The legend of Maize God

October 27, 2022

Maize God also known as Corn God is one of the most important deities in Mesoamerica, especially during Classic Maya period. Maize was the staple crop of most of the Pre-Columbian North American, Mesoamerican and South American cultures that redefined their cultural, social and economical parameters.

The Corn God was believed to be decapitated once harvesting began and then reborn at the start of the new growing season therefore the god was not just associated with maize itself, but also with the cycle of rebirth, the cycle of seasons and the associated growth of crops.

Several representations of Corn God have appeared throughout the Pre-Columbian civilisations. The earliest representations appear during the Early Classic Maya where he is depicted as a young male with stylized maize on the top of the head. In the Late Classic Period, he is depicted with an elongated human head shaved in sections across the forehead and is the prototype for Hun Hunahpu from the Popul Vuh. Another form represents him with stylized maize ears coming from the top of the head. This representation continues in the Late Post-classic period. It was noticed that in Mixtecs and Aztecs, Corn God was personified as a female and was known as Goddess of Corn.

Fig: Corn Goddess Fig: Corn God

Pre-Columbian & Western Art Gallery Pre-Columbian & Western Art Gallery

National Museum, New Delhi National Museum, New Delhi

According to Maya Mythology, there were two brothers One and Seven Hunahpu who were very talented at playing the ball game. Unfortunately, the ball court where the two of them played was right above where the gods of Xibalba (underworld) lived. The gods did not like the noise made by the boys hence invited them to play the ball game in Xibalba. Once they got there, the boys fell for the trick and died.

One Hunahpu had twins named Hunahpu and Xbalanque who were also very talented at the ball game and played at the same ball court as their father. God of Xibalba was again annoyed to hear the noise and invited the twins to Xibalba for the ball game. However knowing their father’s story, the twins did not fall for the traps laid for them to kill them. They passed all the tests and were victorious over the Lords of the Underworld. Because of this, the Hero Twins could bring back their father who emerged through a crack in the ground reborn as maize and became the Corn God. Since then corn isn’t just a crop for the Mayan people, it has become a symbol of their identity. People prayed to him for a good crop and a good life. This epic tale survives today in the Popul Vuh, the book of counsel of the K’iche’ Maya.

Source:

https://collections.dma.org/essay/elO012om

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/307633