Bakabs

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Description of Bakabs

Bakabs are gods in the Mayan mythology. They are the Hobnil brothers, Kan-Tsik-Nal, Sak-Kimi and Khosan-Ek, who stand in the four corners of the universe and support the sky so that it does not fall to the ground. Bakabs were associated with color and calendar symbols of the countries of the world. Therefore, Hobnil was associated with the east and red and was the patron saint of the years starting from the day of Kahn; Kan-Tsik-Nal – with north, white and Muluk years; Sak-Kimi – with the west, black and years of Predators; Khosan-Ek - with the south, yellow and Kawak years. Bakabs had an anthropomorphic appearance, but a number of images and written sources suggest that in ancient times they were thought of as animals (iguana, possum, turtle, and snail) or insects (spider, bees).

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Maya main description

Mayan symbols Mayan symbols have had a rich history across Central America. Spreading across a vast territory that stretched from Mexico to Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras, Mayan symbols and glyphs have been found in a vast array of locations. These symbols are crucial to understanding their religion, everyday life, and even their economic and social structure. The earliest known Mayan symbols have been dated to 250 BC, although some think it could have originated even before that. Mayan hieroglyphics have been found carved on stone and bone, painted on pottery and other methods. Mayans were one of the only ancient civilizations that developed their own complex writing system. Alongside this, they also developed their own comprehensive calendar as well as a zodiac system. Unfortunately, though, many of these elements of the Mayan culture and empire have been destroyed over time, leading to confusion in understanding the true meanings of these symbols. After the Spanish conquering of the Maya empire in the 16th century, the Maya were forced to give up their language and religion. The Spanish forced the population into converting to Christianity and communicating in Spanish. After the Conquest, much of the glyphs disappeared, along with any way to interpret their meanings. Over time, researchers have decoded enough that there are now definitions for at least 90% of the existing glyphs.