Mayan Gods & Goddesses: Mayan Gods, Goddesses in Mayan Mythology
The Mayans were a Mesoamerican tribe located in what is currently Mexico. The Mayans believed in a wide variety of gods and goddesses. In the Mayan pantheon, gods and goddesses regularly required sacrifices of some sort, even blood or even human sacrifices. Mayan religious mythology is rich, but bloody at times.
Ah Bolon Dz'Acab: Ah Bolon Dz'Acab, God of Lineage & Aristocracy in Mayan Religi
Ah Bolon Dz'Acab (Ah Bolom Tzacab) was the Mayan god of lineage and aristocracy. Ah Bolom Tzacab was responsible for ensuring the continuity of the ruling families among the Maya and worship of him was likely limited to those ruling groups. So, unless you are currently a member of the Maya aristocracy, or desperately wish to be, it's probably safe to ignore Ah Bolon Dz'Acab because you aren't risking anything by not worshipping him yourself.
Ah Bolon Dz'Acab (Ah Bolom Tzacab) was the Mayan god of lineage and aristocracy. Ah Bolom Tzacab was responsible for ensuring the continuity of the ruling families among the Maya and worship of him was likely limited to those ruling groups. So, unless you are currently a member of the Maya aristocracy, or desperately wish to be, it's probably safe to ignore Ah Bolon Dz'Acab because you aren't risking anything by not worshipping him yourself.
Ah Mucen Cab: Ah Mucen Cab, God of Bees and Honey in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Ah Mucen Cab (Ah Muzencab, Ah Muzen Cab) was the Mayan god of honey and bees. Some honeys are toxic and produce psychoactive effects. It's possible that consumption of such honeys were integrated into worship of Ah Mucen Cab. So, if you would like to hedge your bets by worshipping Ah Mucen Cab, you should probably find some psychoactive honey and eat it. While enjoying the psychoactive effects of the honey, you can contemplate the role of bees in larger order of creation.
Ah Mucen Cab (Ah Muzencab, Ah Muzen Cab) was the Mayan god of honey and bees. Some honeys are toxic and produce psychoactive effects. It's possible that consumption of such honeys were integrated into worship of Ah Mucen Cab. So, if you would like to hedge your bets by worshipping Ah Mucen Cab, you should probably find some psychoactive honey and eat it. While enjoying the psychoactive effects of the honey, you can contemplate the role of bees in larger order of creation.
Ah Mun: Ah Mun, God of Maize and Agriculture in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Ah Mun, the "Lord of the Forests" (Yum Kaax, Yum Caaz) was the Mayan god of corn and agriculture. Ah Mun's role in providing food for the Maya meant that he was often perceived as engaging in battles against death. If you want to hedge your bets and worship Ah Mun, you should dress up to look like Ah Mun just as the Mayan priests did and scatter corn to symbolically prepare for future harvests and abundance.
Ah Mun, the "Lord of the Forests" (Yum Kaax, Yum Caaz) was the Mayan god of corn and agriculture. Ah Mun's role in providing food for the Maya meant that he was often perceived as engaging in battles against death. If you want to hedge your bets and worship Ah Mun, you should dress up to look like Ah Mun just as the Mayan priests did and scatter corn to symbolically prepare for future harvests and abundance.
Ah Puch: Ah Puch, God of Death in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Ah Puch (Hun Ahau, Cum Hau, Hunhau, Hunahau, Yum Cimil, 'Lord of Death') was the Mayan god of death, disaster, and destruction. Ah Puch ruled Mitnal, the lowest level of the Mayan underworld. The Mayans believed that Ah Puch stalked them like a hunter stalks his prey. You can't worship Ah Puch so much as try to keep him at a great distance, so to hedge your bets you should mourn with loud wailing in order to scare him away and prevent him from taking anyone else to Mitnal.
Ah Puch (Hun Ahau, Cum Hau, Hunhau, Hunahau, Yum Cimil, 'Lord of Death') was the Mayan god of death, disaster, and destruction. Ah Puch ruled Mitnal, the lowest level of the Mayan underworld. The Mayans believed that Ah Puch stalked them like a hunter stalks his prey. You can't worship Ah Puch so much as try to keep him at a great distance, so to hedge your bets you should mourn with loud wailing in order to scare him away and prevent him from taking anyone else to Mitnal.
Buluc Chabtan: Buluc Chabtan, God of War in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Buluc Chabtan was the Mayan god war, violence, and sudden death. It was common for people to make human sacrifices to various gods in Mesoamerican cultures; Buluc Chabtan is a bit unusual, however, in that he was actually a god of human sacrifices - as well as of war, violence, and sudden death. Worship of him thus occurred for the sake of success in war, to avoid sudden death, and just on general principles because you don't want to be on his bad side.
Buluc Chabtan was the Mayan god war, violence, and sudden death. It was common for people to make human sacrifices to various gods in Mesoamerican cultures; Buluc Chabtan is a bit unusual, however, in that he was actually a god of human sacrifices - as well as of war, violence, and sudden death. Worship of him thus occurred for the sake of success in war, to avoid sudden death, and just on general principles because you don't want to be on his bad side.
Chac: Chac, God of Rain & Lightning in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Chac (Chaac, Ah Tzenul, Ah Hoya, Hopop Caan) was the Mayan god of rain, lightning, and thunder. Chac was one of the more benevolent of the Mayan gods, responsible for life and fertility across the world. Eventually, though, human sacrifice came to be associate with Chac. To worship Chac, you can either offer prayers to Chac during a drought, you can get together with four friends and cut the heart out of a sacrificial victim, or you can just toss someone down a sacred well.
Chac (Chaac, Ah Tzenul, Ah Hoya, Hopop Caan) was the Mayan god of rain, lightning, and thunder. Chac was one of the more benevolent of the Mayan gods, responsible for life and fertility across the world. Eventually, though, human sacrifice came to be associate with Chac. To worship Chac, you can either offer prayers to Chac during a drought, you can get together with four friends and cut the heart out of a sacrificial victim, or you can just toss someone down a sacred well.
Cizin: Cizin, God of Death in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Cizin was the Mayan god of death and earthquakes. If people were unfortunate enough to end up with Cizin after they died, he'd roast their souls in Metnal, the underworld. It's little wonder that he came to be identified with Satan after the Christian conquest of the Mayan lands. It's not clear how or even if the Mayans actually worshipped such a nasty god, but you'd do well to stay out of his way.
Cizin was the Mayan god of death and earthquakes. If people were unfortunate enough to end up with Cizin after they died, he'd roast their souls in Metnal, the underworld. It's little wonder that he came to be identified with Satan after the Christian conquest of the Mayan lands. It's not clear how or even if the Mayans actually worshipped such a nasty god, but you'd do well to stay out of his way.
Hun Hunahpu: Hun Hunahpu, Maize God in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Hun Hunahpu was an ancient god of maize who, among the Maya, also became a god of fertility and sport. I haven't found any information about how he was worshipped, but he was god of a sport that involved throwing a ball through a hoop. So, if you really want to hedge you bets with Hun Hunahpu, why not go out and play some basketball.
Hun Hunahpu was an ancient god of maize who, among the Maya, also became a god of fertility and sport. I haven't found any information about how he was worshipped, but he was god of a sport that involved throwing a ball through a hoop. So, if you really want to hedge you bets with Hun Hunahpu, why not go out and play some basketball.
Hunab Ku: Hunab Ku, Supreme Creator God in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Hunab Ku was the supreme creator god for the Maya. Because he was more of an abstract entity than an anthropomorphic god like the other deities in the Mayan pantheon, he wasn't generally worshipped like the others were. It's unlikely that Hunab Ku will care whether you worship him or not, so there's no reason to hedge your bets by trying to make him happy.
Hunab Ku was the supreme creator god for the Maya. Because he was more of an abstract entity than an anthropomorphic god like the other deities in the Mayan pantheon, he wasn't generally worshipped like the others were. It's unlikely that Hunab Ku will care whether you worship him or not, so there's no reason to hedge your bets by trying to make him happy.
Itzamna: Itzamna, Founder God of Maize in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Itzamna was a god of maize and the founder of Mayan culture. Itzamna refused to have anything to do with war, violence, or human sacrifices, so the Maya didn't kill anyone as part of their worship of Itzamna. If you want to hedge your bets with Itzamna, you don't have to find any victims to sacrifice. Itzamna's priests did at one time collect dew to use in religious rituals, so you might want to try doing that some morning soon.
Itzamna was a god of maize and the founder of Mayan culture. Itzamna refused to have anything to do with war, violence, or human sacrifices, so the Maya didn't kill anyone as part of their worship of Itzamna. If you want to hedge your bets with Itzamna, you don't have to find any victims to sacrifice. Itzamna's priests did at one time collect dew to use in religious rituals, so you might want to try doing that some morning soon.
Ix Chebel Yax: Ix Chebel Yax, Creator Goddess in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Ix Chebel Yax is the mother of all gods and goddesses in Mayan religion. As consort of Itzamna, Mayan creator god, she is also therefore a creator goddess. Weaving and working cloth was an important feature of all Mesoamerican civilizations, even before the Maya and the Aztecs. Because of this, Ix Chebel Yax occupied a very important position in the pantheon for Mayan women.
Ix Chebel Yax is the mother of all gods and goddesses in Mayan religion. As consort of Itzamna, Mayan creator god, she is also therefore a creator goddess. Weaving and working cloth was an important feature of all Mesoamerican civilizations, even before the Maya and the Aztecs. Because of this, Ix Chebel Yax occupied a very important position in the pantheon for Mayan women.
Ixchel: Ixchel, Earth and Moon Goddess in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Although associated with floods and rains, Ixchel was commonly worshipped as the patron goddess of weaving and especially childbirth. There were prominent shrines for Ixchel located on Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. These shrines were so important that pregnant Maya women made long pilgrimages to visit them and get her favor for their pregnancies. Images Ixchel probably filled these shrines, but none have survived.
Although associated with floods and rains, Ixchel was commonly worshipped as the patron goddess of weaving and especially childbirth. There were prominent shrines for Ixchel located on Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. These shrines were so important that pregnant Maya women made long pilgrimages to visit them and get her favor for their pregnancies. Images Ixchel probably filled these shrines, but none have survived.
Ixtab: Ixtab, Goddess of Suicide in Mayan Religion, Mythology
Ixtab was the Mayan goddess of suicide. Most cultures disapprove of suicide, but the Mayans didn't — and suicide by hanging was regarded as an honorable way to day. Ixtab was the protector of all those who killed themselves by hanging, as well as warriors who died in battle and women who died in childbirth. She took all three groups to paradise and fed them under the shade of the world tree, indicating that all three were treated as moral and social equivalents among the Maya.
Ixtab was the Mayan goddess of suicide. Most cultures disapprove of suicide, but the Mayans didn't — and suicide by hanging was regarded as an honorable way to day. Ixtab was the protector of all those who killed themselves by hanging, as well as warriors who died in battle and women who died in childbirth. She took all three groups to paradise and fed them under the shade of the world tree, indicating that all three were treated as moral and social equivalents among the Maya.
K'inich Ajaw: K'inich Ajaw, God of the Sun in Mayan Religion, Mythology
K'inich Ajaw was the Mayan god of the sun and war. Mayan warriors participated in blood-letting dance rituals to honor K'inich Ajaw. Mayan rulers believed that they were the descendants of K'inich Ajaw and would assume his identity during festivals honoring him. Ulike impersonators of gods in other cases, though, they would not be ritually sacrificed.
K'inich Ajaw was the Mayan god of the sun and war. Mayan warriors participated in blood-letting dance rituals to honor K'inich Ajaw. Mayan rulers believed that they were the descendants of K'inich Ajaw and would assume his identity during festivals honoring him. Ulike impersonators of gods in other cases, though, they would not be ritually sacrificed.
Tohil: Tohil, Patron God of the Fire in Mayan Religion, Myth
The Maya are not as well known as the Aztec for performing human sacrifices, except with their fire god Tohil who demands blood offerings from his worshippers. The Maya offered not only their own blood, but also the blood of captives from war. The words used to describe this is to 'suckle.' Instead of suckling milk from the breast, Tohil suckles blood by having the victims' hearts torn out.
The Maya are not as well known as the Aztec for performing human sacrifices, except with their fire god Tohil who demands blood offerings from his worshippers. The Maya offered not only their own blood, but also the blood of captives from war. The words used to describe this is to 'suckle.' Instead of suckling milk from the breast, Tohil suckles blood by having the victims' hearts torn out.