Modern world religions have a range of animal symbols that they turn to help explain their ideas around what is considered holy or divine. In Hinduism, the cow is revered as a holy animal, representing the divine and, through its milk, the resources offered by the earth. In Christianity, there is the lamb, which is associated with innocence and the figure of Jesus Christ himself.

And ancient religious societies were no different. Take, for example, the Maya, a powerful civilization that lived in Mesoamerica , or modern day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. The complex society first emerged around 4,000 years ago and continued right up until its destruction in the 16th century. Mayans were famed for their incredible artistic achievements, especially in

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