Dead-body politics in ancient America and dynastic Europe

Dead bodies can play an important role as political symbols. Using the example of post-socialist Eastern Europe, Katherine Verdery has shown how dead bodies are used to reorder the world during times of profound political and social transformation. This study applies the idea about the political use of dead bodies to different time periods and areas. In the 7th and 8th century AD in the Maya Lowlands and late 16th to 18th century in Catholic Europe tremendous political and ideological transformations coincide with significant dead-body manipulations. The main characteristics of the Maya area are resetting and reburial of old monuments and bones as well as changes in mortuary ritual. In Europe, the Catholic reformers restore ancient shrines and promote evisceration and separate burial of intestines and hearts of kings, bishops and nobles at special places. The introduction of new rituals (e.g. the Devotion to the Sacred Heart) and the association of kings with sacred and divine symbols create a new relation between religion and the ruling authorities. A similar ritualization probably also takes place in the Maya area. The comparison of the role of dead bodies in this process in two separate areas and over the course of approximately two centuries could help to reveal significant similarities and differences.

Dead bodies can play an important role as political symbols. Using the example of post-socialist Eastern Europe, Katherine Verdery has shown how dead bodies are used to reorder the world during times of profound political and social transformation. This study applies the idea about the political use of dead bodies to different time periods and areas. In the 7th and 8th century AD in the Maya Lowlands and late 16th to 18th century in Catholic Europe tremendous political and ideological transformations coincide with significant dead-body manipulations. The main characteristics of the Maya area are resetting and reburial of old monuments and bones as well as changes in mortuary ritual. In Europe, the Catholic reformers restore ancient shrines and promote evisceration and separate burial of intestines and hearts of kings, bishops and nobles at special places. The introduction of new rituals (e.g. the Devotion to the Sacred Heart) and the association of kings with sacred and divine symbols create a new relation between religion and the ruling authorities. A similar ritualization probably also takes place in the Maya area. The comparison of the role of dead bodies in this process in two separate areas and over the course of approximately two centuries could help to reveal significant similarities and differences.