In Maya beliefs, what did sacred mountains represent?

In Maya beliefs, sacred mountains symbolized the center of the universe. This concept is deeply rooted in their cosmology and mythology, where mountains were seen as a representation of the connection between the earth and the heavens. They served as axis mundi, or the world's axis, playing a vital role in the spiritual and physical landscape of the Maya civilization.

Mountains, in this context, were not just physical entities but were often imbued with religious significance, representing stability, strength, and the foundation for life. Their sacred status led the Maya to often build temples and perform rituals at mountain sites, reinforcing their belief in these natural formations as focal points for cosmological events and divine interaction.

To contrast this, while the other options touch upon important themes within Maya spirituality—such as the origins of the gods, the cycle of life, and the passage of time—they do not encapsulate the specific significance of mountains as the perceived center of the universe. This highlights how integral the symbolic representation of mountains was to the Maya worldview, grounding their spiritual beliefs and practices in their natural surroundings.