Corn, known to the Maya as maize, was the most important crop in Maya agriculture. It grew well in the climate, could be used in many ways, and had the ability to feed an entire population.
The farming of maize allowed the Maya to concentrate on science, architecture, and the growth of their civilization. Yet maize was more than food— it also held great religious and spiritual importance.
Did you know that maize plays an important role in the Maya story of creation?
According to Maya mythology, the gods wanted to create beings that would worship them, so they decided to make people. After failed attempts to create people from mud and wood, the gods tried using yellow and white corn and were successful. It is believed that the eating of maize is a way for Maya to connect with their ancestors.
The Maya had many gods, but the god of maize was one of the more important ones. In Maya art, he is often shown as a handsome youth with a head shaped like a corn cob, hair made from the silk of the corn, and wears jade jewelry to symbolize the green of the corn stalk.
Maize is prepared by boiling it in water with lime
(calcium hydroxide) and later drained. The wet maize is then crushed into a mixture, which can then be cooked in numerous ways. Today, there are hundreds of maize-based foods, with the tortilla being the most popular.
According to the myths, the god of maize was beheaded during the harvest season but was reborn at the start of the new growing season. He is affiliated with the changing of the seasons, the harvest, birth, and the human life cycle.
The ancient Maya, however, loved to dine on steamed corn dough known as tamales. Symbolizing the human connection to the maize god and maize, tamales continue to be a fixture at celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, and festivals.