scholarly paper review ring of fire by: the mitch’s and firk
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SCHOLARLY PAPER REVIEWRING OF FIRE
By: The Mitch’s and Firk
MAYAN MAGIC
Philip Coppens
SUMMARY
Magic was a large part of Mayan culture• It was used within a religious context• It is said that they practiced magic more than any
other ancient culture, but this might now be accurate considering that we have looked much deeper into Mayan civilization than others.
Trickery was considered divine• It opens the mind literally, making it realize that
there could be far more to earth than meets the eyes.
SUMMARY
Talking head myth• Mayan priest often told stories of a decapitated head that
could talk away from it’s body• This head could make prophecies• The trick popped back up in the 19th century on the stages of
Europe and America
Tearing out of hearts• High priests would rip out a live human’s heart and throw
them down the steps of the temple while they were still “moving”.
• Although this was a common sacrifice, many of the people saw it as magic.
SUMMARY
Dwarves were considered to be part of the
supernatural• There is a story about a dwarf boy in the Mayan
culture that goes somewhat like this: “One day, a dwarf boy sounded the gong and struck fear into the ruler, who ordered him to be executed. The ruler promised that the boy’s life would be saved if he could perform three impossible tasks, one of which was to build a giant pyramid in a single night. The boy achieved all the tasks, and became the new ruler.” (Coppens)
• Because of this the dwarves were treated as gods and were almost always associated with magic.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS
Magic has been around forever and there is much
more to it than meets the eye.
STRENGTHS
This is a very captivating article with interesting
facts.
The stories in the article are very fun to read
although they can get gruesome.
Phil Coppens does a good job at comparing and
contrasting modern magic and magicians to ancient
trickery and priests.
WEAKNESSES
There are not a lot of cold hard facts.
On the page there are no works cited.
Phil sometimes strays from the main topic being
addressed.
STUDENT EVALUATION
I liked this article a lot because it provided an
insight further into Mayan life. Although it did return
back to some of the blood and gore we enjoyed
looking at the life of some normal, middle class
people in the Mayan Culture.
WORKS CITED
http://www.philipcoppens.com/mayan_magic.html
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