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{{Short description|Deity}}
{{redirect|Hacavitz|the extreme metal band|Hacavitz (band)}}
{{about|the Maya god|the Maya archaeological site|Chitinamit}}
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{{Maya civilization}}
{{for|the Maya archaeological site|Chitinamit}}
'''Jacawitz''' (also spelt '''Jakawitz''', '''Jakawits''', '''Q'aq'awits''' and '''Hacavitz''') was a mountain [[List of Maya gods and supernatural beings|god]] of the [[Mesoamerican chronology|Postclassic]] [[K'iche' people|K'iche']] [[Maya civilization|Maya]] of highland [[Guatemala]].<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.369.</ref> He was the patron of the Ajaw K'iche' lineage and was a companion of the sun god [[Tohil]].<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.370.</ref> It is likely that he received [[sacrifice in Maya culture|human sacrifice]].<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.370.</ref> The word ''jacawitz'' means "mountain" in the lowland [[Maya languages|Maya language]], and the word ''q'aq'awitz'' of the highland Maya means "fire mountain", which suggests that Jacawitz was mainly a fire deity, much like Tohil. In the [[Mam language]], the similar word ''xq'aqwitz'' means "yellow wasp" and the wasp was an important symbol of the deity and its associated lineage.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, pp.198-199.n.553.</ref> In the [[Ch'ol language|Cholan languages]], ''jacawitz'' means "first mountain.", linking the god with the first mountain of creation.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.211.n.585.</ref>


'''Jacawitz''' ({{IPA|/χäkäˈwits/}}) (also spelt '''Jakawitz''', '''Jakawits''', '''Qʼaqʼawits''' and '''Hacavitz''') was a mountain [[List of Maya gods and supernatural beings|god]] of the [[Mesoamerican chronology|Postclassic]] [[Kʼicheʼ people|Kʼicheʼ]] [[Maya civilization|Maya]] of highland [[Guatemala]].<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.369.</ref> He was the patron of the Ajaw Kʼicheʼ lineage and was a companion of the sun god [[Tohil]].<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.370.</ref> It is likely that he received [[Human sacrifice in Maya culture|human sacrifice]].<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.370.</ref> The word ''jacawitz'' means "mountain" in the lowland [[Maya languages|Maya language]], and the word ''qʼaqʼawitz'' of the highland Maya means "fire mountain", which suggests that Jacawitz was mainly a fire deity, much like Tohil. In the [[Mam language]], the similar word ''xqʼaqwitz'' means "yellow wasp" and the wasp was an important symbol of the deity and its associated lineage.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, pp.198-199.n.553.</ref> In the [[Chʼol language|Cholan languages]], ''jacawitz'' means "first mountain", linking the god with the first mountain of creation.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.211.n.585.</ref>
In the K'iche' epic [[Popul Vuh]], the first people gathered at the mythical place [[Tollan]] to receive their gods, and Mahucutah, one of the gathered K'iche' lords, received Jacawitz.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.198.</ref> The mid-9th century Stela 8 at the [[Mesoamerican chronology|Terminal Classic]] lowland Maya site of [[Seibal]] describes a visitor to the city named Hakawitzil. This is an early spelling of Jacawitz and [[Mayanist]]s [[Linda Schele]] and Peter Mathews have proposed that the event depicted on this stela gave rise to the foundation legends of the K'iche'.<ref>Schele & Mathews 1999, pp.190-193.</ref> As well as being mentioned frequently in the Popul Vih, Jacawitz is also mentioned in the K'iche' document ''Título de los Señores de Totonicapán''.<ref>Recinos 1998, pp.173, 179.</ref>


In the Kʼicheʼ epic [[Popul Vuh]], the first people gathered at the mythical place [[Tollan]] to receive their gods, and Mahucutah, one of the gathered Kʼicheʼ lords, received Jacawitz.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.198.</ref> The mid-9th century Stela 8 at the [[Mesoamerican chronology|Terminal Classic]] lowland Maya site of [[Seibal]] describes a visitor to the city named Hakawitzil. This is an early spelling of Jacawitz and [[Mayanist]]s [[Linda Schele]] and Peter Mathews have proposed that the event depicted on this stela gave rise to the [[Founding myth|foundation legends]] of the Kʼicheʼ.<ref>Schele & Mathews 1999, pp.190-193.</ref> As well as being mentioned frequently in the Popul Vuh, Jacawitz is also mentioned in the Kʼicheʼ document ''Título de los Señores de Totonicapán''.<ref>Recinos 1998, pp.173, 179.</ref>
Jacawitz was one of a triad of K'iche' deities, the other two being Tohil and the goddess [[Awilix]], all three were sometimes collectively refered to as Tohil, the principal member of the triad.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.228.n.646.</ref> The concept of a trinity of deities was an ancient one in Maya culture, dating back to the [[Mesoamerican chronology|Preclassic period]].<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.61.n.65.</ref>


The Ahaw K'iche' were the founding lineage of the K'iche' Maya, although they later lost power to the Kaweq lineage; as they lost status within the kingdom, so did their patron god.<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.369. van Akkeren, Ruud 2002, p.1.</ref> The temple of Jacawitz at the K'iche' capital of [[Q'umarkaj]] was one of the three tallest buildings in the city, although it faced away from the main plaza.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.268.n.821.</ref> The temple is a large mound south of the plaza, its stonework has been stripped away making its original form uncertain, although a 19th century plan of the city recorded it as a pyramid.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.269.n.823.</ref>
Jacawitz was one of a triad of Kʼicheʼ deities, the other two being Tohil and the goddess [[Awilix]], all three were sometimes collectively referred to as Tohil, the principal member of the triad.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.228.n.646.</ref> The concept of a trinity of deities was an ancient one in Maya culture, dating back to the [[Mesoamerican chronology|Preclassic period]].<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.61.n.65.</ref>

==Temple of Jacawitz==
The Ahaw Kʼicheʼ were the founding lineage of the Kʼicheʼ Maya, although they later lost power to the Kaweq lineage; as they lost status within the kingdom, so did their patron god.<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.369. van Akkeren, Ruud 2002, p.1.</ref> The temple of Jacawitz at the Kʼicheʼ capital of [[Qʼumarkaj]] was one of the three tallest buildings in the city, although it faced away from the main plaza.<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.268.n.821.</ref> The temple is a large mound south of the plaza, its stonework has been stripped away making its original form uncertain, although a 19th-century plan of the city recorded it as a [[Mesoamerican pyramids|pyramid]].<ref>Christenson 2003, 2007, p.269.n.823.</ref> This pyramid temple was part of a complex that consisted of a patio enclosed by the temple on the northern side, a palace on the south side and a long building on the east.<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.367.</ref> The Jakawitz temple complex has not yet been investigated archaeologically.<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.367.</ref> The 19th century drawings by Miguel Rivera y Maestre suggest that the temple was a narrow building with four or five terraces.<ref>Carmack 2001a, p.368.</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}


==References==
==References==
{{refbegin|indent=yes}}<!--BEGIN biblio format. If indent param. is used, Pls use a colon (:) instead of asterisk (*) for bullet markers in the references list -->
{{Refbegin|indent=yes}}<!--BEGIN biblio format. -->
: {{cite book |author={{aut|Carmack, Robert M.}} |authorlink=Robert Carmack|year=2001a |title=Kik'ulmatajem le K'iche'aab': Evolución del Reino K'iche' |location=Guatemala |publisher=Iximulew |isbn=99922-56-22-2 |oclc=253481949}} {{es icon}}
* {{cite book |author=Carmack, Robert M. |author-link=Robert Carmack|year=2001a |title=Kikʼulmatajem le Kʼicheʼaabʼ: Evolución del Reino Kʼicheʼ |location=Guatemala |publisher=Iximulew |isbn=99922-56-22-2 |oclc=253481949|language=es}}
: {{cite web |author={{aut|Christenson, Allen J.}} |title=Popul Vuh: Sacred Book of the Quiché Maya People |url=http://www.mesoweb.com/publications/Christenson/PopolVuh.pdf |year=2003, 2007 |format=[[PDF]] online publication |work=Mesoweb articles |publisher=Mesoweb: An Exploration of Mesoamerican Cultures |accessdate=2010/02/16}}
* {{cite web |author=Christenson, Allen J. |title=Popul Vuh: Sacred Book of the Quiché Maya People |url=http://www.mesoweb.com/publications/Christenson/PopolVuh.pdf |orig-year=2003 |year=2007 |format=[[PDF]] online publication |work=Mesoweb articles |publisher=Mesoweb: An Exploration of Mesoamerican Cultures |access-date=2010-02-16}}
: {{cite book |author={{aut|Recinos, Adrian}} |authorlink=Adrian Recinos |year=1998 |title=Memorial de Solalá, Anales de los Kaqchikeles; Título de los Señores de Totonicapán |publisher=Piedra Santa |location=Guatemala |isbn=84-8377-006-7 |oclc=25476196}} {{es icon}}
* {{cite book |author=Recinos, Adrian |author-link=Adrian Recinos |year=1998 |title=Memorial de Solalá, Anales de los Kaqchikeles; Título de los Señores de Totonicapán |publisher=Piedra Santa |location=Guatemala |isbn=84-8377-006-7 |oclc=25476196|language=es}}
:{{cite book |author={{aut|Schele, Linda}} |authorlink=Linda Schele |coauthors=and {{aut|Peter Mathews}} |year=1999 |title=The Code of Kings: The language of seven Maya temples and tombs |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=978-0-684-85209-6 |oclc=41423034}}
*{{cite book |author=Schele, Linda |author-link=Linda Schele |author2=Peter Mathews |year=1999 |title=The Code of Kings: The language of seven Maya temples and tombs |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=978-0-684-85209-6 |oclc=41423034 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/codeofkingslangu00lind }}
: {{cite journal|author={{aut|van Akkeren, Ruud}} |year=2002 |title=El lugar en donde salió el primer sol para los K’ich’e; Jakawits, su nueva ubicación. |journal=XV Simposio de Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Guatemala, 2001 (edited by J.P. Laporte, H. Escobedo and B. Arroyo) |pages=1–12 |publisher=Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología |location=Guatemala |format=versión digital |url=http://asociaciontikal.com/pdf/01-01%20-%20Akkeren%20-%20en%20PDF.pdf |accessdate=2010-02-16}} {{es icon}}
* {{cite journal |author=van Akkeren, Ruud |year=2002 |title=El lugar en donde salió el primer sol para los Kʼichʼe; Jakawits, su nueva ubicación. |journal=XV Simposio de Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Guatemala, 2001 (Edited by J.P. Laporte, H. Escobedo and B. Arroyo) |pages=1–12 |publisher=Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología |location=Guatemala |format=versión digital |url=http://asociaciontikal.com/pdf/01-01%20-%20Akkeren%20-%20en%20PDF.pdf |access-date=2010-02-16 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904130629/http://www.asociaciontikal.com/pdf/01-01%20-%20Akkeren%20-%20en%20PDF.pdf |archive-date=2011-09-04 }}
{{refend}}<!-- END biblio format style -->
{{Refend}}<!-- END biblio format style -->

{{K'iche' mythology}}


[[Category:Maya mythology and religion]]
[[Category:Maya mythology and religion]]
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[[Category:Fire gods]]
[[Category:Fire gods]]
[[Category:Mountain gods]]
[[Category:Mountain gods]]
[[Category:Maya deities]]

Latest revision as of 07:04, 30 January 2024

Jacawitz (/χäkäˈwits/) (also spelt Jakawitz, Jakawits, Qʼaqʼawits and Hacavitz) was a mountain god of the Postclassic Kʼicheʼ Maya of highland Guatemala.[1] He was the patron of the Ajaw Kʼicheʼ lineage and was a companion of the sun god Tohil.[2] It is likely that he received human sacrifice.[3] The word jacawitz means "mountain" in the lowland Maya language, and the word qʼaqʼawitz of the highland Maya means "fire mountain", which suggests that Jacawitz was mainly a fire deity, much like Tohil. In the Mam language, the similar word xqʼaqwitz means "yellow wasp" and the wasp was an important symbol of the deity and its associated lineage.[4] In the Cholan languages, jacawitz means "first mountain", linking the god with the first mountain of creation.[5]

In the Kʼicheʼ epic Popul Vuh, the first people gathered at the mythical place Tollan to receive their gods, and Mahucutah, one of the gathered Kʼicheʼ lords, received Jacawitz.[6] The mid-9th century Stela 8 at the Terminal Classic lowland Maya site of Seibal describes a visitor to the city named Hakawitzil. This is an early spelling of Jacawitz and Mayanists Linda Schele and Peter Mathews have proposed that the event depicted on this stela gave rise to the foundation legends of the Kʼicheʼ.[7] As well as being mentioned frequently in the Popul Vuh, Jacawitz is also mentioned in the Kʼicheʼ document Título de los Señores de Totonicapán.[8]

Jacawitz was one of a triad of Kʼicheʼ deities, the other two being Tohil and the goddess Awilix, all three were sometimes collectively referred to as Tohil, the principal member of the triad.[9] The concept of a trinity of deities was an ancient one in Maya culture, dating back to the Preclassic period.[10]

Temple of Jacawitz[edit]

The Ahaw Kʼicheʼ were the founding lineage of the Kʼicheʼ Maya, although they later lost power to the Kaweq lineage; as they lost status within the kingdom, so did their patron god.[11] The temple of Jacawitz at the Kʼicheʼ capital of Qʼumarkaj was one of the three tallest buildings in the city, although it faced away from the main plaza.[12] The temple is a large mound south of the plaza, its stonework has been stripped away making its original form uncertain, although a 19th-century plan of the city recorded it as a pyramid.[13] This pyramid temple was part of a complex that consisted of a patio enclosed by the temple on the northern side, a palace on the south side and a long building on the east.[14] The Jakawitz temple complex has not yet been investigated archaeologically.[15] The 19th century drawings by Miguel Rivera y Maestre suggest that the temple was a narrow building with four or five terraces.[16]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Carmack 2001a, p.369.
  2. ^ Carmack 2001a, p.370.
  3. ^ Carmack 2001a, p.370.
  4. ^ Christenson 2003, 2007, pp.198-199.n.553.
  5. ^ Christenson 2003, 2007, p.211.n.585.
  6. ^ Christenson 2003, 2007, p.198.
  7. ^ Schele & Mathews 1999, pp.190-193.
  8. ^ Recinos 1998, pp.173, 179.
  9. ^ Christenson 2003, 2007, p.228.n.646.
  10. ^ Christenson 2003, 2007, p.61.n.65.
  11. ^ Carmack 2001a, p.369. van Akkeren, Ruud 2002, p.1.
  12. ^ Christenson 2003, 2007, p.268.n.821.
  13. ^ Christenson 2003, 2007, p.269.n.823.
  14. ^ Carmack 2001a, p.367.
  15. ^ Carmack 2001a, p.367.
  16. ^ Carmack 2001a, p.368.

References[edit]

  • Carmack, Robert M. (2001a). Kikʼulmatajem le Kʼicheʼaabʼ: Evolución del Reino Kʼicheʼ (in Spanish). Guatemala: Iximulew. ISBN 99922-56-22-2. OCLC 253481949.
  • Christenson, Allen J. (2007) [2003]. "Popul Vuh: Sacred Book of the Quiché Maya People" (PDF online publication). Mesoweb articles. Mesoweb: An Exploration of Mesoamerican Cultures. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
  • Recinos, Adrian (1998). Memorial de Solalá, Anales de los Kaqchikeles; Título de los Señores de Totonicapán (in Spanish). Guatemala: Piedra Santa. ISBN 84-8377-006-7. OCLC 25476196.
  • Schele, Linda; Peter Mathews (1999). The Code of Kings: The language of seven Maya temples and tombs. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-684-85209-6. OCLC 41423034.
  • van Akkeren, Ruud (2002). "El lugar en donde salió el primer sol para los Kʼichʼe; Jakawits, su nueva ubicación" (PDF). XV Simposio de Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Guatemala, 2001 (Edited by J.P. Laporte, H. Escobedo and B. Arroyo) (in Spanish). Guatemala: Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología: 1–12. Archived from the original (versión digital) on 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2010-02-16.