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Charles Zidar
ANCIENT MAYA ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH |
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| Family: | Felidae | | Genus: | Panthera | | Species: | onca | | Authority: | Linnaeus, 1758 | | Common Name: | Jaguar | | Maya Name: | Chak mo'ol, Báalam, Chak bolay | | Faunal Type: | Mammal/Cat | | Depictions: | Polychrome Ceramics | | Significance: | Jaguars, being animal spirit protectors, were a symbol of strength and courage. Ahaws were buried with jaguar claws, teeth and bones, and jade carved in the likeness of the jaguar. To prepare for a hunt or battle, the Maya may have eaten jaguar meat, drank jaguar blood or consumed the powder of ground jaguar claws (Pohl 1990). Jaguars were represented in the number seven and the day akbal. Widely represented animal in ancient Maya iconography. | | Notes: | Jaguar Photo Courtesy of: Cathouse | | Photos: | Click on an image below for high resolution comparison. |
Other Faunal Photos: Additional views of the faunal species, click on a photo below to view larger image. |  | | Artifact Photo(s) Courtesy of Justin Kerr (FAMSI); Animal Photo(s) Courtesy of Wikipedia GNU General Public License Version 1.2, November 2002; Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0/2.5 License(s). |
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