[Aztlan] Ma: Paddler Gods

[Bruce Rogers]

Listeros,

I'd always been told that the canoe was paddled by only two figures: 
"Stingray Paddler/God" in the back slot (known from his nose-piercing 
stingray spine) and "Jaguar Paddler/God" (known by the jaguar 
patterns on his head gear). I've also been advised that these two 
were actually the Hero Twins that propelled Yum Kax towards the 
Heavens. The balance of the folks in the canoe were (from back to 
front): the Iguana (Itzamna), Howler Monkey, Yum Kax, Macaw (False 
Sun), & possibly Squirrel.

Having seen multiple carvings of a hair-covered quadruped (bear? 
kinkajou? [neither of which seem to be native to either of these 
locations]) on the sides of the temple of the Warriors at Chichen 
Itza and a stucco modeled "angry" Squirrel on the Palace Building at 
Acanceh, do either of those figures connect with the Squirrel or 
Venus or whomever is on the No. 2 spot in this canoe on the Tikal 
bone carving?

Cheers,
Bruce Rogers, earth scientist on a good day