When people think of gods and godesses, they tend to visualize the Greek and Roman forms. However, there are many different religions dotting the globe. In Mesoamerica, where the Mayans thrived, it was common to worship nature gods, such as gods of the sun, rain, and corn. The Mayans relied heavily on these gods for their needs, and should the gods fail them they would turn to sacrifice. The Mayans would build ancient temples and pyramids of worship, hoping to please their idols. Sacrifice is the core of the Mayan religion. The Mayans thought of sacrifice as "exchanging good". They had a rather large number of gods they worshiped The more important the god was to everyday life, the better the rituals, offerings, and sacrifices the gods received.