Chaac (deity)
Chaac, also known as Chac or Chaahk, is a prominent deity in Mayan mythology, revered as the god of rain, storms, thunder, and lightning. His significance is deeply tied to the agricultural practices of the Maya, particularly their reliance on maize, making him a vital figure in their daily lives and spiritual beliefs. Chaac is often depicted with a distinctive large nose, prominent fangs, and expressive eyes, and he is typically represented in various forms that correspond to the four cardinal directions, each associated with different colors and aspects of rain.
The mythology surrounding Chaac includes tales of his actions producing rain by striking clouds with his axe, accompanied by thunder and lightning. He is said to live in mountains often shrouded in clouds, and his various manifestations can lead to gentle rainfall or severe storms. Additionally, Chaac is involved in creation myths, including stories about the discovery of maize and his interactions with other deities like Kinich Ahau, the sun god.
Ceremonies honoring Chaac were widespread, ranging from offerings in cenotes to more dramatic rituals, including human sacrifices during times of drought. Despite the decline of the Mayan civilization, modern farmers still honor Chaac, reflecting his enduring legacy as a symbol of fertility and sustenance. His central role in Mayan culture underscores the deep connection between the community's spiritual practices and their agricultural needs.
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Subject Terms
Chaac (deity)
Symbols: Axes and snakes; frog
Culture: Mesoamerican/Mayan
Siblings: In some myths, Kinich Ahau, the sun
Chaac (also spelled Chac and Chaahk) is the Mayan god of rain. He is also the deity of storms, thunder, and lightning. Given the complete dependence of the Maya on agriculture, especially on maize, the bringer of rain was a very important force in their lives. All Mesoamerican peoples were devoted to their rain gods for the same reason, and all of the different rain deities had similar characteristics.
Among a number of rain-related deities and spirits, Chaac was the supreme god of storms and rain. In some communities, the god was associated with the rulers who were also sometimes considered rainmakers. Chaac struck the clouds with his stone axe, or an axe made of lightning, and in this way, he brought rain to the Mayan crops.
The Maya of the Yucatán Peninsula in present-day Mexico were particularly devoted to Chaac. During the so-called Classic Period of the Maya, Chaac was often carved with a huge, hanging proboscis-type nose, prominent fangs, and big round eyes.
In the town of Uxmal, a city of some twenty-five thousand that was founded around the year 700 CE, ceremonial buildings are covered with symbols and stylized depictions of Chaac. The hundreds of representations of the god emphasize his importance to the Maya. The artworks in a number of Mayan sites, including Uxmal and its companion towns, Sayil, Kabah, and Labna, are considered pinnacles of Mayan art. Uxmal is a UNESCO (United National Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site. In Uxmal, entire building facades are virtually covered with stylized renditions of Chaac’s face.
In Mythology
Rain deities were the patrons of agriculture among the Maya. Chaac was the principal god among these deities. As was common for the principal gods of the Maya, Chaac took four forms that corresponded to the cardinal compass directions. These forms were also associated with colors that were identified with the compass points and particular aspects of the rain deity. The four forms included:
- Chaak Xib Chaac, the Red Chaac of the east.
- Sak Xib Chaac, the White Chaac of the north.
- Ex Xib Chaac, the Black Chaac of the west.
- Kan Xib Chaac, the Yellow Chaac of the south.
Chaac produced rain by striking the clouds with his axe or with snakes. A dwarf or team of dwarfs assisted him, and when they did their work, the maize grew. The different forms of rain and mist as well as the intensity of the storms that occur were all a result of Chaac’s different actions. The different aspects of Chaac’s character were demonstrated in gentle, nurturing rains, powerful winds, and hail and hurricanes. All of these storms were manifestations of the rain deity.
Chaac lived in places that were often obscured by clouds, such as the tops of mountains. When he struck the clouds to produce rain, he announced his actions with thunder and lightning.
Within the narrative mythology of the Maya, Chaac is not well known to modern researchers. Differing versions of Mayan myths about Chaac were told in different regions and among different people. In one story, Chaac helped open the mountain in which maize was hidden. Thus, Chaac was instrumental in the discovery of the main sustenance of the Maya as well as nurturing the plants over time.
In another myth, Chaac is the brother of Kinich Ahau, the sun. Together, the two deities defeat their adoptive mother and her lover, and the brothers assume positions of great power. But Chaac later has an affair with his brother’s wife. Chaac is punished for his adultery, and his penitent tears become the first rain. In another variant of the myth attaching Chaac to the sun, the rain god pursues the sun and moon, striking them with lightning bolts.
Origins and Cults
Chaac is considered one of the oldest Mayan gods, but depictions of this deity are found only on painted jars and in carvings on buildings from the relatively recent past—that is, from the Classic and Postclassic periods, or from about 300 CE until the demise of the culture in 1542 CE. In contrast to almost every other Mayan deity, however, Chaac still receives prayers and offerings from modern farmers who are hoping for rain.
In keeping with the violence of some storms, carvings of Chaac often show him in a state of fury, with large fangs and enraged eyes. In other carvings, Chaac has a human form that includes animal features, such as the scales of a fish, some features of a reptile, and a protruding lower lip beneath a curled nose. In some representations, he is like an old man, and some show tears coming from his eyes to symbolize rain. Like other Mayan gods, he often wears a large headdress.
In Mayan society, ceremonies to honor Chaac were held almost everywhere. Ceremonies took place in the cities, in the fields, and in the cenotes and karstic wells of the Yucatán. During severe droughts, human sacrifices also seem to have been made to Chaac. Young boys and girls were lowered or thrown into cenotes and left to drown. Offerings of gold and jade were also thrown into the water. Evidence of this ritual has been discovered at the great cenote at Chichén Itzá, along with other signs that human sacrifice was associated with the rain god. For example, the priests who held down the arms and legs of the individuals who were to be sacrificed were called chacs.
Archeologists have discovered many less-dramatic ceremonies dedicated to Chaac in caves and karstic wells throughout the Mayan region. Because of Chaac’s delivery of life-giving rain and his attendant association with fertility, the god’s importance cannot be overstated. Over time, rulers and priests gradually became more closely associated with the god. The rulers were called rainmakers, and their ability to communicate with Chaac was part of what conferred on them their legitimacy.
Bibliography
Charles River Editors. A Day in the Life of the Maya: History, Culture and Daily Life in the Mayan Empire. Seattle: CreateSpace, 2013. Print.
Charles River Editors. The Religion of the Maya. Seattle: CreateSpace, 2013. Print.
Elsom, Derek. Lightning: Nature and Culture. Clerkenwell: Reaktion, 2015. Print.
Harasta, Jesse. Chichen Itza: The History and Mystery of the Maya’s Most Famous City. Seattle: CreateSpace, 2013. Print.
Miller, Mary Ellen, and Karl Taube. An Illustrated History of the Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya. London: Thames & Hudson, 1997. Print.
Sharer, Robert J., and Loa P. Traxler. The Ancient Maya. 6th ed. Redwood City: Stanford, 2005. Print.
Skornik, Willard. Deities of Thunder. Seattle: CreateSpace, 2015. Print.