Motifs

bakab (bacab) - one of four sky bearers who hold up the two-headed serpent where the gods can be found dancing, may also be a variation of the God N. Also may represent vassals and their duty to their lords

Monuments: Altar of Stela M, Stela N

Source: Fash 1991, 122-123; Martin 2015, 189-190

bat - Refers to the Underworld and decapitation, is a part of the Copan emblem glyph embodied by its head rather than full figure representation

Monuments: Stela N Altar

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 177

beard - advanced age and potential ancestor status

Monuments: Stela C, Altar L

Source: Grube and Schele 1986, 157

bicephalic serpent - entrance to the Underworld, often referring to one figure entering into death, the other exiting into life

Monuments: Stela M, Stela N,

Source: Baudez 1994, 87

black glyph in skeletal jaws - representative of the entrance to the Underworld

Monuments: Quirigua Stela J

Source: Looper 2003, 101

black lake / hole - refers to both the Underworld and Chaak's place as executioner

Monuments: Quirigua Stela J

Source: Looper 2003, 83

bow over mouth - autosacrifice

Monuments: Rosalila

Source: Fasquelle 2004, 109

braid and tassel - variant on the mat motif, sign of royalty, particularly in Copan

Monuments: Stela 2, Stela E, Stela M, Stela N, Stela P

Source: Baudez 1994, 139

bulrush (puh glyph) - reference to "Tollan" or political homeland. In the case of many Maya, including Copan, this would be Teotihuacan

Monuments: Stela 63, Temple 26

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 221

bunch of grapes - image resembling this that may invoke tuun or Witz

Monuments: Stela J, Rosalila

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 169

kakaw (cacao) - sacred food embodying the resurrected Maize God

Monuments: Stela P

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 219

centipede - when skeletal and paired with solar imagery, represents the sun in or dawning from the Underworld. When paired with the sun and flint on a shield, refers to warfare

Monuments: Hieroglyphic Stairway, Quirigua Stela J, Stela C, Stela F, Stela 4, Stela H, Stela A, Stela B, Stela D, Temple 16 Block II

Source: Taube 2004, 286; Stone and Zender 2011, 153

Chaak - Maya Rain God, also associated with clouds and lightning. Depictions may include snakeskin, fish tail, ponytail, and shell crown. Famously split open the Sacred Mountain releasing the Maize God, earning him the title of executioner and setting the Underworld as his domain. Is associated with agriculture, fertility, and aggression

Monuments: Quirigua Stela J, Altar Q

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 41

Cipactli - Refers to a crocodilian central Mexican entity that forms the earth

Monuments: Altar Q

Source: Martin 2015, 195

creation stones - Comprised of the jaguar platform, the snake platform, and the water or Chaak platform, each of which correspond to the Jaguar shield, the k'awiil scepter, and the Chaak pectoral. The three also correspond to warfare, ancestor worship, and death and rebirth respectively, the three main ritual responsibilities of the king

Monuments: Quirigua Stela J

Source: Looper 2003, 106

crocodile - when horizontal, refers to the earth as it emerged from the primordial sea. When vertical, refers to the World Axis and may be used to align a figure with it

Monuments: Altar Q

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 183

east - rising sun, resurrection

Monuments: Rosalila

Source: Fash 2011, 43

entwined serpents - sacrifice

Monuments: Stela 7, Stela P, Stela E

Source: Baudez 1994, 139

feathered serpent - another term for the Teotihuacan god Quetzalcoatl or Kulkulan. Counterpart to the Teotihuacan war serpent, represents the ruler's responsibilities pertaining to fertility and domestic affairs

Monuments: Motmot Marker, Stela 63, Stela P, Structure 16, Structure 26

Source: Taube 2018, 202

feathered shield - indicative of Teotihuacan style as well as Quetzalcoatl

Monuments: Hieroglyphic Stairway, Altar Q, Structure 26

Source: Martin and Grube 2008, 208

fish - aquatic nature, sometimes refers to Chaak making rain

Monuments: Stela E, Stela N

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 191

four - May refer to the sun, the cardinal directions, or the creation date of the world - 4 Ajaw

Monuments: Altar Q, Temple 16, Motmot

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 153

Giant Ajaw - style of altar, day "Ajaw" (also "Ahau") indicated by large image of king sitting in the center, more common in Caracol than Copan

Monuments: Quirigua Altar L

Source: Looper 2003, 51

intertwined glyphs - see mat

Monuments: Stela J

Source: Fash 1991, 150

jaguar - warrior, night / nocturnal sun, sorcery, water, fire

Monuments: Quirigua Stela J, Stela 2, Stela 7, Stela E, Stela J, Stela M, Stela P

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 195

jaguar pelt - war / wealth

Monuments: Stela 2, Stela 7, Stela P, Chorcha

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 195

Jaguar Tlaloc - aspect of Tlaloc focusing on warfare and sacrifice as opposed to the fertility aspect embodied in the crocodilian counterpart. This is the only version of the two to be found in Classic Maya imagery

Monuments: Hieroglyphic Stairway, 10L-26

Source: Fash 1991, 146

K'awiil (scepter) - Effigy of K'awiil - associated with lightning, agriculture, ancestor worship, and royalty. The bar of the scepter is fashioned from his serpent leg with his head forming the head of the scepter. This scepter represented royal authority. See Yax K'uk' Mo's accession

Monuments: Altar Q, Altar L, Quirigua Stela J,

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 49; Baudez 1994,

k'in cartouche - warfare

Monuments: Quirigua Altar L, Stela 7, Stela M

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 153

k'an cross - center of the world and sky

Monuments: Temple 16

Source: Taube 2004, 266

lancet - autosacrifice

Monuments: Stela A, Stela E, Stela M, Stela 11

Source: Baudez 1994, 20

maize - deity, rebirth, fertility

Monuments: Rosalila

Source: Fash 2011, 43

mat - symbol of royal power

Monuments: Stela A, Stela J, Stela M

Source: Fash 1991, 150

Paddler Gods - Comprised of the Stingray Spine Paddler God and the Jaguar Paddler God, these two aged solar associated gods are classified by day and night glyphs respectively. Their dualism represents the transformation of life and death, and as such they are responsible for transport to and from the Underworld. Period ending stelae often depict the Paddler Gods in the clouds of sacrificial offerings, being summoned by the kings. Paddler bathing rituals would serve the purpose of rainmaking.

Monuments: Stela 2, Stela 7, Stela E, Stela P, Quirigua Stela J

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 51

Pax Jaguar - protection of the ancestors and cycle of fertility

Monuments: Stela E, Stela 15

Source: Baudez 1994, 48

quatrefoil - reference to the entrance to the Underworld

Monuments: Motmot Marker

Source: Fash 2011, 78

red - rising sun, heat and vitality

Monuments: Stela 7, Stela J

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 153

rope - may refer to conquest or sacred ritual - in writing almost always the latter. May refer to sacrifice, binding captives or offerings. Twisted, refers to supporting the heavens

Monuments: Stela E, Temple 16

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 77

sak pectoral - associated with the color white, refers to a floral sense and the cosmic tree - refers to cycle of resurrection

Monuments: Quirigua Stela J

Source: Looper 2003, 165

serpent - may represent sky phenomena such as the celestial sphere, lightning, and a constellation, the Underworld when paired with a centipede, a pathway for the supernatural, or women

Monuments: Stela N

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 201

serpent bar - king's connection to the spirit world and ability to make spirits manifest

Monuments: Altar Q, Caracol Stela 16, Motmot Marker, Stela 7, Stela 9, Stela A, Stela E, Stela M, Stela N, Stela P

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 201

serpent's mouth - Door to the Underworld

Monuments: Rosalila

Source: Fasquelle 2004, 109

Skeletal Tlaloc - war, sacrifice, trophies

Monuments: Temple 16 Stair Block I, Rosalila

Source: Taube 2004, 285

skull and vegetation - Cycle of death and rebirth

Monuments: Stela 2, Stela 7, Stela A, Stela E, Stela P,

Source: Fash 2011, 59

Spondylus Shell - wealth, was considered a luxury item

Monuments: Hieroglyphic Stairway, Stela M, Stela N

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 167

spotted jaguar headdress - ritual for resurrecting the jaguar deity

Monuments: Stela P, Stela 2

Source: Fash 2011, 57

Star - May indicate the life head of the bicephalic monster; following its path was a particular focus in Copan texts

Monuments: Altar of Stela M, Altar L

Source: Looper 2003, 52

stingray spines - autosacrifice

Monuments: Rosalila, Stela 7, Hieroglyphic Stairway

Source: Fasquelle 2004, 103

Sun God - "celestial counterpart" to the king, evoking masculinity and power, existing as a paternal figure. Kings would often depict themselves as this god

Monuments: Stela P, Structure 16

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 153

Teotihuacan war serpent - differentiated from its counterpart Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent) by the high upturned nose or nostril on the tip of the nose and lack of feathers covering the body, identified with rulership and fire, warfare, and empire.

Monuments: Hieroglyphic Stairway, Stela 11

Source: Taube 2018, 202

three blackened circles - jaguar, particularly nocturnal element

Monuments: Azul, Stela M

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 195; Fasquelle 2004, 106

Tlaloc - Teotihuacan god of rain and lightning. May at times be considered a counterpart to the Maya god K'awiil. Large rings may represent his eyes or the goggles worn by Teotihuacan warriors

Monuments: Altar Q, Structure 16, Structure 26, Quirigua Stela J,

Source: Taube 2018, 186, 181

torch through forehead - apotheosis of a previous king to the status of K'awiil, associated with posthumous portraits; also referred to as cigar or k'awiil through the forehead or smoking axe

Monuments: Altar L, Stela 11, Stela M, Stela N, Palenque sarcophagus

Source: Schele 1987, 170; Fash 1991, 177

turban - royalty

Monuments: Rosalila, Stela N, Altar Q, Altar L

Source: Fasquelle 2004, 109

turtle shell - Usually refers to the resurrection of the Maize God, who is depicted as having emerged from the Underworld through a broken turtle shell - a representation of the earth or the constellation Orion. When yellow, may refer to a turtle shell drum

Monuments: Stela 2

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 207

Tuun in hand - glyph, represents erection of stela

Monuments: Caracol Stela 16

Source: Grube 1990, 1

Chac-Xib-Chaac - Rain and lightning god. Also known as G1 in the Palenque Triad. G1 in the Triad was the reborn version of the god who was promoted to the rank of Lord or ajaw under the patronage of another god. In the triad he is joined by a young k'awiil and a version of the Sun God

Monuments: Stela 9

Source: Schele 1987, 236; Coe 1989, 182; Martin and Grube 2008, 159

Vision Serpent - conduit through which the summoned deity or ancestor appears to the king; AKA the Bearded Dragon

Monuments: Quirigua Stela J

Source: Wall Text. Religious Duties of the King. Lords of Creation: The Origins of Maya Kingship. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Los Angeles, California.; Taube 2004, 286

waterlily - earth, fertility, related to God N and his affinity for water and fertility

Monuments: Stela 2, Stela A, Stela N, Hieroglyphic Stairway

Source: Baudez 1994, 86; Martin 2015, 191

west - associated with death and the Underworld; black is the typical color associated with this direction for the sun's nightly journey

Monuments: Rosalila, Yehnal, Stela J

Source: Fasquelle 2004, 102; Stone and Zender 2011, 145

white - color used in Ch'orti' funerals, associated with burial

Monuments: Rosalila

Source: Fasquelle 2004, 102

wiin te' naah / crossed bundles glyph - Refers to the Foundation House (assumedly in Teotihuacan) where Yax K'uk' Mo' had taken K'awiil. Though used to refer to this house at a number of Maya cities including Tikal and Quirigua. At Copan it also often refers to the Founder

Monuments: Altar Q, Hieroglyphic Stairway, Quirigua Stela J, Stela 11, Stela E, Stela J, Stela M, Stela N,

Source: Stuart 2004, 236-237

witz - represents the sacred mountain - living entrance to the Underworld, site of the Maize God's rebirth, and throne

Monuments: Altar L, Altar Q, Hieroglyphic Stairway, Stela 2, Stela A, Stela E, Stela J, Stela M, Stela N, Structure 16

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 139

Xokfish / bull shark - Semi-divine, the bull shark is credited in the origin story for maize, wind, and rain

Monuments: Stela 7

Source: Stone and Zender 2011, 203

Yaxk'in - Eastern sun emerging out of the Underworld

Monuments: Rosalila, Temple 16, Altar Q

Source: Taube 2004, 287

year sign - Mexican symbol often referring to burnt vegetal offerings

Monuments: Yehnal Structure (Structure 10L-16)

Source: Taube 2004, 277