Guest Author - Rebecca M. Cuevas De Caissie

The Mayan’s believed that the great caves where rivers flowed, called cenotes, were hiding places of the gods. It was in these remote times, when the Mayan people lived in the jungle that they learned to acknowledge the gods of the rain, the wind and the sun, since every animal and tree seemed to have a spirit that guarded them.

This is a list of some of the gods known to the Mayan people and what they represented.

A quick study and you will find strong correlation with the saints from the Catholic Church as well as holidays currently celebrated throughout out the countries where the Mayan empire used to stand, mainly Guatemala, Mexico and large areas of the remaining Central America.

Itzamna’, Padre de los dioses: the father of the gods.

Ixchel, esposa de Itzamna, diosa de la maternidad y de la medicina: wife of Itzamna’, the goddess of maternity and of medicine.

Chaac, dios de la lluvia: the god of rain.

Yum Kaax, dios de la maiz: the god of maiz.

Xama’n Ek, dios de la estrella del norte: god of the north star.

Ek Chuah,dios de los mercaderes: the god of merchants.

Ah Kin, dios del sol: god of the sun.

Kinich Kakmo’, dios del mediodia: the god of the noon hour.

Bolom Dzacab, dios de los reyes mayas: god of the Mayan kings.

Joven diosa de la luna: The young goddess of the moon, name unknown.

Ah Puch, dios de la muerte: the god of death.

Ixtab, diosa de los ahorcados: the goddess of the hanged men.

Unknown, dios de los sacrificios humanos: the god of the human sacrifice.

Kukulcan, dios del viento y del planet Venus: the god of the wind and of the planet Venus.

These gods were used to honor seasons as well as for the needs of the people. Through out the Mayan ruins there are many images with meanings left that are still to be discovered. Today many people travel to the Mayan ruins to witness first hand the marvels of the pyramids, sculptures, carvings and etchings which hold the secrets of one of the most complex and oldest civilizations yet known. Within these walls are the mysteries of lives so compelling that we glimpse at these gods, who represent the important issues to the people of the day and find striking similarities to the values we ourselves hold.