God L

God L of the Schellhas-Zimmermann-Taube classification of codical gods is one of the major pre-Spanish Maya deities, specifically associated with trade. Characterized by high age, he is one of the Mam ('Grandfather') deities. More specifically, he evinces jaguar traits (particularly the ear), a broad feathery hat topped by an owl, and a jaguar mantle or a cape with a pattern somewhat resembling that of an armadillo shell. The best-known monumental representation is on a doorjamb of the inner sanctuary of Palenque's Temple of the Cross.
==Name==
The main sign of god L's name glyph in the Dresden Codex consists of the head of an aged man painted black. The reading is unknown, but may conceivably have been Ek' Chuah (see below).
==Functions==
Attributes and scenes of god L are indicative of at least three main functions.
===Wealth===
Recurrent attributes are a bundle of merchandise and a walking-stick. The floating ends of god L's cloth can show footsteps, again pointing to travelling merchants. In view of the further functions of god L, the Maya merchants should perhaps be compared to the Aztec nahualoztomecah, warriors disguised as merchants. The wealth of god L has been suggested to refer specifically to the cacao orchards of the Gulf Coast; in Cacaxtla, god L is associated with maize stalks and cacao trees.Taube 1992: 84-85 God L's wealth seems to include women as well. On the Princeton vase (see figure), god L is surrounded by five young women, whereas in the Dresden Codex (14c2), he holds a young woman (goddess I) with a maize sign.
===Black Sorcery===
The cigar which, more often than not, is smoked by god L suggests a shaman. The owl on the hat points more in particular to black sorcery, and recalls the Nahua term for black sorcerer, tlacatecolotl 'Man-Owl'. The jaguar features could be interpreted in the same vein. Mercantile wealth may once have been interpreted as the result of black sorcery practices.
===War===
God L's jaguar and owl (kuy) attributes point to sorcery, violence, and warfare,for the owl, see Grube and Schele 1994: 15-16 qualities that may be related to his Postclassic role as a personification of Venus rising from the underworld, and throwing spears at his victims (Dresden Codex). God L's connection to warfare is also suggested by the decapitation of a bound prisoner, perhaps a captive king, in front of god L's jaguar palace (Princeton vase). On the central relief of the Palenque Temple of the Sun - a war temple - god L, together with one of the other Maya jaguar gods (viz. the Jaguar God of Terrestrial Fire), supports an emblem consisting of the sacred shield and lances of the Palenque kings. His submissive posture suggests he now represents a defeated enemy chief.
==Connections to other deities==
*God M. As a merchant deity, god L is paralleled by another, Postclassic merchant god, the black god M (Madrid Codex). 
*Ek Chuah. A Yucatec merchant god who, like god L, was connected to cacao orchards, bore the name Ek Chuah (Landa). This name is usually connected to god M, but could as well refer to god L.Taube 1992: 90 
*Bolon-Yokte. Together with the deity Bolon-Yokte (‘Nine-Strides’), god L and god M have been argued to represent the abstract idea of travelling and of movement in space and time.Gillespie and Joyce 1998: 287ff
*God K. God L is often combined with K'awiil, the lightning deity who, as an owner of the seeds, was considered a bringer of abundance.Robicsek 1978: figs. 132-133, 137, 188, 189 More specifically, god L can extend the head of god K, or carry an infant god K in a sling on his back.Taube 1992: fig. 41a God K also happens to be the victim of god L as a Venus patron (Dresden Codex).
*Itzamna. It has been suggested that God L is the underworld counterpart of Itzamna, the supreme Maya deity.Coe 1978: 16-21
==Ritual==
The acantun stone shafts depicted in the Dresden Codex, which were venerated during the five unlucky and dangerous days (wayeb) at the end of the year, are draped with the mantle and footprint-marked loincloth of God L.cf. Gillespie and Joyce 1998: 287-289
==Narrative scenes==
Narrative scenes on pottery show the denudation and clothing of god L, while focussing on his owl hat, mantle, and staff. These scenes involve the Maya moon goddess, the rabbit, the Tonsured Maize God, the Hero Twins, and also (in a Dresden Codex vignette) Chaak, the Rain Deity. In this connection, god L has been interpreted (in terms of the Popol Vuh Twin myth) as one of the principal lords of the Underworld, or Xibalba.Martin and Miller 2004: 58-62
==Presence in contemporary Maya religion==
It has been suggestedChristenson 2001: 186-190 that god L corresponds to that most famous of all Tz'utujil deities, the cigar-smoking 'Grandfather' (Mam) Maximón, whose manifold associations include long-distance travel, witchcraft, and jaguars, and who is especially venerated during the last days of Holy Week. In the cult of Maximón, the latter's cloths receive special emphasis.
==Notes==
==Bibliography==
*Coe, Michael D., Lords of the Underworld: Masterpieces of Classic Maya Ceramics. 1978
*Christenson, Art and Society in a Highland Maya Community. 2001
*Gillespie and Joyce, Deity relationships in Mesoamerican cosmologies: The case of the Maya God L. Ancient Mesoamerica 9 (1998): 278-296
*Grube and Schele, Kuy, the Owl of Omen and War. Mexicon XVI-1 (1994): 10-17
*Miller and Martin, Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya. 2004
*Robicsek, The Smoking Gods. 1978
*Taube, The Major Gods of Ancient Yucatan. 1992
==External links==
Category:Maya mythology and religion
Category:Deities