Gods of the Three Realms
The Maya pantheon encompasses hundreds of deities who dwell in the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. From the supreme creator Itzamna to the feathered serpent Kukulkan, from the rain god Chaac to the terrifying lords of Xibalba, these are the divine beings who shaped Maya civilization and continue to influence the traditions of their descendants today.
Major Deities
The most powerful and widely worshipped gods of the Maya world, each presiding over essential aspects of existence - from the cycles of creation to the life-giving rains, from the moon's phases to death and rebirth.
Kukulkan
"K'uk'ulkan" - "Feathered Serpent"
God of Wind, Creation, and Knowledge
The great feathered serpent deity shared across Mesoamerica. Bringer of civilization, knowledge, and the calendar. His pyramid at Chichen Itza displays a serpent of light each equinox.
Domains: Wind, Wisdom, Creation, Learning
Itzamna
"Itzamnaaj" - "Iguana House"
Supreme Creator God, Lord of the Heavens
The aged creator deity who invented writing, the calendar, and healing. Depicted as an old man or cosmic caiman, he rules from the highest heaven and is father to many gods.
Domains: Creation, Sky, Writing, Medicine
Ixchel
"Ix Chel" - "Lady Rainbow"
Moon Goddess, Weaving, Medicine
The powerful moon goddess associated with fertility, childbirth, and healing. As consort of Itzamna, she embodies feminine creative power. Her sacred shrine on Cozumel drew pilgrims for centuries.
Domains: Moon, Fertility, Weaving, Medicine
Chaac
"Chaahk" - "Thunder/Lightning"
God of Rain, Thunder, and Agriculture
The rain deity with his distinctive long nose and jade ornaments. He wields a lightning axe to split clouds and bring the waters that sustain Maya agriculture. One of the oldest and most popular gods.
Domains: Rain, Thunder, Fertility, Agriculture
Ah Puch
"Ah Pukuh" - "The Destroyer"
God of Death and the Underworld
The skeletal lord of Xibalba, ruler over the dead and embodiment of decay. Also known as Kisin and Hun Ahau, he commands the fearsome Lords of Death who challenge the Hero Twins.
Domains: Death, Underworld, Decay, Darkness
Understanding the Maya Pantheon
God Letters and Classification
Early scholars assigned letters (A through P) to Maya deities based on their appearance in codices, as their actual names were often unknown. Thus "God D" referred to Itzamna, "God B" to Chaac, and "God A" to the death god. Modern scholarship has recovered many original names through advances in deciphering Maya hieroglyphics, revealing a rich theological vocabulary.
Multiple Aspects
Maya deities often appeared in multiple forms or aspects. Chaac, for example, manifested as four separate gods associated with the cardinal directions, each bringing different types of rain. Ixchel appeared both as a young maiden and as an aged crone. This multiplicity reflects the Maya understanding of divine power as multifaceted and contextual.
Lords of Xibalba
The underworld (Xibalba - "Place of Fear") was ruled by twelve death gods who tested and tormented souls through various trials. The Popol Vuh names several, including Hun Came ("One Death") and Vucub Came ("Seven Death"), as well as gods of disease like Xiquiripat ("Flying Scab") and Cuchumaquic ("Blood Gatherer"). The Hero Twins' victory over these lords established the pattern of death and resurrection at the heart of Maya religion.