Olmec Cultures

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Chase 2/9/2015

Olmec religion is very interesting because they considered springs and caves to be portals to the spirit realm. Their towns were constructed near natural features and some buildings were erected to look like volcanoes and mountains nearby. The Olmecs had shamans and priests who were believed to have spiritual connections to the spirit realm to intervene for the benefit of the people. The shamans entered trances by using hallucinogenic drugs and through bloodletting through many parts of the body by piercing their skin. By such rituals, they were said to become naguals, or animal sprits/companions, in this state they could enter the spirit realm. Most believe that infants were sacrificed to the gods who were believed to control rain. The most important symbol in Olmec religion was the jaguar. The jaguar was considered a powerful predator and a being that could scape earth, water, and air. According to the Olmecs some women bred with the jaguars to create were-jaguars who were the ancestors of all Olmecs. The nagual was most commonly a jaguar. The rulers were considered to be as gods and supreme deities or descended by gods.

source:http://www.olmec.info/olmec-religion/

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