{"id":2302,"date":"2013-01-08T14:34:59","date_gmt":"2013-01-08T19:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/?page_id=2302"},"modified":"2025-06-27T11:45:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T15:45:03","slug":"maya-society","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/maya\/maya-society\/","title":{"rendered":"Maya Society"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Maya society was broken into a class structure with four main levels: the nobility (Maya\u00a0<em>almehenob<\/em>), the priesthood (Maya\u00a0<em>ahkinob<\/em>), the common people (Maya\u00a0<em>ah chembal uinieol<\/em>), and the slaves (Maya\u00a0<em>ppencatob<\/em>). The most powerful of the ruling elite was known as the\u00a0<em>halach uinic<\/em>, or \u201ctrue man.\u201d As a hereditary position the office of\u00a0<em>halach uinic<\/em>\u00a0was typically passed from father to eldest son; however, when no suitable heir was available, a council of lords would elect a successor from the noble families. The\u00a0<em>halach uinic\u00a0<\/em>held ultimate political authority over the city-state and saw to civil affairs as well as relations with neighboring cities. So revered was the\u00a0<em>halach uinic<\/em>\u00a0that a cloth was held in front of his face to prevent anyone from speaking to him directly. From the wealthy Maya aristocracy that made up the nobility, the<em>\u00a0halach uinic <\/em>selected provincial managers known as\u00a0<em>batabs<\/em>. These\u00a0<em>batabs<\/em>\u00a0would assist the\u00a0<em>halach uinic<\/em>\u00a0in controlling local governments and would oversee the village\u2019s required payment of tributes (taxes) to the hierarchy.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kt-sc2302_a532a4-03 .kt-sc-imgcol, .kt-sc2302_a532a4-03 .kt-sc-textcol{min-height:450px;}.kt-sc2302_a532a4-03 .kt-split-content-img{max-height:450px;}.kt-sc2302_a532a4-03 .kt-sc-textcol{padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:24px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-sc2302_a532a4-03 .kt-sc-imgcol, .kt-sc2302_a532a4-03 .kt-sc-textcol{min-height:450px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"aligncenter kt-sc2302_a532a4-03 wp-block-kadence-splitcontent\"><div class=\"kt-split-content-wrap kt-sc-media-side-left\" style=\"grid-template-columns:50% auto\"><div class=\"kt-sc-imgcol kt-sc-imgcol-bg-contain kt-sc-img-side-left\"><figure class=\"kt-split-content-media-image wp-image-container-3125\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2013\/01\/Palace4-hm1172-e1697125716706.jpg\" alt=\"Tall, narrow ceramic vase with painted design of a figure with headdress, necklace, and jaguar leggings.\" width=\"393\" height=\"599\" class=\"kt-split-content-img wp-image-3125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2013\/01\/Palace4-hm1172-e1697125716706.jpg 393w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2013\/01\/Palace4-hm1172-e1697125716706-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2013\/01\/Palace4-hm1172-e1697125716706-92x140.jpg 92w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2013\/01\/Palace4-hm1172-e1697125716706-317x483.jpg 317w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,393px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"kt-sc-textcol kt-sc-text-valign-center kt-sc-text-halign-center\"><div class=\"kt-sc-innter-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\"><strong>Maya Cylinder Vase<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>AD 600 &#8211; 900<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This cylinder vase depicts palace scene featuring a Maya ruler seated on a throne. He wears an elaborate headdress, ear ornaments, a plaque with attachments, and jaguar leggings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>William P Palmer, III Collection<br><a href=\"https:\/\/hudsonmuseum.catalogaccess.com\/objects\/818\">HM1172<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-2302_7608a1-a0 .kt-block-spacer{height:20px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-2302_7608a1-a0 .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-2302_7608a1-a0\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kt-sc2302_7608a1-a0 .kt-sc-imgcol, .kt-sc2302_7608a1-a0 .kt-sc-textcol{min-height:450px;}.kt-sc2302_7608a1-a0 .kt-split-content-img{max-height:450px;}.kt-sc2302_7608a1-a0 .kt-sc-textcol{padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:24px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-sc2302_7608a1-a0 .kt-sc-imgcol, .kt-sc2302_7608a1-a0 .kt-sc-textcol{min-height:450px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"aligncenter kt-sc2302_7608a1-a0 wp-block-kadence-splitcontent\"><div class=\"kt-split-content-wrap kt-sc-media-side-left\" style=\"grid-template-columns:50% auto\"><div class=\"kt-sc-imgcol kt-sc-imgcol-bg-contain kt-sc-img-side-left\"><figure class=\"kt-split-content-media-image wp-image-container-24045\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2025\/06\/HM4627.jpg\" alt=\"Very small ceramic figurine with spondylus shell ornament, an artificially modeled nose, and a deformed head with a sloping forehead. He also has marks representing facial scarification or painting. His clothing is tattered.\" width=\"638\" height=\"850\" class=\"kt-split-content-img wp-image-24045\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2025\/06\/HM4627.jpg 638w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2025\/06\/HM4627-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2025\/06\/HM4627-105x140.jpg 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2025\/06\/HM4627-317x422.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2025\/06\/HM4627-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/275\/2025\/06\/HM4627-634x845.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,638px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"kt-sc-textcol kt-sc-text-valign-center kt-sc-text-halign-center\"><div class=\"kt-sc-innter-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\"><strong>Maya Ceramic Figurine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>AD 600 &#8211; 900<br>Jaina Island<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This figurine depicts a Maya noble, indicated by his spondylus shell neck ornamentation and elongated head shape &#8211; the result of cranial deformation.  His tattered clothing may be the result of a sacrificial ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>William P Palmer, III Collection<br><a href=\"https:\/\/hudsonmuseum.catalogaccess.com\/objects\/4679\">HM4627<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Maya priests also held a very high position in society. In addition to their religious duties, priests were able administrators, scholars, astronomers, and mathematicians. The priesthood carried equal if not more influence among the Mayas as the nobility. Feared and respected for their knowledge, priests were able to take advantage of the superstitions of the masses. Among the duties of priesthood was human sacrifice, a rite performed by a priest called the&nbsp;<em>nacom<\/em>. Elected for life, the&nbsp;<em>nacom<\/em>&nbsp;would cut out the heart of sacrificial victims during ceremonies. Other religious practices included the study of divination, interpreting spiritual omens, and predicting future events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the bottom of society sat the commoners and slaves. Subject to the rule of the nobles and priests, commoners spent their days as farmers, architects, stonecutters, and carpenters, laboring to support not only themselves but also those above them. Maya architectural splendor can be credited to the commoners. The prevalent use of slaves emerged during the Post-classic era of the Maya. Slaves included prisoners of war, orphans, the children of those already enslaved, and those caught stealing. As law and custom allowed for the possible redemption or paid release of a slave, the length of one\u2019s servitude was not necessarily for life. In general however, slaves were at the mercy of their owners, and were considered too lowly to be given a place in society\u2019s class rank.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maya society was broken into a class structure with four main levels: the nobility (Maya\u00a0almehenob), the priesthood (Maya\u00a0ahkinob), the common people (Maya\u00a0ah chembal uinieol), and the slaves (Maya\u00a0ppencatob). The most powerful of the ruling elite was known as the\u00a0halach uinic, or \u201ctrue man.\u201d As a hereditary position the office of\u00a0halach uinic\u00a0was typically passed from father [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":559,"featured_media":0,"parent":1526,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-withsidebar.php","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2302","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Maya Society - Hudson Museum - University of Maine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/hudsonmuseum\/maya\/maya-society\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Maya Society - Hudson Museum - University of Maine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Maya society was broken into a class structure with four main levels: the nobility (Maya\u00a0almehenob), the priesthood (Maya\u00a0ahkinob), the common people (Maya\u00a0ah chembal uinieol), and the slaves (Maya\u00a0ppencatob). 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