#itzamna

[red-steampunk]

[summocrap]

[glimpse-of-gaia]

Kukulkan (Gukumatz)

Kukulkan is often regarded as a creator and civilizing god. As the Plumed Serpent, he embodies the union of earth and sky, water and wind – essentially a cosmic mediator. Quiché Maya lore (Popol Vuh) describes Gukumatz as one of the gods who spoke the world into existence, working alongside Huracan (Heart of Sky) to create humanity. He was counted among the thirteen deities who shaped the world.

After creation, Kukulkan/Gucumatz took on the role of culture hero: he is said to have taught humans the arts of civilization – law, agriculture, writing, medicine, fishing, etc., essentially all aspects of cultured life. This mirrors Itzamna’s portfolio, and indeed some traditions merge the two or consider Kukulkan an incarnation of Itzamna.

In Yucatec Maya history, Kukulkan was also the name of a legendary hero or group of people who arrived at Chichén Itzá, suggesting the god was a patron of certain Maya lineages or rulerships.

Astronomically, Kukulkan is strongly tied to Venus (the morning star). The feathered serpent has an evident presence in the Venus tables of the Dresden Codex – for example, Venus was often associated with warfare and upheaval, and the serpent could represent the sky omens. One could interpret the descending Kukulkan at equinox as Venus descending at dusk. Furthermore, as a wind god (by analogy to Quetzalcoatl-Ehecatl of the Aztecs), Kukulkan had sway over the breath of life and winds that bring rains or carry storms.

In Postclassic times, Kukulkan was at the center of a priesthood and oracles (like those at Mayapan) and became one of the most “universal” Maya gods, respected across many sites.

Kukulkan’s influence can be seen in the political and ceremonial life of the Postclassic Maya. Cities like Chichén Itzá and Mayapán dedicated major temples to him; worship of Kukulkan helped unite people, as he was a deity that transcended local city-gods and had pan-Maya appeal. This feathered serpent was invoked in royal ceremonies – rulers liked to trace connections to Kukulkan to bolster their authority, claiming to uphold the law and order that Kukulkan established.

For ordinary people, Kukulkan represented the promise of prosperity and knowledge. Farmers could see him in the timely wind that brought rain clouds; craftsmen and scribes might honor him when practicing their arts, since those arts were his gift. The equinox festival, when the shadow-serpent slithers down the pyramid, would draw crowds a time when the populace witnessed their god manifest in nature and architecture, renewing the covenant that planting season was to begin with divine favor.

Kukulkan was also believed to be a protector: stories tell that he ruled wisely and then departed with a promise to return. This gave hope in times of hardship that the Plumed Serpent’s return would restore order. In daily moral life, Kukulkan’s example as a lawgiver meant that codes of conduct and community laws were seen as sanctioned by the gods. Even after the Spanish conquest, the concept of a returning great lord persisted (some saw Cortés as a possible fulfillment), showing how deeply Kukulkan’s myth influenced the Maya mindset.

In essence, Kukulkan touched the Maya world by providing the foundations of their society and the reassurance that the cosmos was orderly and benevolent, as long as his teachings were honored.

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[eirikrjs]

i have a bad news about dragon maya:it may be fake or original just like alice and holy ghost. here is what kaneko said about its origin:おそらく当時の悪魔のラインナップ担当の方がマヤ神話から着想を得た創作と思われます。なので書籍には出て来ません. As things stand, there is a high probability that it is an original creation.

Given the historic elusiveness of this thing, Kaneko all but confirming it doesn't actually exist seems like the inevitable outcome.

As for Ryūjin Maya, it's likely that the person in charge of the demon lineup at the time drew inspiration from the Maya mythology to create an original character. So, it doesn't appear in any books.

+ @dijeh's Akuma Daijiten profile translation. And I suppose that's going to be the send-off for this DUMB thing that was seemingly invented for some reason by (probably) Kazunari Suzuki.

[otherworldmythology]

Itzamná - Itzamna

The aged divine creator god, often the masculine to the feminine Ixchel. He is sometimes credited with creating the world and, more importantly, teaching humans about writing, glyphs, and the calendar. With Ixchel he is often said to be father to the Bacab, the gods that hold up the world. He is associated with two other creatures, the caiman and a bird, and is often said to appear as either form as Itzam Cab Ain or the so called "Principal Bird Deity". He is also sometimes equated with the god Kinich Ahau, and in his bird form is associated with night and day.

Pantheon: Maya

Domain or Function: Primordial creator of the world who taught humans about writing and timekeeping.

Alternate Names: Prior to being named he is known as "God D", Itzamnaaj, Itzam Nah Yax Kokaj Mut.

Character Traits: Not much is known of him, however he taught humans how to write and make calendars.

Visual Traits: He is usually identified by a hooked nose and his elderly form, often reaching out in an act of teaching. He is usually wearing very elaborate headdresses, sometimes shaped like caimans or birds.

Symbolism: The caiman, bird, hooked nose.

Sources: 1 2

[strangermiles]

and here's probably one of my favorite recent pieces. i've been trying to get better at line art and i feel like my lining style really came into its own here ☺️

also i love this big red dork hiii

[apollogies-p]

Gods fading wasn't anything new. Small religions die out everyday but this... this was different.

Apollo had never been friends with a god so young, barely five centuries old yet they clicked instantly. He had actually been looking forward to going to their annual sun-god meetings now.

Apollo could feel it all the way from Greece. The sudden cold that went just as fast as it came, like someone pouring ice water on him then immediately launching him into a hot spring.

He felt sick. Him, the god of healing, felt physically ill. Something that was once a part of him ripped away, and now his body was desperately trying to seal the hole left behind.

Now he's sitting at their grand round table, encrusted with gold and stained with festive colors.

One chair empty.

Huitzilopochtli.

He was a young god. He barely achieved a physical form about five centuries ago but he'd been around for a little longer than that. Long enough to help the Aztecs establish Tenochtitlan.

Apollo let out a sigh as he put his head on the always warm wood table. He tried to keep his eyes on the table as Ra droned on about why they were summoned so suddenly.

As if they already didn't know. As if they didn't feel that gaping hole in their chests as one of their own is ripped away from them.

His eyes wandered onto Itzamná's sullen figure.

The Mayan was dressed in casual attire. Well as casual as you can dress when you just helped your country gain independence. Four years after the war and his skin still didn't seem as brilliant and his eyes long lost their luster.

Fear gripped his throat as Apollo came to sudden realization. If Huitzilopochtli could fade, did fade, all because of some overzealous Spanish conquistadors that didn't know what touching what wasn't yours was, then so could Itzamná.

There were so little Mayan people now, so little that believed in him.

His head was off the table and distantly he could hear Ra dismiss all of them and that they'd hold the proper funeral services soon.

Gods, a funeral.

Apollo didn't wait for the other, more older gods to say anything, nor did he stop to wave off their concerned gazes. He rushed to Itzamná side and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry"

Itzamná didn't say anything but the tears that soaked into Apollos jacket and the tremble of his arms said more than enough.

[azurezephyrr]

I made a bingo card of my favorite characters from different media.

So do your thing.