Underworld journey in canoe (Importance of the canoe in the world of classical Maya). Maya believed that the deceased traveled in mythical canoes on the waters of the Underworld, which could be visualised as the region´s plentiful underground rivers. This voyage was seen as a beginning of a spiritual journey of the dead toward te ultimate rebirth. In harmony of contradictions, which is so pervasive in Mesoamerican religion, the death/sacrifice and rebirth may have the same symbolism: the canoe can be a vehicle transporting the dead to the Underworld and toward his/her celestial rebirth.