Who were the Olmec?
500 years before Rome was founded, in the tropical south, central lowlands there was a people who built giant cities, monolithic pyramids, and spacious ball courts. these people were the Olmec.
The Olmec, were the first Mexican native tribe. Artifacts and other evidence have shown that the Olmec dated back to about 1200 B.C. Many of the other civilizations, like the Aztecs, actually based some of their religion, and culture, on some of the old Olmec traditions, so the Olmec are sometimes considered the mother tribe. Another thing that makes the Olmec notable was their statues of giant heads. => Olmec religion, was very influential. Almost every culture in Mesoamerica was based in some way on the mythology of the Olmec. The Olmec believed in 8 main deities.
Shamans, rulers and priests presided over this religion. They had to prove their legitimacy by showing their connections to the god they served. |
The Olmec way of life existed from 1200 B.C. all the way on to 400 A.D. http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread779436/pg3