An Introduction to the Major Gods of the Maya Pantheon
The pantheon of the ancient Maya comprised countless deities and supernatural beings believed to govern the universe and the fates of mortals.
Like other polytheistic religions, the relationship between these supernatural beings was complex and changed over time. As a result, piecing together a complete list of gods, their roles, and relationships is virtually impossible.
There is also the fact that primary sources describing the roles of these deities are somewhat limited, so a good deal of inference and guesswork is unavoidable.
Still, there is quite a bit we do know, especially regarding the most prominent members of the Maya pantheon, so without any further caveats, let’s explore the fascinating Maya pantheon.
Itzamná
He was also referred to as Zamná, usually considered the most important god of the Maya pantheon, as he was associated with creation and the realm of the sky. Under his role as “first priest,” Izamná was also invoked as a god of medicine and was thought to have a close association with the solar deity Kinich Ahau.
Since the early colonial period, it has been speculated that Zmaná may be the son of the mysterious deity Hunab Ku, whose image is unknown and has been speculated to be the creator of the universe. However, given the context of this speculation and the desire of Europeans of the time to associate ancient beliefs with those of Christianity, this father/son relationship has been called into question. Another popular theory is that Hunab Ku and Zamná are facets of the same deity, a practice found in many cultures worldwide.
Chaac
There is perhaps no other deity more recognizable in the Maya pantheon than Chaac. This, in part, has to do with the plethora of stone masks of this rain god found throughout the Maya world, especially in the Puuc region. Chaac, like other Mayan deities, embodies a paradox. He is a singular entity, yet he also takes on multiple forms associated with the four cardinal points and the center of the universe.
Chaac masks take on a similar look, dominated by a hooked nose, but always include slight differences from city to city.
According to Yucatec-Maya tradition, Chac Xib Chaac (the rain deity of the east) was the title of a king of Chichén Itzá and resided within the Grand Cenote, where sacrifices were offered.
Kukulcán
Kukulcán, also spelled Kukulkán, is the feathered serpent god of Maya mythology. He is a complex and multifaceted deity associated with a wide range of concepts, including rain, wind, warfare, wisdom, and culture. Kukulkán is most closely associated with the Maya city of Chichén Itzá, where he is the central figure of many of the city’s most important temples and monuments.
The most famous is the Templo de Kukulcán, also known as El Castillo, a nine-tiered pyramid with a staircase on each side. On the spring and fall equinoxes, the sun casts shadows on the staircase that create the illusion of a giant serpent slithering down the pyramid.
Ixchel
Ixchel is known mainly as the goddess of childbirth and the most fierce of the goddesses of the Maya pantheon, often represented as an old woman with a coiled snake atop her head and jaguar ears. Ixchel sometimes appears with jaguar-like claws when taking up her role as a goddess of war and combat.
Though some argue that Ixchel was also the goddess of the moon, when she is depicted in this way, she appears much younger, leading scholars to believe that this is an entirely different goddess known as Uh or a different aspect or manifestation of the same deity.
Ixchel also used to be closely associated with suicide, though the dominant school of thought is that that goddess is an entirely different being known as Ixtab.
Kinich Ahau
Kinich Ahau is the chief solar deity in the Maya pantheon and is most often depicted in codexes as a crossed-eyed middle-aged man. However, the most common depictions of Kinich Ahau are found in the form of large-scale stone or stucco masks adorning classic-era temples and pyramids.
Besides the jaguar, Kinich Ahau is also associated with eagles and deer, animals that symbolize power and royalty. Hieroglyphically, the sun god is the patron of the day unit (kʼin), which makes sense as every day was considered to officially begin with the rising of the sun.
Ah Puch
Ah Puch is the Maya deity responsible for the underworld, a real metaphysically separate from the earth known as Xibalba. While in the Preclassic, Ah Puch tended to be depicted as a relatively normal-looking old man, during the Classic age, his abdomen is often shown open with an out-pouring of blood and guts.
Under this form, he is often referred to as “the decrepit or stinky one” and takes on a much more active role in death itself.
During different periods, Ah Puch has also been known by other names, including Yum Kimil, Hun Ahau, and Kisin. In both the Yucatán and Lacandon regions, Kisin continues to play an important role in folklore, even being associated with Satan at times.
Yum Kaax
Yum Kaax, known as the lord of the woods and nature, was believed to be the main guardian of all plant and animal life. However, given the centrality of maize in the Maya diet, he is most closely associated with being the deity of this crop — though strictly speaking, this is not the case.
Yum Kaax was also closely associated with the hunt, especially of deer. To this day, in rural areas of the Yucatán Peninsula, hunters and farmers will often create a small altar with offerings to Yum Kaax to secure a plentiful harvest or hunting season. In some communities, there is also a belief that Yum Kaax is the lord of a race of mythical creatures known as the Alux, who will sabotage the crops of farmers who have not performed the proper rites before plowing the land.
Dozens of other interesting deities in the Maya Pantheon deserve acknowledgment. Next week, we will cover even more deities and supernatural beings of Maya mythology.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer, adventure leader, and PhD candidate. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.
