The Mayas worshipped a many nature gods. They believed these gods controlled the natural elements. They also believed they had to please the gods by shedding blood. Mayans, both lords and peasants alike, would pierce themselves with thorns to "feed" their blood to the gods. They felt that this assured them their crops would grow and their children would be born healthy.  Sometimes the shedding of blood was in the form of human sacrifice. 

 
Here are just a few of the Maya gods.
 

Archeologists have discovered much of what they know about the Maya religion from several sources. The Maya religious themes can be found on their pottery, stelae, walls of buildings, murals, masks, monuments, and codices.

Maya religion greatly influenced what happened in the daily lives of the people. It influenced their art, architecture, and even the foods they ate.
 

ACTIVITY
Tell about another god/goddess the Maya may have had and write a "legend" about him/her.