T.H. Mayan & Aztec Theatre

Historical Context

4 great civilizations of Latin & South America
- Olmec (1200 BC-300 BC)
- Mayan (c. 1000 BC to 1521 AD) – 1521 is post-Columbian contact
- Aztec (1200-1521 AD)
- Inca (1200-1533 AD)

Mayan Empire (c. 1000 BC-1697 AD)

Located in Yucatan peninsula in modern Mexico, Guatemala
Mayan civilization peaked between 900-1200 AD
Declined from thereafter for unknown reasons
First contact w/ the Spanish in 1502
Spanish conquest took a while because the Mayan state was scattered/fractured at this point

Mysterious decline of the Mayan

Possible cause: environmental degredation
- Production of lime plaster for Mayan temples required massive deforestation

Mayan Perofrmance: Papantla Voladores

Voladores = “Flyers”
Mayan rain ceremony-dance
Performed since pre-Columbus
Tradition used to invoke rain during extended drought
In Guatemala papantla voladores is still celebrated in Joyabaj (15 August), Chichicastenango (17-23 January) and Cubulco (26 July)

Mayan Performance: Rabinal Achi

Plot: a rebel warrior [Queché Warrior] is captured by the Rabinal Warrior and presented to the ruler of an enemy city-state [Chief Five-Rain] and faces his certain death at court. In the 4 acts of the drama, the warrior dances a dance of death, makes psychically connects to his homeland and demands a series of requests from his captors to reconcile his death far from his homeland. His final request to dance with the virgin, Precious Emerald, is granted. They dance and then he submits to his own blood sacrifice.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT:

One of the few surviving indigenous performance that dates before colonization (Pre-Columbian period)
The text was reconstructed from oral tradition in the 1800s
Based on historical incidents in the Mayan civilization in the 14th/15th centuries
Still performed today in Guatemala; staged in front of church–focus is NOT on the audience

Aztec Empire

1200 to 1521 AD
1325 Aztec capital is forunded Tenochtitlan
Created a military empire by conquering neighboring tribes
Religious belief focused on human sacrifice (apocolypse prevention by sustaining the gods, 5 gods)

Aztec Ritual – evidence

Diego Duran was a Dominican friar (b. 1537-1588)
He wrote “The History of the Indies of New Spain,” which includes his eyewitness accounts of Aztec ritual
He was fluent in Nahuatl, the Aztec language and was able to communicate directly w/ the Aztecs
He developed a close association w/ the ppl he was attempting to convert, which led him to criticize the clergy & conquistadors who never learned the natives’ language
Duran’s writings provided eyewitness accounts of Aztec ritual (including human sacrifice)

Antichrist Plays (throwback to medieval theatre)

The play usually opens w/ Antichrist’s dramatic entrance, often presented as a false messiah figure claiming to be the true Christ returned. He appears in magnificent attire to parody Christ’s majesty:

Aztec Mythology (this will be important for Friday’s reading)