Did the ancient Mayans wear turtlenecks? (on researching foreskins)

In Amor Prohibido, Pakal is an immortal spirit guide who has walked the earth for over a thousand years. When I got ready to write the first sex scene between Pakal and his lover Jake, I suddenly wondered: was Pakal circumcised? Should I be mentioning a foreskin when I write about Pakal and Jake getting sweaty together?

So I got busy Googling...and the verdict? Unclear. I had to dig deeper...

Some of the sites I hit did indeed say that the Mayas and the Aztecs practiced circumsicion, sometimes not until the age of twelve which was the age at young boys were initiated as warriors. Other information I found indicated that no, they did not circumsise, but that because the culture was very fond of ritual cutting in general--including cutting of the foreskin because the most sacred blood in a male's body came from there--it was mistakingly documented by visiting cultures that the Mayas practiced circumsicion even though they didn't.

Well! After I was all done feeling phantom sympathy pains for all of the men in my life, my decision was made. Pakal would be sans-turtleneck, because whether his people had circumcised him as a baby, or at age 12, or there had been ritual cutting involved, chances were good that his foreskin was no more. There was apparently some possibility that it could have simply been pierced or perforated as opposed to removed completely, but that appears to have been the case more often for men who participated in religious ceremonies, and that had not been Pakal's role before his death.

So I made the best call I could and gave the guy a cut knob. He seemed okay with it. So did Jake. I hope you will be as well. :)

About Amor Prohibido:

Jacob Freehan has no job, no man, and no motivation. In pain both from ending a long-term abusive relationship and a severe back injury, he escapes to the sunny seaside town of Puerto Morelos for a little yoga, a little R&R, and possibly a place to quietly end his own life.

Pakal is a centuries-old immortal Mayan spirit guide who has been charged with getting Jacob on the path toward healing. Romantic involvement with a spirit charge is strictly forbidden, and it has never been a problem...until now. Pakal sees something special in Jacob, but failure to keep a rapidly growing attraction at bay could result in Jacob losing his life and Pakal being condemned to the Underworld forever...

Available now at Amber Allure!