The olmec tribe

The Olmecs were polytheistic, believing in many different kinds of hods. They practised animism, the belief that animals have a spiritual essence inside of them, such as a feathered serpent. Olmec art often featured zoomorphic representations of deities and gods, such as the jaguar. In a study conducted by the University of Essex, there were three theories presented as to what the jaguar could represent. One finding was that it was a symbol of the dominance of the ruling class. There was also the idea that it was a ‘power animal’ of a shaman caste. It was also possible that the Olmecs may have believed that they descended from the jaguars.

There is evidence to suggest that the Olmecs had developed ideas about the cosmos and the afterlife, believing there to exist an underworld, as well as the world they inhabit, and a sky realm of some sort. In addition, there were eight different androgynous (possessing male and female characteristics) Olmec deities, each with their own different features. For example, a certain god known as ‘the Bird Monster’ was depicted as a harpy eagle, associated with rulership. Furthermore, the Olmecs are likely to have conducted ritual ceremonies, in which they made offerings to their gods. The Olmecs built ceremonial cities such as La Venta, San Lorenzo, and Tres Zapotes, which were likely used for religious ceremonies, rituals, and gatherings. These featured large earthen platforms, pyramids, and stone monuments, including altars and stelae which were likely used in religious ceremonies and rituals.

As aforementioned, the Olmecs were heavily involved in trade. Their trade extended well into present-day Central America; evidence suggests that local societies made contact with the Olmecs in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Since they were very crafty artisans, their potteries, moulds and sculptures were popular in commerce. Their merchants traded for different wares: stone material such as basalt, obsidian, serpentine and jadeite; food merchandise such as salt; and animal products such as pelts, bright feathers, and seashells. It is also important to note that the Olmec cities were placed strategically to boost their market. The Olmec needed both basic goods, such as food and pottery, and luxury items such as jadeite and feathers, for making ornaments for rulers or religious rituals. The Mokaya civilisation of the Soconusco region (present-day Chiapa state in Mexico) were consistent traders with the Olmecs. They were of close proximity to each other, and were not separated by disruptive geographical obstacles, so it was natural for them to trade. The Mokaya civilisation adopted similar artistic styles in sculpture and pottery, and a lot of Olmec ornaments were popular in Mokayan towns. By trading with the Mokayas, the Olmecs gained access to cacao, salt, feathers, crocodile skins, jaguar pelts and desirable stones from Guatemala such as jadeite and serpentine.

Though the reason for their decline is unknown, the Olmec civilisation was certainly a powerful influence for subsequent civilisations, with their large trade network and abundance of artwork. They have often been considered the parent culture of many of the Mesoamerican cultures that came after, including the Aztecs and the Maya.