How were the religion and the government of the Maya interconnected?
The religion and the government of the Maya were deeply interconnected. In Maya civilization, religion and government were inseparable, with the king serving as an intermediary between the people and the gods. The Maya believed that their king was divinely appointed and possessed supernatural powers that enabled him to communicate with the gods. As such, the king played a crucial role in religious rituals and ceremonies.
Moreover, the Maya religion was used to justify the political power of the rulers. The king was seen as a divine figure who had been chosen by the gods to rule, and his authority was reinforced by his ability to communicate with the supernatural realm. Maya rulers also used religious iconography to establish their legitimacy, often commissioning elaborate carvings and murals that depicted their connections to the gods.
Overall, the religion and government of the Maya were intertwined and the rulers used religion as a means of maintaining their power and legitimacy.