Olmec religion facts for kids
The religion of the Olmec people was very important. It shaped how society worked and how people saw the world in ancient Mesoamerica. Many experts believe that ideas from Olmec religion influenced almost all later cultures before Christopher Columbus arrived.
The Olmecs were the first major civilization in Mesoamerica. They lived on what is now Mexico's southern Gulf Coast. Their culture started before 1200 BCE and lasted until about 400 BCE. Around that time, their main city, La Venta, was left empty. The Olmec culture is often called a "mother culture" because it had a big impact on later groups.
We don't have direct writings about Olmec religious beliefs. This is different from the Maya, who had books like the Popol Vuh, or the Aztecs, who had many picture books and stories from Spanish explorers. So, archaeologists have to use other ways to figure out what the Olmecs believed. They look at Olmec art and symbols. They also compare Olmec beliefs to later cultures that are better understood. Sometimes, they even compare them to modern-day beliefs of indigenous peoples of the Americas.
These methods assume that Olmec beliefs continued into later Mesoamerican cultures and even to today. This idea is called the Continuity Hypothesis. Using these methods, researchers have found several different gods or powerful beings. These beings often have features of various animals.
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Leaders, Priests, and Shamans
Olmec religious activities were led by rulers, full-time priests, and shamans. The rulers seemed to be the most important religious figures. Their connection to the Olmec gods or powerful beings gave them the right to rule. There is also a lot of evidence for shamans in Olmec discoveries, especially in special "transformation figures" that show people changing into animals.
Exploring Olmec Gods and Spirits
Exactly what the Olmecs believed about their gods is still a bit of a mystery. Early researchers thought their religion focused on a jaguar god. But in the 1970s, Peter David Joralemon suggested there were 8 different powerful beings. Over time, his ideas became the main way to understand the Olmec gods. However, studying Olmec religion is still new, so any list of their gods is not complete or final.
The names and details of these powerful beings are not fully known. It's confusing because these beings are often defined by certain symbols. The same symbol might appear on different gods. For example, "flame eyebrows" can be seen on both the Olmec Dragon and the Bird Monster. Also, a "cleft head" (a split in the head) appears on five of the gods shown on Las Limas Monument 1. To make it even more confusing, Joralemon thought many of these gods had different forms.
Even though we use the word "god," none of these gods or powerful beings show any signs of being male or female.
The Olmec Dragon (Earth Monster)
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Courtesy George & Audrey DeLange, used with permission.
This powerful being is also called the Earth Monster. It has flame eyebrows, a big nose, and a split tongue. When you look at it from the front, its eyes are shaped like a trough. From the side, they look like an "L." Its fangs are very noticeable, often shaped like an upside-down "U." Along with the Bird Monster, the Olmec Dragon is one of the most common powerful beings shown in Olmec art.
The Maize God (Corn Deity)
Another likely powerful being is known by the plants growing from its split head. A carved tool from Veracruz shows this Maize God. It has corn growing from its head and also has the snarling face often linked to the jaguar. This god is rarely shown with a full body.
Rain Spirit and Were-Jaguar
Experts disagree about whether the Rain Spirit and the were-jaguar are one god or two separate ones. Some researchers believe they are the same. Others, like Joralemon, think they are different, even if the Rain Spirit has features similar to the were-jaguar. More recent studies question the idea of "were-jaguar" images. They suggest that the images might instead show baby corn kernels, which were very important to the Olmecs.
The Banded-Eye God
This mysterious god is named for the thin band that goes across its face and through its almond-shaped eye. Like many other powerful beings, the Banded-eye God has a split head and a mouth that turns down. Unlike others, this god is only known from its side view. Images of it are often found on bowls from the Valley of Mexico. It is also one of the five powerful beings shown on Las Limas Monument 1 from the Olmec heartland.
Some experts believe the Banded-eye God is not a separate god but another form of the Maize God.
The Feathered Serpent
The feathered (or plumed) serpent is seen all over Mesoamerica in ancient art. It first appears in Olmec times, though experts disagree on how important it was to the Olmecs. The Feathered Serpent is shown on La Venta Stele 19 (seen above) and in a cave painting in Juxtlahuaca. These places are hundreds of miles apart.
Fish or Shark Monster
This monster is usually recognized by its shark tooth. Its head also has a crescent-shaped eye and a small lower jaw. When shown with a full body, like on San Lorenzo Monument 58 or the Young Lord figurine, this human-like Fish Monster also has crossed bands, a fin on its back, and a split tail. This powerful being's side view is shown on the left leg of Las Limas Monument 1.
The Idea of Continuing Beliefs
In 1929, Marshall Howard Saville first suggested that Olmec gods were early versions of later Mesoamerican gods. He connected were-jaguar axes to the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca. This idea was expanded by Miguel Covarrubias in his 1957 book, Indian Art of Mexico and Central America. He famously drew a family tree showing 19 later Mesoamerican rain gods as descendants of a "jaguar masked" god. The idea that Olmec beliefs continued into later cultures is generally accepted by experts today. However, how much the Olmecs influenced later cultures is still discussed.
Images for kids
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Figure from Las Limas Monument 1
See also
In Spanish: Mitología olmeca para niños
