Page:Mexican Archæology.djvu/281

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE MAYA: RELIGION
225

cult to treat satisfactorily is Kukulkan, the Quiche Gukumatz. The name, as stated before in connection with Quetzalcoatl, means "Feathered serpent," and the conception of such a divinity is not peculiar to the Maya region, since a feathered snake, the "Mother of waters," is worshipped by the Pueblo Indians far to the north. But Gukumatz - Kukulkan is not a mere water-god, and I think that his real nature is apparent from the Tzental description of Kukulkan, "the feathered snake that goes in the waters."

Fig. 48.—The serpent-bird, from a carved wooden panel at Tikal.
(After Maudslay)

It is difficult to see what else this can typify than the ripple, born both of wind and water, the aspect of which suggests feathers, and the motion a serpent. Both as representing motion, i.e. primordial motion, and as typifying wind, i.e. breath, the god represents life, and so in his highest aspect becomes a creator-god. In his snake and water aspect he is closely connected with the rain-gods, while in his bird and wind manifestation he is lord of the sky and world-directions, for the winds blow from all points of the compass. As this great and vague deity