Before the rise of the Maya and the Aztecs, near the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, there was an enigmatic civilization known as the Olmec. They are renowned for the giant basalt heads in which the portraits of their rulers were immortalized.
Their name derives from Nahuatl—the language of the Aztecs—and it means “the people of the land of rubber.” This is due to the abundance of the rubber tree, which secretes a type of latex used to manufacture everything from the balls for the ancient ritual ball game to modern medical-grade equipment, such as surgical gloves.
The Olmec are thought to have laid the spiritual foundations of pre-Columbian Mexico. It is among them that archaeologists first found the features that would consistently repeat in the religions of the civilizations to come. Surprisingly, while religion often divides neighbors and families, in this part of the world, it became the trait that unified hundreds of peoples—from the Gulf to the Pacific, and from central Mexico to Central America—many of whom spoke different languages and dialects.
During your visit to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, it is worth taking the time to explore the Olmec room. It is as enlightening as learning about the Sumerians or the Babylonians, though, of course, it raises far more questions.
No Shit Trips
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