Final answer:
Mesoamerican self-mutilation considered beautiful included royal bloodletting rituals and cranial deformation. These practices served both aesthetic purposes and as a form of spiritual sacrifice, often performed in public to demonstrate the ruler's spiritual power and connection with the gods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mesoamericans engaged in various forms of self-mutilation that were seen as beautiful or spiritually significant. Among these were royal bloodletting rituals where rulers cut themselves with sharp objects such as obsidian, stingray spines, or shark's teeth, often in the tongue or genitals. The practice was a form of sacrifice, as blood was considered the force of life and thus owed to the gods. Nobles' blood was highly prized, and enemy nobles were often captured for the ritual.
Rulers, including kings and members of the royal family, underwent these ceremonies as a demonstration of their spiritual power and connection with transcendental realms. Self-harm performed in public spaces, such as plazas or atop pyramids, reinforced the leaders' dedication and possibly served as a deterrent for reckless decisions.
Other forms of bodily alteration deemed beautiful included cranial deformation, where many American cultures flattened infants' foreheads to achieve a desirable aesthetic. The Mesoamericans excelled in creating artifacts that reflected these practices and societal values through their artwork, such as the Remojadas-style figurines and cranial deformation representations.