1. Zoey Viera<br />04-28-11<br />P1 <br />Maya V. Greece<br />We are strong. We are devout. We are “History”. Yet, we are not the same. Mayan and Greek civilizations were built an entire ocean apart. Rising up from different climates, regions, and ideas, the two civilizations formed two separate cultures. Whereas, both were extremely successful and notable, neither was the same in their religious beliefs, their striking architecture, or their extreme games.<br />The ‘Gods’ were what both the Mayans and the Greeks focused their whole lives and societies around. Both civilizations were polytheistic and used the gods as reasoning for unexplainable occurrences. Yet, the Greek’s idea of the gods included human flaws and enabled them to mingle with humans. The Mayan gods were also believed to punish the humans, but they never cohabitated with them. Both cultures felt a need to please their gods, but the Mayans sacrificed humans and animals, while the Greeks only sacrificed animals. Also, Greeks used myths to explain human characteristics and natural phenomena through the lives of the gods, the Mayans expressed this through rituals, ceremonial dances, and folklore. The Mayans did use hieroglyphics to preserve their religion later on, though. Conversely, both the Mayans and the Greeks built extravagant works of architecture as monuments to their gods that still stand today.<br />The Temple of the Great Jaguar, or Temple 1, and the Parthenon were both built in dedication to the gods, but built with different styles and structure. The Mayans built with limestone and flint, or plaster and cement. The Greeks, however, used stone and marble, or mud and brick, to construct their buildings. A popular style in the Greek civilization was the use of three different vertical columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. These were not used at all in Maya. They preferred pyramid structures with a roof comb at its peak. On the outside and inside of both civilizations’ temples were found several carvings of human and/or god interactions and, of course, more modern designs. While their designs and general preferences were different in some ways, none was as different as the two civilizations’ perspectives of the human body. The Greeks portrayed a more literal depiction of the body, whereas the Mayans were much more abstract. On the other hand, inscriptions showing sport recreation existed for both the Mayan, in the form of ball courts, and the Greeks, through athletics festivals.<br />The Ball Games and The Olympics Games were not only to show physical fitness, but as another way of praising the gods in both civilizations. The Mayan’s Ball Game was played in a narrow outdoor ball court surrounded by sloping walls; they used a rubber ball. The players could be from all over Mesopotamia and consisted of both leaders and slaves. This intense game was in honor of the story of the Hero Twins. Unlike the Greek’s athletic competitions, this was a bloody game where the loser was usually beheaded. Contrary to this, the Greeks prided great psychical health and strength. Everyone, from kings to farmers, had a chance to show their talent and power every four years at the Olympic Games. These games were held at Olympia, Elis, Greece near the Temple of Hera. The Olympic Games honored the gods Zeus and Hera.<br />Maya and Greece, though miles apart, had their similarities in a broad scope. However, their differences can be shown simply by sight and comprehension. In the fictitious battle of Maya vs. Greece, both came out in a tie with two different, but promising cultural pathways. Through comparing and contrasting their beliefs, architecture, and games it is easy to see that there is not only one road to civilization. <br /> <br />