According to Central Mexican (non-Mayan) traditions, the Moon and the Sun
were created at the same time. Their creation took place at the central Mexican
city of Teotihuacan at the dawn of the current cycle of cosmic creation. Two
gods, Tecuciztecatl and Nanahuatzin threw themselves into the Fires of Creation
and turned into two suns. But the gods who had assembled for this great event
threw a rabbit into
the face of Tecuciztecatl, thus dimming his brilliance so he became the
Moon.
According to the Maya creation story, the POPOL VUH, once the Hero
Twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque finished with their defeat of the Lords of Death and
resurrected their father Hun-Hunahpu the Maize God in the ballcourt of Xibalba,
they ascended to the heavens. In one version of the POPOL VUH one twin became
the Sun and the other Venus, and in another, one became the Sun and the other
the Moon.
Therefore, for the pre-Columbians of Central America the Moon
was created through a process of transformation in which either divine or
semi-divine beings through their own choice sacrificed themselves to become this
heavenly body.
In addition to their famous solar calendar, the Maya also
used a lunar calendar. It complemented the solar data given in inscriptions and
is called the Lunar Series, or the Supplementary Series in older writings.
Within the Lunar Series the Maya used a number of hieroglyphics, the majority of
yet are still undeciphered as to their exact meanings. This series of usually
six hieroglyphics denoted the length of the current lunar cycle and the age of
the current moon, meaning what stage it was at during the lunar cycle according
to the solar date of the inscription. The length of this Lunar "month" was
approximately 29 days and measured the days between the appearance of two moons.
[N.B. The Mad Hatter also seems to have used a lunar calendar. Click
here to find out
what I'm on about. Click here for other Lunar
calendars - Ian]
The Maya, like cultures all over the world, had a
Moon Goddess. In Classic Period art (400 B. C. - A. D. 900) she is depicted as a
young beautiful woman. During the Classic Period, as far as scholars can
determine, her name was not mentioned in conjunction with her depictions. All we
know is that she was a beautiful maiden, which brings to mind the Maiden aspect
of the Goddess so prevellant throughout Europe as well as other parts of the
world. One of the most famous depictions of the Mayan Moon Goddess has her
sitting within a crescent moon with a foot dangling over the edge. She is seen
in profile and holds a rabbit in her arms. Along with many Native Americans, the
Maya say the profile of this
rabbit can be seen on the surface of the Full Moon. The rabbit she holds
recalls the rabbit used by the gods at Teotihuacan to dim the face of
Tecuciztecatl who became the Moon.
The Moon Goddess played an important
part in Classic Period hieroglyphic inscriptions. Her head was used to denote
the numeral one and also as a prefix to the names of Maya noble women, which
served to differentiate their names from those of male Maya nobles. The Mayan
Moon Goddess is believed by many modern-day Maya to be a feisty woman. It is
believed that in the distant past she often quarreled with her husband, the Sun,
who became so angry with his wife that he poked out one of her eyes, that is why she
is dimmer than her celestial spouse to this day. There are Classic Period
depictions of the Moon Goddess that may indicate that in addition to being
feisty and hard to handle, she was also promiscuous. On a number of painted
vessels she is depicted with various males who hug her or overtly fondle her
breasts, something I am sure displeased Father Sun. Other times she is even seen
in the company of man-sized rabbits.
The Mayan Moon Goddess was seen as
the Goddess of childbirth, procreation, marriage, and had the power to bring
about birth and rebirth. In this way, her vast powers mirror those of the Mother
Goddess, Creatrix of the Universe. Nowadays, the Moon Goddess still holds a
prominent position for the Maya, but she herself has gone through a type of
transformation. With the advent of the Catholic Church, Mayan idols were
smashed, their books were burned and their shamans and priests were tortured.
Many went into hiding regarding their beliefs and kept small altars to the gods
hidden in the surrounding forest, far from the eyes of the Europeans. However,
one god had no reason to hide. The Moon Goddess as the beautiful young maiden
who presided over childbirth and marriage was quickly identified with the Virgin
Mary; and, as such, she has held her position of esteem in Mayan religion to
this very day.
Dr. Gutierrez holds email classes on the mayan culture
and religion. E-Mail her for details.