Comparing Meso And South American Mythology - 889 Words

In Meso and South American mythology, Jaguars were both admired and feared and often extensively integrated into stories and religious traditions and rituals. Shamans of this area that were believed to be able to take the form of these large predators, known as â€Å"were-jaguars,† were feared due to their ability to make contact with dangerous spirits and other harmful forces, which had a profound impact on Mesoamerican beliefs. Due to Jaguars being the most powerful and aggressive predator to inhabit these areas, they were additionally associated with fertility, royalty, the Earth, and even included in myths of creation and cataclysms. The Mayans even believed the sun god, Ahau Kin, would become the Jaguar god while he spent time in the Underworld during the time between the sunset and sunrise. The Aztec calendar depicts the cosmology of the world by illustrating different stages, events and destinies of both individuals, society, and the world that either occurred in the past or will occur in the future. Additionally, this calendar was also used to count the years and ran parallel with the solar year. The calendar comprised of 260 days that were divided into 20 weeks, each of which was controlled by a specific deity, with each day having its own assigned god or goddess. Furthermore, the Aztec calendar displays principal elements of the fifth creation, which justifies war and sacrifice, and illustrates the belief that sacrifices were necessary to nourish the gods. It is