Maya Maize God - Names and Calendrical Functions

Names and Calendrical Functions

Many designations for the pre-Spanish maize god occur in the Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel. They include ah mun 'tender green shoot' and zac uac nal 'white-six-new corn' (or uac chuaac nal 'six-tall-new corn'). In the wake of Schele, the Tonsured Maize God (hypothetically equated with Hun-Hunahpu) has often been nicknamed 'First Father'. The Classic name of the Tonsured Maize God (which usually includes the numeral 'One') is not known, although various names referring to the maize have been suggested ('Hun-Nal-Ye', 'Ixim').

The appearance of the Tonsured Maize God is connected to the base date of the Long Count, 4 Ahau 8 Cumku. Calendrically, the maize is associated with the day Q'an 'Ripe(ness)'; the head of the Foliated Maize God serves to denote the number Eight. The Tonsured Maize God is sometimes found associated with the lunar crescent and may therefore have played a role in the divisions of the lunar count; his head seems to occur in glyph C of the Lunar Series (see also Maya moon goddess).

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