692:
38:
90:
186:
176:
In some mythologies, it is believed that water and clouds are formed within the Earth in caves and cenotes and then carried into the sky by deities such as Chaac. Classic period Maya sources also suggest that Chaac was the god who opened the mountain containing maize, using his lightning axe, K'awil.
238:
In the
Classic period, the king often impersonated the rain deity (or an associated rain serpent) while a portrait glyph of the rain deity can accompany the king's other names. This may have given expression to his role as a supreme rain-maker. Typically, however, it is the war-like fury of the rain
105:
Like other Maya gods, Chaac is both one and manifold. Four Chaacs are based in the cardinal directions and wear the directional colors. East, where the sunrise is, is red, North, mid-day zenith, is represented by white, West is represented by black for the sunset, and South is represented by yellow.
279:
It all started with a video from the pseudo-influencer Vicky Wolff explaining that it made no sense to have other gods in Mayan soil and that all the rain and chaos that was happening, was due to this statue. Many locals organized with the goal of destroying the statue because it supposedly angered
156:
251:
from the carapace of a turtle, possibly representing the earth. The so-called 'confrontation scenes' are of a more legendary nature. They show a young nobleman and his retinue wading through the waters and being approached by warriors. One of these warriors is a man personifying the rain deity. He
172:
myth of Sun and Moon, the rain deity Choc (or Chocl) 'Cloud' is the brother of Sun; together they defeat their aged adoptive mother and her lover. Later, Chaac commits adultery with his brother's wife and is duly punished; his tears of agony give origin to the rain. Versions of this myth show the
121:
had their human counterparts. In the traditional Maya (and
Mesoamerican) community, one of the most important functions was that of rainmaker, which presupposed an intimate acquaintance with (and thus, initiation by) the rain deities, and a knowledge of their places and movements. According to a
193:
Chaac is usually depicted with a human body showing reptilian or amphibian scales, and with a non-human head evincing fangs and a long, pendulous nose. In the
Classic style, a shell serves as his ear ornament. He often carries a shield and a lightning axe, the axe being personified by a closely
113:
Contemporary
Yucatec Maya farmers distinguish many more aspects of the rainfall and the clouds and personify them as different, hierarchically-ordered rain deities. The Chorti Maya have preserved important folklore regarding the process of rain-making, which involved rain deities striking
239:
deity that receives emphasis (as is also the case in the myth mentioned above). The king personifying the rain deity is then shown carrying war implements and making prisoners, while his actions seem to be equated with the violence of a thunderstorm.
142:
ceremony for asking rain centers on a ceremonial banquet for the rain deities. It includes four boys (one for each cardinal point) acting and chanting as frogs. Asking for rain and crops was also the purpose of 16th-century rituals at the
163:
The rain deity is a patron of agriculture. A well-known myth in which the Chaacs (or related Rain and
Lightning deities) have an important role to play is about the opening of the mountain in which the maize was hidden. In
159:
Chaahk, the ancient Maya rain god, wields a large axe marked with the hieroglyphic symbol for shiny objects in his left hand, and an animate stone object (perhaps as a weapon) in his right, 7th–8th century.
280:
Chaac. While the movement originated as a joke, many took it seriously and attempted to vandalize the statue. Activist lawyers sought to have the statue removed, and some people in Mexico cited
106:
There is a fifth color which is associate with the center point, and that is green. In 16th-century Yucatán, the directional Chaac of the east was called
461:
1092:
73:
god of rain, thunder, and lightning. With his lightning axe, Chaac strikes the clouds, causing them to produce thunder and rain. Chaac corresponds to
775:
483:
214:, is dedicated to the Chaacs, their locations, and activities. It illustrates the intimate relationship existing between the Chaacs, the
1332:
1342:
765:
639:
1357:
168:
mythology, the rain deity also figures as the father of nubile women representing maize and vegetables. In some versions of the
901:
620:
679:
1448:
1438:
1428:
1317:
669:
281:
1367:
674:
659:
247:
About Chaahk's role in
Classic period mythological narrative, little is known. He is present at the resurrection of the
230:
and
Pauahtuns into one concept. The Bacabs were aged deities governing the subterranean sphere and its water supplies.
664:
173:
rain deity Chac in his war-like fury, pursuing the fleeing Sun and Moon, and attacking them with his lightning bolts.
1322:
1081:
1337:
770:
726:
997:
896:
879:
869:
1302:
797:
303:
94:
1067:
1453:
1443:
1433:
1292:
1200:
874:
787:
738:
654:
421:
57:
31:
1327:
169:
462:"Yucatecans unite to "destroy" the statue of Poseidon; the organizer gets threats - The Yucatan Times"
1352:
1312:
1170:
1060:
1022:
755:
721:
273:
198:, called Bolon Dzacab in Yucatec. The Classic Chaac sometimes shows features of the Central Mexican (
118:
1272:
1029:
970:
913:
691:
559:
1307:
1074:
337:
1135:
906:
834:
613:
268:
Chaac continues to hold importance for Maya groups in Mexico. In 2024, a statue of the Greek god
1347:
1175:
706:
629:
501:
70:
393:
Re-Creating
Primordial Time: Foundation Rituals and Mythology in the Postclassic Maya Codices
1377:
1150:
733:
1257:
1402:
1130:
1115:
925:
891:
782:
716:
649:
513:
285:
260:), Chaahk also appears to preside over an initiate's ritual transformation into a jaguar.
1397:
1053:
1407:
1165:
819:
248:
223:
165:
65:
37:
1422:
1387:
1382:
1015:
935:
886:
844:
824:
809:
745:
606:
211:
276:, caused controversy for locals who deemed it offensive to their beliefs in Chaac.
1267:
1205:
1195:
1190:
1010:
1004:
859:
849:
829:
127:
1242:
1160:
1036:
975:
839:
792:
571:
An
Illustrated Dictionary of the Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya
199:
1155:
814:
760:
484:"Mexico 'cancels' statue of Greek god Poseidon after dispute with local deity"
547:
El aspecto bélico de Chaahk, el dios de la lluvia, en el
Periodo Clásico maya
1125:
1046:
750:
391:
185:
130:, and similar titles were bestowed upon Classic rulers as well (see below).
960:
89:
1392:
1252:
1237:
1220:
1215:
955:
804:
269:
98:
110:'Red Man Chaac', only the colors being varied for the three other ones.
1282:
1247:
1140:
965:
711:
252:
probably represents an ancestral king, and seems to be referred to as
1232:
1180:
1145:
950:
310:
297:
227:
219:
144:
78:
74:
17:
598:
416:
1277:
1262:
1210:
1120:
1105:
980:
257:
215:
195:
184:
154:
88:
36:
945:
918:
155:
602:
549:. Revista Española de Antropología Americana 39-1 (2009): 7-29.
210:
A large part of one of the four surviving Maya codices, the
222:. The main source on the 16th-century Yucatec Maya, Bishop
126:(the rain deity of the east) was the title of a king of
585:
Landa's Relación de las Cosas de Yucatán, a Translation
138:
Among the rituals for the rain deities, the Yucatec
1366:
1291:
1091:
989:
934:
858:
699:
638:
533:Pluvial Aspects of the Mesoamerican Culture Hero.
552:Redfield, Robert, and Alfonso Barrera Vasquez,
396:. University Press of Colorado. pp. 63–64.
390:Vail, Gabrielle; Hernández, Christine (2013).
338:"Directions and Partitions in Maya World View"
41:Earthenware effigy urn (an incense burner) of
614:
8:
313:, a closely related southern Maya storm god
288:as proof that Chaac was upset at Poseidon.
621:
607:
599:
226:, combines the four Chaacs with the four
27:Maya god of rain, thunder, and lightning
328:
189:Rain deity impersonator, Classic period
509:
499:
256:Together with the skeletal Death God (
114:rain-carrying snakes with their axes.
64:
307:(1975), a film made with Maya actors.
7:
564:The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel
122:Late-Postclassic Yucatec tradition,
531:Braakhuis, Edwin, and Kerry Hull,
25:
690:
353:Landa, in Tozzer 1941: 137–138
1:
525:General and cited references
85:Rain deities and rain makers
1470:
1343:Uaxaclajuun Ubʼaah Kʼawiil
535:Anthropos 2014/2: 449–466.
451:García Barrios 2009: 18-21
30:For the region on Io, see
29:
998:Annals of the Cakchiquels
688:
578:Maya History and Religion
406:Vail, Hernandez 2013: 66
243:Classic period narrative
218:, and the aged goddess,
1358:Yuknoom Yichʼaak Kʼahkʼ
1318:Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Yopaat
362:Braakhuis and Hull 2014
304:Chac: Dios de la lluvia
202:) precursor of Tlaloc.
93:Chaac sculpture at the
282:Tropical Storm Alberto
190:
160:
102:
46:
1333:Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ
1323:Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal
1082:Título de Totonicapán
655:Classic Maya collapse
545:García Barrios, Ana,
422:World Digital Library
417:"O Códice de Dresden"
188:
158:
95:Maya Sculpture Museum
92:
69:) is the name of the
40:
32:Chaac-Camaxtli Region
1449:Sky and weather gods
1439:Mesoamerican deities
1429:Agricultural deities
1338:Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I
1061:Ritual of the Bacabs
722:Twin-pyramid complex
538:Cruz Torres, Mario,
1303:Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil
1273:Xmucane and Xpiacoc
1068:Songs of Dzitbalché
442:García Barrios 2009
336:Hopkins, Nicholas.
45:, 12th–14th century
1328:Kʼinich Yat Ahk II
1136:Howler monkey gods
576:Thompson, J.E.S.,
512:has generic name (
380:Thompson 1970: 364
191:
161:
103:
47:
1416:
1415:
1353:Yuknoom Chʼeen II
1313:Itzam Kʼan Ahk II
631:Maya civilization
590:Wisdom, Charles,
274:Progreso, Yucatán
66:[t͡ʃaːhk]
16:(Redirected from
1461:
1378:Lady Eveningstar
1370:
1295:
1095:
938:
862:
694:
660:Spanish conquest
642:
632:
623:
616:
609:
600:
592:The Chorti Mayas
583:Tozzer, Alfred,
518:
517:
511:
507:
505:
497:
495:
494:
479:
473:
472:
470:
469:
458:
452:
449:
443:
440:
434:
433:
431:
430:
413:
407:
404:
398:
397:
387:
381:
378:
372:
371:Roys 1967: 67–68
369:
363:
360:
354:
351:
345:
344:
342:
333:
68:
21:
1469:
1468:
1464:
1463:
1462:
1460:
1459:
1458:
1419:
1418:
1417:
1412:
1403:Wak Chanil Ajaw
1368:
1362:
1293:
1287:
1093:
1087:
985:
936:
930:
902:Human sacrifice
860:
854:
717:Triadic pyramid
695:
686:
650:Preclassic Maya
640:
634:
630:
627:
597:
527:
522:
521:
508:
498:
492:
490:
482:News, A. B. C.
481:
480:
476:
467:
465:
460:
459:
455:
450:
446:
441:
437:
428:
426:
415:
414:
410:
405:
401:
389:
388:
384:
379:
375:
370:
366:
361:
357:
352:
348:
340:
335:
334:
330:
325:
320:
294:
286:Hurricane Beryl
266:
264:In modern times
245:
236:
208:
194:related deity,
183:
153:
147:, of Yucatán.
136:
87:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1467:
1465:
1457:
1456:
1451:
1446:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1421:
1420:
1414:
1413:
1411:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1374:
1372:
1364:
1363:
1361:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1348:Yoʼnal Ahk III
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1305:
1299:
1297:
1289:
1288:
1286:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1224:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1184:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1099:
1097:
1089:
1088:
1086:
1085:
1078:
1071:
1064:
1057:
1050:
1043:
1042:
1041:
1034:
1027:
1020:
1008:
1001:
993:
991:
987:
986:
984:
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
942:
940:
932:
931:
929:
928:
923:
922:
921:
914:Social classes
911:
910:
909:
904:
899:
894:
884:
883:
882:
872:
866:
864:
856:
855:
853:
852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
827:
822:
817:
812:
807:
802:
801:
800:
795:
790:
780:
779:
778:
776:Maritime trade
773:
763:
758:
753:
748:
743:
742:
741:
731:
730:
729:
724:
719:
714:
703:
701:
697:
696:
689:
687:
685:
684:
683:
682:
677:
672:
667:
657:
652:
646:
644:
636:
635:
628:
626:
625:
618:
611:
603:
596:
595:
588:
581:
574:
567:
560:Roys, Ralph L.
557:
550:
543:
536:
528:
526:
523:
520:
519:
474:
453:
444:
435:
408:
399:
382:
373:
364:
355:
346:
327:
326:
324:
321:
319:
316:
315:
314:
308:
300:
293:
290:
265:
262:
249:Maya maize god
244:
241:
235:
232:
224:Diego de Landa
207:
204:
182:
179:
152:
149:
135:
132:
124:Chac Xib Chaac
108:Chac Xib Chaac
86:
83:
52:(also spelled
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1466:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1445:
1442:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1426:
1424:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1388:Lady of Tikal
1386:
1384:
1383:Lady of Itzan
1381:
1379:
1376:
1375:
1373:
1371:
1365:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1308:Haʼ Kʼin Xook
1306:
1304:
1301:
1300:
1298:
1296:
1290:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1225:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1186:
1185:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1104:
1101:
1100:
1098:
1096:
1090:
1084:
1083:
1079:
1077:
1076:
1075:Título Cʼoyoi
1072:
1070:
1069:
1065:
1063:
1062:
1058:
1056:
1055:
1051:
1049:
1048:
1044:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1021:
1019:
1018:
1014:
1013:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1006:
1002:
1000:
999:
995:
994:
992:
988:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
943:
941:
939:
933:
927:
924:
920:
917:
916:
915:
912:
908:
907:Death rituals
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
893:
890:
889:
888:
885:
881:
878:
877:
876:
873:
871:
868:
867:
865:
863:
857:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
785:
784:
781:
777:
774:
772:
769:
768:
767:
764:
762:
759:
757:
754:
752:
749:
747:
744:
740:
737:
736:
735:
732:
728:
725:
723:
720:
718:
715:
713:
710:
709:
708:
705:
704:
702:
698:
693:
681:
678:
676:
673:
671:
668:
666:
663:
662:
661:
658:
656:
653:
651:
648:
647:
645:
643:
637:
633:
624:
619:
617:
612:
610:
605:
604:
601:
593:
589:
586:
582:
579:
575:
572:
569:Taube, Karl,
568:
565:
561:
558:
555:
551:
548:
544:
541:
537:
534:
530:
529:
524:
515:
503:
489:
485:
478:
475:
463:
457:
454:
448:
445:
439:
436:
424:
423:
418:
412:
409:
403:
400:
395:
394:
386:
383:
377:
374:
368:
365:
359:
356:
350:
347:
339:
332:
329:
322:
317:
312:
309:
306:
305:
301:
299:
296:
295:
291:
289:
287:
283:
277:
275:
271:
263:
261:
259:
255:
250:
242:
240:
233:
231:
229:
225:
221:
217:
213:
212:Dresden Codex
205:
203:
201:
197:
187:
180:
178:
174:
171:
167:
157:
150:
148:
146:
141:
133:
131:
129:
125:
120:
115:
111:
109:
100:
96:
91:
84:
82:
80:
76:
72:
67:
63:
59:
58:Classic Mayan
55:
51:
44:
39:
33:
19:
1454:Thunder gods
1444:Rain deities
1434:Maya deities
1268:Vucub Caquix
1227:
1196:Ah-Muzen-Cab
1187:Post-Classic
1176:Moon goddess
1110:
1080:
1073:
1066:
1059:
1054:Rabinal Achí
1052:
1045:
1037:
1030:
1023:
1016:
1005:Chilam Balam
1003:
996:
707:Architecture
591:
584:
577:
570:
563:
553:
546:
539:
532:
491:. Retrieved
487:
477:
466:. Retrieved
464:. 2024-07-03
456:
447:
438:
427:. Retrieved
420:
411:
402:
392:
385:
376:
367:
358:
349:
331:
302:
278:
267:
253:
246:
237:
209:
192:
175:
162:
139:
137:
134:Rain rituals
128:Chichen Itza
123:
119:rain deities
116:
112:
107:
104:
61:
53:
49:
48:
42:
1408:Yohl Ikʼnal
1243:Hun Hunahpu
1161:Kinich Ahau
1151:Jaguar gods
510:|last=
425:. 1200–1250
272:located in
200:Teotihuacan
181:Iconography
1423:Categories
1258:Qʼuqʼumatz
1131:Hero Twins
1116:Death gods
990:Literature
926:Households
892:Priesthood
493:2024-07-12
468:2024-07-12
429:2013-08-21
318:References
254:Chak Xib .
140:Chʼa Cháak
77:among the
1398:Sak Kʼukʼ
1228:Popol Vuh
1166:Maize god
1126:Goddess I
1047:Popol Vuh
897:Sacrifice
880:Midwifery
870:Childhood
820:Mythology
783:Languages
670:Guatemala
323:Citations
151:Mythology
1393:Lady Xoc
1253:Jacawitz
1238:Camazotz
1221:Yum Kaax
1216:Kukulkan
976:Tzolkʼin
937:Calendar
887:Religion
845:Textiles
825:Numerals
810:Medicine
805:Mayanist
746:Ceramics
739:Graffiti
554:Chan Kom
540:Rubelpec
502:cite web
488:ABC News
292:See also
270:Poseidon
170:Qʼeqchiʼ
99:Honduras
1283:Zipacna
1248:Huracan
1156:Kʼawiil
1141:Itzamna
1102:Classic
1094:Deities
1024:Grolier
1017:Dresden
1011:Codices
861:Society
850:Warfare
788:Classic
766:Economy
756:Cuisine
727:Revival
712:E-Group
680:Yucatán
665:Chiapas
641:History
587:. 1941.
580:. 1970.
566:. 1967.
234:Warfare
166:Tzotzil
145:cenotes
56:or, in
1369:Queens
1233:Awilix
1181:Yopaat
1146:Ixchel
1031:Madrid
961:Kʼatun
951:Baktun
840:Stelae
830:People
793:Script
751:Cities
700:Topics
311:Yopaat
298:Aktzin
228:Bacabs
220:Ixchel
216:Bacabs
79:Aztecs
75:Tlaloc
62:Chaahk
1294:Kings
1278:Xquic
1263:Tohil
1211:Ixtab
1121:God L
1111:Chaac
1106:Bacab
1038:Paris
981:Winal
956:Haabʼ
875:Women
835:Sites
815:Music
771:Trade
761:Dance
675:Petén
341:(PDF)
258:God A
196:God K
50:Chaac
43:Chaac
18:Chaak
1206:Chin
1201:Akna
1191:Acat
966:Kʼin
946:Ajaw
919:Ajaw
798:List
514:help
284:and
206:Rain
117:The
71:Maya
54:Chac
1171:Mam
971:Tun
734:Art
1425::
562:,
506::
504:}}
500:{{
486:.
419:.
97:,
81:.
60:,
622:e
615:t
608:v
594:.
573:.
556:.
542:.
516:)
496:.
471:.
432:.
343:.
101:.
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
