Ancient civilizations-2

The priesthood

Bejeweled, feather-adorned priests are often represented in Classic sculpture. The high priests of each province taught in priestly schools such subjects as history, divination, and glyph writing. The priesthood, as described by Landa, was hereditary. Ahkin, “he of the sun,” was the priests’ general title. Specialized functions were performed by the nacoms, who split open the victims’ breasts, the chacs who held their arms and legs, the chilans who interpreted the sacred books and predicted the future. Some priests used hallucinatory drugs in their roles as prophets and diviners.