Temazcal

The Temazcal or Temazcalli is a steam bath, which is evidenced by archaeological findings in the entire Mesoamerican space and is used to this day. Was the purpose of this device and lies less in the Ceremonial or "wellness", but primarily in the therapeutic, so to cure diseases. The name comes from the Aztec, temas means bathroom, calli means house. The Yucatec name is zumpul Attaché. In general, these buildings are relatively small and low with space for a maximum of ten people, but there are also indications of large structures from earlier times.

History

The tradition of Temazcals can be documented by finds from pre-Hispanic times from the Maya area. It was no Aztec invention since the Temazcal was known to the Purepecha before the arrival of the Aztecs. The patroness of sweat baths in Tzintzuntzan was the moon goddess Xaratanga. Excavations in Piedras Negras 8 structures were discovered on hills, which are interpreted as sweat baths. So the tradition of the steam room was already known before leaving the city in this area. Also, a T-shaped structure in Chichen Itza has been interpreted in 1936 by Ruppert as sweat. The reconstruction of a structure from Piedras Negras is a kind of bath house, reminiscent of Roman examples. There are also references to Temazcals in the Postclassic Mixtec.

At the time of the Conquest the Temazcal was spread throughout the Mesoamerican region. Clavijero wrote this: " There is no place, however small it may be, has not many of them. ".

Description and Operation

A. barley describes the Temazcal as a kind of curved and circular Lehmziegelofen with 8 feet in diameter and 5 to 6 feet in height. At the upper end there is an opening. The soil is slightly convex and is 1 foot above the ground. The Temazcal is crawling entered through a narrow door. Opposite the entrance is the fireplace made ​​of stone or mud brick, which is connected to the Temazcal by a common wall called tetzontli or other porous stone. If the fireplace is hot, the patient enters the Temazcal, closes the holes and pouring water on the glowing tetzontli, lies down on a mat and proposes medicinal plants or soaked in hot water corn leaves on the body.

After sweating the patient runs out of the Temazcal and jumps to cool in a stream or pond. Very patient suffered this z.T. Circulatory collapse and died. On the other hand, there are reports of successful healings of lumbago and sciatica, as well as the positive birth preparatory and subsequent assessment effects in pregnant women. Also, the worldview of the Mesoamerican peoples played a role in the construction of a Temazcals. Thus, the fireplace was mostly geared to the east, in the direction of the sunrise, while the entrance was to the south, and thus the "Way of the Dead" symbolized and thus perhaps also created a reference to the birth process.

Rejection by the Spanish conquerors

To partially quoted statement Diego de Landa that the Mesoamerican natives regularly, even daily washed, Clavijero adds the observation that the use of the Temazcals "just a little less often " was. Nevertheless, the Spaniards saw in pagan rites, destroyed numerous Temazcals and initially banned all use, they did not need for healing. Later the use was made completely criminalized. The reasons for this rejection is believed that the fact of nudity contrary to the morals of the Spaniards. Furthermore, there was no gender segregation in the Temazcals, which may have possibly at an outsider caused thoughts of orgies. It must be mentioned that many Temazcals were very small, in which just took a person place. This must have been aware of the Spaniards, and therefore a misinterpretation of the function of larger Temazcals not necessarily assumed, however, can not be excluded.

Above the entrance there was usually an image of the " Mother of God " Teteo - Innan. Today you can find according to the same place a picture of Mary. The goddess Teteo - Innan corresponds to the goddess Temazcalteci, the " grandmother of the baths ". Her cult was also common in the Mixtec, Zapotec and Maya, which could indicate that the Spaniards prohibited Temazcals because they were concerned about a strong connection to pagan religion.

Using Temazcals today

About 10 years ago, interest in the ancient Temazcal was awakened again. Today, these are predominantly of women operated the temazcaleras, which also provided the diagnosis and then decide which temperature, humidity, altitude positioning of the patient and herbs must be selected. During the treatment, they fan out hotter air to regions of the body that need to be particularly heated (eg back pain ).

Incidentally, similar sweat baths as the Inipi also in North and South America are detectable. However, the distinct medical function seems to be limited to the Mesoamerican region.