Gov't/Leadership
Government was an important part of
the Maya civilization. Priests ran
governments, ruled cities, led ceremonies and
performed many other jobs.
Maya priest were also the rulers of cities. Everyday they would perform services after climbing the hundreds of temple steps. Maya priests might have caused the collapse of the Maya when the lesser Mayas (farmers) got tired of having to obey the commands of the priests and abandoned the cities.
One of the most famous Maya rulers was Lord Pacal. He became a king at the age of 6 and legally took the throne at 12. Pacal was a priest/ruler/king for about 50 years before he died. When his tomb was discovered he was wearing a jade death mask.
Only priest/rulers/kings were allowed to be in the temples. The
priests lived in huge places. Priests in small villages were the
godfathers and assisted in births, they led ceremonies like 'ch'acak' to
please the gods.
The Spanish Colonization improved the Mayan's government a little.
