. Ancient civilizations of Mexico and Central America. Indians of Mexico; Indians of Central America. THE MAYAN riYILIXA'l EON 09 however, they are represented aparl from man, as engaged in various activities and contests. Mayan religion was clearly organized on a dualistic basis. The powers for good are in a constant struggle with the powers for evil and most of the benevolent di- vinities have malevolent duplicates. In actual form the gods are partly human, but ordi- narily the determining features are grotesque variations from the human face and figure. "While beast associ- ations are
. Ancient civilizations of Mexico and Central America. Indians of Mexico; Indians of Central America. THE MAYAN riYILIXA'l EON 09 however, they are represented aparl from man, as engaged in various activities and contests. Mayan religion was clearly organized on a dualistic basis. The powers for good are in a constant struggle with the powers for evil and most of the benevolent di- vinities have malevolent duplicates. In actual form the gods are partly human, but ordi- narily the determining features are grotesque variations from the human face and figure. "While beast associ- ations are sometimes discernible, they are rarely controlling". Sometimes, however, beast gods are represented in unmistakable fashion, good exam- ples being the jaguar, the bat, and the moan bird. All of these have hu- man bodies and animal heads. The head position in the Mayan pantheon may with some assurance be given to a god who has been called. Fig. 33. The ^Manikin Scep- ter, a Grotesque Figure "with one Leg modified in- to a Serpent. the Roman-nosed god and who is probably to be identified with Itzamna. According to Spanish writers Itzamna was regarded by the Mayas as the cre- ator and father of all, the inventor of writing, the founder of the Mayan civilization, and the god of light and life. This Zeus of the Mayas is represented in the form of an old man with a high forehead, a strongly aquiline nose, and a distended mouth, toothless, or with a single enlarged tooth in front. On the ancient monuments he is frequently seen in the mouths of the Ceremonial Bar and also in association with the sun, moon, and the planet Venus. In the codices he is shown as a protector of the Maize God and in other acts beneficial to. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Spinden, Herbert Joseph, 1879-1967. New Y
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