[Aztlan] Chac or Principal Bird Deity

[Justin Kerr]

Dear Henry,
The mask that you refer to at Tikal is indeed the mask of the Principal Bird
Deity. In fact most of the masks that front Early Classic temples such as
those at Waxactun and Cerros are representations of this deity. His image is
one of the most ubiquitous in the Early Classic period with rulers wearing
this mask in their headdresses See Kaminaljuyu for example or even La
Mojarra.
The masks on the temples of the Yucatan have for many years been described
as Chac masks but this has been strongly disputed. Linda Schele for one
showed that in fact the masks at Uxmal and Kabah were masks of the Principal
Bird. 
There is some disagreement whether Vucub Caquix of the Popol Vuh is a
version of this deity or some other creature; but there are quite a few
ceramic images which seem to make it perfectly clear that Vucub Caquix is
the Pricipal Bird. There seems to no doubt that the Principal Bird is the
animal alter ego of the major god Itzamnah and there a quite a few images
where we see them combined. 
Chac is another matter and possesses a number of forms although my favorites
are the images of Chac on the codex style vessels. 
Justin Kerr

-----Original Message-----
From: aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org [mailto:aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org]
On Behalf Of Henry Avila
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 12:14 PM
To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
Subject: [Aztlan] Chac or Principal Bird Deity

 

 

Mayanist:

 

Hello to everyone.  I would like to know which are the differences between
the god of rain Chac and the Principal Bird Deity, and, the mask of the
acropolis at Tikal, belongs to chac or belongs to the Principal Bird Deity.
Thanks to everyone.  

 

Regards

 

 

 

 

 

Atentamente,

 

 

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Henry Avila Aguilar

 

Arqueología Maya

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/arqueologiamaya

Montañismo Guatemala

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/montanismoguatemala

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