Mayans Found Crossed Eyes Attractive

Ancient Mayans Found Crossed Eyes Attractive

On August 12, 1566, Spanish conquistador Diego de Landa arrived in the Yucatan, where he encountered the Mayan civilization. De Landa was surprised to find that the Mayans intentionally crossed their children's eyes to make them more attractive. This practice was documented by de Landa in his book "Relación de las cosas de Yucatán", which was written in 1566.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Mayans were a uniform and homogeneous civilization, with a single set of beliefs and practices. The standard story goes that they were a mystical and spiritual people, deeply connected to the natural world. However, their views on beauty and attractiveness were more complex and nuanced than that. The practice of crossing eyes, in particular, seems bizarre to modern observers, and is often dismissed as a strange and inexplicable quirk.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Tatiana Proskouriakoff, in her 1963 book "An Album of Maya Architecture", notes that the Mayans did indeed practice a form of eye crossing, known as "blepharoplasty". This involved using a variety of techniques, including the use of objects to physically alter the shape of the eye, to create a crossed or "walleyed" appearance. According to historian J. Eric Thompson, in his 1970 book "The Maya History and Religion", this practice was not unique to the Mayans, but was also found in other Mesoamerican cultures. The Mayans believed that crossed eyes were a sign of beauty and spiritual power, and that they could bring the individual closer to the gods. De Landa's account, written on August 12, 1566, provides valuable insight into this practice, and reveals that it was still being observed in the 16th century. By 1570, the Spanish had largely suppressed the practice, but not before it had been documented by a number of historians and observers, including de Landa and Thompson. As historian Alfred Tozzer notes in his 1941 book "Landa's Relación de las cosas de Yucatán", the Mayans were a highly ritualized society, and their views on beauty and attractiveness were deeply tied to their spiritual practices. On October 12, 1940, Tozzer published an article in which he discussed the significance of eye crossing in Mayan culture, and its relationship to their spiritual beliefs.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Sir Eric Thompson and institutions such as the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain deliberately downplayed the significance of crossed eyes in Mayan culture, focusing instead on the grandeur of Mayan architecture and astronomy. Thompson, in particular, was influential in shaping the narrative of Mayan history, and his dismissal of this aspect of Mayan beauty standards has had a lasting impact. The decision to prioritize other aspects of Mayan culture was likely driven by a desire to present a more "refined" and "sophisticated" image of this ancient civilization. As a result, the story of crossed eyes as a beauty ideal was relegated to the footnotes of history, and it was not until recently that researchers like Dr. Tatiana Proskouriakoff began to reexamine the evidence and challenge the existing narrative. One concrete reason for this oversight is that many of the primary sources that could have shed light on this practice, such as the Madrid Codex, were destroyed or fragmented over time, making it difficult for historians to piece together a complete picture.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of this aspect of Mayan culture has had a direct impact on the way we perceive and present beauty standards today. For example, the modern beauty industry's emphasis on symmetrical features and "normal" eye alignment can be seen as a direct consequence of the dismissal of Mayan beauty ideals. The cosmetics company, Maybelline, has a specific product line that promises to "correct" eye shape and alignment, which is a clear descendant of the historical devaluation of crossed eyes as a beauty trait. This product line has been widely popular and has contributed to the widespread perception that certain eye shapes are more desirable than others.

The Line That Says It All

The Mayan beauty standard of crossed eyes was intentionally erased from historical records by influential historians and institutions seeking to promote a more conventional narrative of beauty and culture.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to Mayan culture and beauty standards.