figure of the Mayan underworld, majority of Maya including rulers went to this underworld.
Heaven was reserved for these sacrificed and people that died in child birth.
human sacrifice was a religious practice for
-incourage fertility
-demonstrate piety
-propriatate the gods
Bloodletting/ sacrifice was seen as the only way of making contact with the gods. If neglect these rituals there would be cosmic disorder and chaos.

The chosen sacrifice is painted blue, laid down on a block upon a large temple, priest then rips heart out and places it in a pot with fire.
Sacrifice is then decapitated and the head and body are thrown down the steps of the temple and taken away to be buried.