Here's a breakdown of its historical accuracy:
Accurate aspects:
* Mayan Civilization: The movie depicts aspects of Mayan civilization, including their architecture, clothing, rituals, and social structure.
* Mayan Decline: The movie's narrative is loosely based on the decline of the Mayan civilization, which was marked by environmental degradation, political instability, and warfare.
* Mayan Language: The dialogue is entirely in Yucatec Maya, a language still spoken today.
Inaccuracies and artistic liberties:
* Specific Historical Events: The movie's narrative is not directly based on any specific historical events. It is a fictional story that uses historical elements as a backdrop.
* Time Period: The movie is set in the late Classic period of the Mayan civilization (around 800-900 AD), but the specific events depicted are not confirmed by archaeological evidence.
* Violence and Sacrifice: The movie's depiction of violence and sacrifice is exaggerated for dramatic effect. While human sacrifice was a part of Mayan culture, the extent and brutality depicted in the film are likely not historically accurate.
* Tribal Conflicts: While intertribal warfare was common in the Maya world, the specific tribes depicted in the film and their relationships to each other are fictional.
Overall:
"Apocalypto" should be considered a fictional story with historical elements. While it attempts to portray a realistic depiction of Mayan life and culture, it takes significant artistic liberties and should not be taken as a definitive historical account.
It's important to remember that films like "Apocalypto" are meant to entertain and evoke emotions, and they are not always meant to be completely historically accurate.