Maya Gods, Goddesses and Animal Representations

James B. Porter's interpretation of Maya Gods

TYPE A: Depictions of Type A most likely represent performers in the theatrical role of Death or of the dead going about their business in the land of the dead. Glyphs 15:736a:140 and 24:1047a in the Dresden and 15:736:24 and 24:669a in the Madrid screenfolds are commonly associated with Type A.

TYPE B: Modern theists believe that Type B represents a "god" called Cak. The character 668:103 is commonly associated with Type B. Based on this observation, coupled with the belief that Type B depicts a "god" called Cak, most epigraphers "read" T668 as Cak. Other 'closed hand' glyphs are also associated with Type B.

 

The general referent of T667, T668 and T669 is to priestly office. A more likely possibility is that depictions of Type B represent performers in the theatrical role of Priest or of the priests and their assistants going about their business in the work of Maya ritual.

TYPE C: Type C is associated with the north star or other celestial phenomena. Type C also represent performers in the theatrical role of office holders or other prominent citizens, their aids and families as the butts of social japes or in the work of Maya ritual. Glyphs 39:1016, 40:1016, 24:1016 and 1:1016 are commonly associated with Type C.

TYPE G:  Type G accompanied by 168:544 represent performers in the theatrical role of calendar priests and their assistants going about their business in the work of Maya ritual.

TYPE F: Depictions of Type F represent performers in the theatrical role of warrior or 'spear carrier' going about their business, or participating in the work of Maya ritual. T1050 is commonly associated with Type F.

TYPE M: Type M frequently carries objects in a net, on his back, and is himself blackened. Again, recall that the Maya anointed themselves with black soot during periods of religious activity (Tozzer 1941:153, 161). This suggests that Type M is also likely to represent the theatrical roles of penitent, pilgrim or office holder. T680 is commonly associated with Type M. Arguments could be made for interpretations of T680 as Ich Pa, "In the Net", Pa(I)ch, "Back" and Ek' Cuah, "Blackened Vessel".

TYPE N: "The God of The End of The Year" is an old man with T528 or T548 (Tun, "drum, year") in his headdress. Type N was believed to be "the god of the five Uay Ah Haab days. Type N, an elderly type, may indeed represent the theatrical role of the Old Year or of some associated year numen. The glyphs 64:548 and 64:528, Pa Tun, "Net Drum/Year" and "Net Stone/Year", are commonly associated with Type N. Interestingly, de Landa wrote the glyph of the sixteenth month, Pax, as 64:548, Pa u Tun, (Tozzer 1941:164). Also the glyph of the five days of Uay Ah Haab is commonly written 769:548, Uay Tun, "bed/chamber/sign of the year", without any mention of "Net" (Thompson 1950:Fig. 19; 17-20).