Jacawitz- Maya GodDeity"Mountain Lord"
Also known as: Jakawitz, Hacavitz, and Jaqawitz
Titles & Epithets
Domains
Symbols
Description
Jacawitz walked out of Tulan Zuyva with the Ahaw K'iche' ancestors, a mountain god carried through darkness toward a highland home. When the first sun rose, he turned to stone. The K'iche' built his shrine on the volcanic peak that bore his name.
Mythology & Lore
From Tulan to Stone
The Popol Vuh names three patron deities who left Tulan Zuyva with the K'iche' ancestors. Tohil went to the Kaweq and Awilix to the Nijaib. Jacawitz went to the Ahaw K'iche', carried by Mahucutah. During the migration through darkness toward the Guatemalan highlands, the gods spoke directly to their people, guiding the course of travel. They could vanish from sight and reappear at will.
Then the sun rose for the first time over Chi Pixab, and the gods who had walked beside the people turned to stone. Jacawitz fell silent with the others. What had been a living voice became an image that the Ahaw K'iche' could only address through blood and copal smoke.
The Sacred Peak
After the K'iche' settled in the highlands, the Ahaw K'iche' housed Jacawitz's stone image on a volcanic peak bearing his name. The mountain was the god. Stone and deity were the same thing. Pilgrims climbed to make offerings and seek his favor for harvests and war.
Relationships
- Associated with