[tet68]

Thanks for the compliment, intelligence is often overrated, whereas interest is what drives us.

I am strictly an amateur ethnobotanist, with an interest in Mayan pharmacology, a tiny field, vastly understudied.
One should not dismiss the various flora depicted on the various stele as mere decoration, they were included for a reason. In addition, the sacrificial victims of some of the ceremonies had to climb very high, very steep pyramid steps in order to reach the "altars" yet they also had to be calmed as to their coming ordeal, a fall on the way up would have been considered unauspicious. Certainly they were given something to meet the requirements.

[CobaltBlue]

Mayan pharmacology reminds me of the movie, "Chac". Have you seen it? I finally found it on eBay after searching for years.

Seems to me, if the execution victims were from the same culture, that the power of conforming to social expectations would work, much as men go into battle unwilling to show fear to their fellow soldiers.

If from a different culture, yes, drugs would probably explain how they could be forced to climb up one of those pyramids to their death. I have climbed them myself and they are quite steep. If I were going to be sacrified I would probably try to jump first.

But then, again, we hear so often these days about dozens and dozens of Iraqi soldiers all shot execution style -- why so passive, why not go out fighting? Those guys are not drugged.