Itzamna

Description of Itzamna

Itzamna is one of the main deities of the Maya, at least, the cult of this deity was revered throughout the Mayan civilization, and all the inhabitants of the empire, without exception, worshiped him. Translated from the Indian language, Itzamna means “lizard house” or “iguana house”. Itzamna is one of the most ancient Mayan deities. Its history begins in the period of veneration of totemic animals, when, according to legends, the main Mayan gods were not yet born, and lizards, sacred Mayan animals, held the earth and the firmament on their heads and tails. The main Mayan deity in his images appeared in the form of an old man with one tooth in his mouth.

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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.