Howler monkey god

deity sky Maya single tradition · 1

Among the Classic Mayas, the howler monkey god was a major deity of the arts—including music—and a patron of the artisans, especially of the scribes and sculptors. His sphere of influence overlapped with that of the Tonsured Maize God. The monkey patrons were depicted on classical vases in the act of writing books and carving human heads, activities that may have constituted a metaphor for the creation of mankind.

When

First attested
200 CE
Attested period
200 – 2020
Historical notes
Venerated from Classic Maya period through Spanish invasion; depicted in stone sculptures at Copan and ceramic incense burners at post-classic Mayapan.

Relationships

allied with
Tonsured Maize God

Expand to full subgraph →

Sources

wikipedia (1)

Source passages

“Among the Classic Mayas, the howler monkey god was a major deity of the arts—including music—and a patron of the artisans, especially of the scribes and sculptors. As such, his sphere of influence overlapped with that of the Tonsured Maize God.”

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