Museum Exhibit: Ancient Maya Ritual & Statecraft

The exhibit should contain information regarding the use of public ritual by Maya city-state leaders and its relationship with these leaders use of state religion as a means of social control. These leaders would not only perform rituals on others but also perform particularly painful blood rituals on themselves in view of the public and this exhibit would explore what kind of effect these public rituals had on the minds of the general population. Coupling the information provided, the exhibit should also present such ritual tools as obsidian blades and stingray spines.