163:
175:
225:. After the dog was dead, the Hero Twins brought it back to life. The Lords were so impressed that they asked the twins to sacrifice and resurrect them. In the end, the Hero Twins sacrificed the Lords of Xibalba and did not follow through on bringing them back to life. This made it possible for humans to live on earth. The story linked dogs with renewal and human life. Dogs are associated with death and have the job of leading people into the Underworld. They represent fire and are protectors of the hearth, two components of Maya life.
335:) because of the many dogs that roamed the near shore. A dog that recognised its former owner would carry him across the river on its back. In some accounts, the dogs on the shore act differently according to their colour, yellow dogs would carry the soul of the deceased across the river, while white dogs refuse because they have just washed themselves and black dogs refuse because either they have just swum the river or because they are dirty.
366:
253:
93:
people dating the breed to over 3500 years ago. Long regarded as guardians and protectors, the indigenous peoples believed that the Xolo would safeguard the home from evil spirits as well as intruders. In ancient times the Xolos were often sacrificed and then buried with their owners to act as guide
444:
A folktale from
Tlaxcala tells how some hunters saw an enormous black dog one night and decided to capture and keep it. It fled at their approach, so one hunter shot at it, wounding it in one leg. Following the blood trail they came to a richly furnished peasant hut, whose owner was tending a wound
271:
leaves and finally as a salamander in a pool of water. The third time that Death found Xolotl, he trapped and killed him. Three important foodstuffs were produced from the body of this mythological dog. Mictlantecuhtli, Lord of the Dead, had the bones of man in the underworld, kept over from the
272:
previous creations. Xolotl descended to the underworld to steal these bones so that man could be reborn in the new creation of the Fifth Sun. Xolotl managed to recover the bones and brought man to life by piercing his penis and bleeding upon them. Xolotl was seen as an incarnation of the planet
198:, a dog was found interred with a sitting skeleton, along with grave goods offered to the deceased. The frequent finds of dog skeletons in Classic Maya burials confirms that the belief that dogs guided the souls of the departed on their journey into the underworld already existed at this time.
216:
of highland
Guatemala, dogs and turkeys killed the people of the second age in retaliation for the people beating them. The people who escaped this fate were transformed into monkeys. Another account in the Popol Vuh describes the
280:). Xolotl was the canine companion of the Sun, following its path through both the sky and the underworld. Xolotl's strong connection with the underworld, death and the dead is demonstrated by the symbols he bore. In the
237:, the Fourth Sun disappeared in a great flood. A man and a woman survived inside a log and were washed up upon a beach, where they promptly built a fire and roasted some fish. The smoke from the fire upset the stars
487:, the Creator-God, was furious and swapped the dog's head for its tail and its tail for its head. Now, whenever a dog wants to talk and give away its secrets, it cannot speak, instead it may only wag its tail.
344:
was a dog-like water monster with a hand on the end of its coiled tail. It was said to dwell underwater near river banks and would drag the unwary to a watery death. The victim's soul would be carried off to
45:
right through to modern times. A common belief across the
Mesoamerican region is that a dog carries the newly deceased across a body of water in the afterlife. Dogs appear in underworld scenes painted on
1304:
162:
17:
319:, the underworld. Mictlan was only reached after four years of wandering, accompanied by a dog that had been cremated with the deceased. The first level of Mictlan was called
1151:
180:
Dogs were associated with the deity Xolotl, the god of death. The roundness of the body might suggest its value as food for the posthumous soul. The
Walters Art Museum.
267:
was a monstrous dog. During the creation of the Fifth Sun, Xolotl was hunted by Death and escaped him by transforming himself first into a sprout of maize, then into
62:, 14 human bodies were deposited in a cave, most of them children, together with the bodies of three dogs to guide them on their path to the underworld.
190:
burials from the
Classic Period are frequently found with associated animal remains, often dogs. For example, in the ruins of the Classic Maya city of
1178:
484:
354:
328:
1289:
815:
Braswell, Geoffrey E. (2003). "Dating Early
Classic Interaction between Kaminaljuyu and Central Mexico". In Braswell, Geoffrey E. (ed.).
389:
320:
438:
1250:
Mountjoy, Joseph B.; Fabio Germán Cupul-Magaña; Jill A. Rhodes (2014). "El perro en contextos funerarios. Valle de
Mascota, Jalisco".
571:
388:
believe that a black dog will help the newly dead to cross a body of water, either a river or a sea, to the land of the dead. The
284:
Xolotl is pictured with a knife in his mouth, a symbol of death, and has black wavy hair like the hair worn by the gods of death.
1155:
1100:
445:
in his leg. They gave up the chase and headed for the nearest village, where the locals told them that the peasant had been a
1294:
855:
1299:
483:
relates how the first dog witnessed the creation of the world and ran everywhere telling everyone the secrets of creation.
919:
Garza, Mercedes de la (1999). "The Sacred Forces of the Mayan
Universe". In A. Arellano Hernández; et al. (eds.).
1132:
1091:
1039:
1012:
928:
901:
828:
1309:
297:(1-dog) and people, especially rulers, were fated to be especially lucky if born on this day. The tenth day of the
174:
1319:
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407:
in order to prey upon the livestock of their neighbours. In the states of central Mexico (such as Oaxaca,
1324:
1314:
820:
1060:
Neumann, Franke J. (April 1975). "The Dragon and the Dog: Two
Symbols of Time in Nahuatl Religion".
249:. In his fury, he severed their heads and stitched them onto their rears, creating the first dogs.
1154:(in Spanish). ComisiĂłn Nacional para el Desarollo de los Pueblos IndĂgenas, Mexico. Archived from
992:
312:
51:
42:
1032:
El Pájaro que Limpia el Mundo y Otras Fábulas Mayas = No' Ch'ik Xtx' Ahtx'en Sat Yib' Anh Q'inal
618:
106:
996:
1085:
1004:
257:
134:
126:
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and he saved the souls of drowned people by carrying them across to the Land of the Dead.
8:
1104:
575:
501:
392:
believe that a dog carries the dead across the water to reach the underworld home of the
339:
213:
350:
205:, which may be a reference to the Maya tradition that the dog brought fire to mankind.
923:. Mexico: Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (CONACULTA). pp. 449–499.
1267:
1259:
1238:
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861:
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349:, one of the three Aztec paradises. A similar belief existed among the neighbouring
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1069:
506:
281:
102:, and were consumed for sacrificial ceremonies – including marriages and funerals.
1176:
476:
308:
268:
234:
218:
315:, when an Aztec commoner died he had to pass through each of the nine levels of
168:
Postclassic Maya vessel or incense burner in the form of a dog. De Young Museum.
457:
453:
369:
66:
221:
sacrificing a dog that belonged to the Lords of the
Underworld, also known as
1283:
1263:
1234:
977:
El Perro Negro en el Folklore: El lobisĂłn, el familiar y otras supersticiones
959:
865:
289:
73:
from Mesoamerica. Archaeological evidence has been found in the tombs of the
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that attacks anybody that it meets and is said to be an incarnation of the
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191:
59:
38:
469:
403:, evil sorcerers are believed to be able to transform themselves into a
511:
425:
242:
95:
25:
1185:(in Spanish). Correo del Maestro S.A. de C.V., Mexico. Archived from
377:
209:
195:
58:
buried dogs with the dead. In the great Classic Period metropolis of
1103:(in Spanish). Instituto Nacional Indigenista, Mexico. Archived from
1124:
412:
408:
346:
99:
16:
874:
817:
The Maya and Teotihuacan: Reinterpreting Early Classic Interaction
461:
316:
222:
114:
201:
The dog is sometimes depicted carrying a torch in the surviving
50:
dating to the Classic Period and even earlier than this, in the
1258:(125, January–February 2014). Mexico: Editorial RaĂces: 54–57.
1229:(125, January–February 2014). Mexico: Editorial RaĂces: 58–63.
1099:
Pardo, MarĂa Teresa; Robledo Hernández, Manuel Alberto (2002).
516:
496:
416:
400:
385:
264:
142:
138:
118:
82:
74:
1118:
429:. Another supernatural dog in the folklore of Yucatan is the
393:
273:
90:
1305:
Traditional narratives of indigenous peoples of the Americas
1177:
Valadez AzĂşa, RaĂşl; TĂ©llez Estrada, MarĂa del RocĂo (2001).
946:
Heyden, Doris (Nov–Dec 1998). "Las Cuevas de Teotihuacan".
276:
as the Evening Star (the Morning Star was his twin brother
252:
564:
1191:
1160:
979:(in Spanish). Buenos Aires, Argentina: Ediciones Dolmen.
465:
33:
1149:
1217:
de la Garza, Mercedes (2014). "El carácter sagrado del
974:
472:, while a yellow dog fathered the indigenous peoples.
228:
1216:
918:
814:
711:
Matos Moctezuma & Solis OlguĂn 2002, pp.206, 417.
572:"Xoloitzcuintli Club of America, Inc. - ABOUT XOLOS"
1152:"Mixes: Pueblos indĂgenas del MĂ©xico Contemporaneo"
1059:
1029:
574:. xoloitzcuintliclubofamerica.org. Archived from
1281:
891:
449:who could transform into a dog to steal riches.
896:(in Spanish). Mexico City: Panorama Editorial.
872:
845:
668:
666:
664:
945:
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546:
544:
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540:
109:, the tenth day bears the name dog. This is
105:In many versions of the 20-day cycle of the
661:
1101:"Pueblos IndĂgenas de MĂ©xico: Chinantecos"
875:"Phantom Black Dogs in Prehispanic Mexico"
689:
687:
537:
464:in Mexico say that a white dog mated with
1119:Read, Kay Almere; Jason González (2000).
433:(witch-dog in Yucatec Maya), an enormous
364:
251:
15:
850:. Loughborough: Heart of Albion Press.
792:Valadez AzĂşa & TĂ©llez Estrada 2001.
684:
1282:
702:Read & Gonzalez 2000, pp.171-172.
293:ritual calendar started with the day
98:. These dogs were considered a great
41:folklore and myth since at least the
311:, the grim lord of the dead. In the
287:The fourteenth 13-day period of the
1290:Mesoamerican mythology and religion
848:Phantom Black Dogs in Latin America
747:Pardo & Robledo Hernandez 2002.
229:The Aztecs and their contemporaries
13:
1209:
1121:Handbook of Mesoamerican Mythology
360:
94:to the soul on its journey to the
37:have occupied a powerful place in
14:
1336:
1150:Torres Cisneros, Gustavo (2004).
1034:. California: FundaciĂłn Yax Te'.
468:in the Third Creation, producing
141:, the tenth day was taken by the
954:(34). Mexico: Editorial RaĂces.
672:Read & Gonzalez 2000, p.171.
595:Read & Gonzalez 2000, p.170.
552:Read & Gonzalez 2000, p.172.
415:) such a sorcerer is known as a
327:), this place was also known as
173:
161:
1221:entre los nahuas y los mayas".
1183:Correo del Maestro No.65 Oct 01
975:Jijena Sánchez, Rafael (1952).
921:The Mayas of the Classic Period
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303:20-day agricultural calendar,
1:
1090:: CS1 maint: date and year (
807:
256:Xolotl from the 15th century
1295:Aztec mythology and religion
7:
1300:Maya mythology and religion
1030:Montejo, VĂctor D. (2000).
783:Jijena Sánchez 1952, p.108.
756:Torres Cisneros 2004, p.12.
681:Fernández 1992, 1996, p.160
490:
353:, their dog-god was called
325:where one crosses the river
152:
10:
1341:
892:Fernández, Adela (1996) .
729:Fernández 1992, 1996, p.38
263:Among the Aztecs, the god
1179:"Entre monstruos te veas"
821:University of Texas Press
245:, angering the great god
993:Matos Moctezuma, Eduardo
873:Burchell, Simon (2008).
846:Burchell, Simon (2007).
765:Burchell 2007, pp.23-27.
720:Burchell 2008, pp.5, 25.
522:
1310:Latin American folklore
1078:10.1163/156852775X00103
1055:(in Spanish and Popti')
880:. Heart of Albion Press
423:they go by the name of
338:In Aztec folklore, the
307:(dog), was governed by
774:Burchell 2008, pp.4-5.
619:The Walters Art Museum
373:
260:
117:, the language of the
29:
1005:Royal Academy of Arts
376:In modern times, the
368:
258:Codex Fejervary-Mayer
255:
127:KĘĽicheĘĽ Maya language
107:Mesoamerican calendar
19:
1252:ArqueologĂa Mexicana
1223:ArqueologĂa Mexicana
948:ArqueologĂa Mexicana
640:Braswell 2003, p.94.
604:Burchell 2007, p.25.
534:Burchell 2007, p.10.
481:Guatemalan Highlands
1320:Guatemalan folklore
997:Felipe Solis OlguĂn
801:Montejo 2000, p.41.
738:Burchell 2008, p.6.
693:Neumann 1975, p.16.
658:Neumann 1975, p.19.
502:Dogs in Mesoamerica
208:In the Postclassic
20:The Aztec day sign
649:Garza 1999, p.135.
631:Garza 1999, p.133.
561:Heyden 1998, p.26.
441:, an evil spirit.
374:
261:
30:
1325:Mythological dogs
857:978-1-905646-01-2
435:phantom black dog
421:Yucatan Peninsula
333:the Place of Dogs
1332:
1315:Mexican folklore
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1219:xoloitzcuintli
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43:Classic Period
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1198:. Retrieved
1187:the original
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1167:. Retrieved
1156:the original
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1105:the original
1086:cite journal
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615:"Dog Effigy"
609:
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591:
580:. Retrieved
576:the original
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474:
460:of highland
458:Tzotzil Maya
451:
446:
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355:Uitzimengari
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300:xiuhpohualli
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278:Quetzalcoatl
262:
247:Tezcatlipoca
232:
214:KĘĽicheĘĽ Maya
207:
203:Maya codices
200:
186:
146:
137:. Among the
135:Yucatec Maya
130:
122:
110:
104:
71:hairless dog
64:
48:Maya pottery
39:Mesoamerican
32:
31:
21:
1068:(Fasc. 1).
329:Itzcuintlan
313:Postclassic
192:Kaminaljuyu
60:Teotihuacan
1284:Categories
1200:2009-02-14
1169:2009-02-14
1123:. Oxford:
1111:2007-08-25
1003:. London:
884:2009-02-14
819:. Austin:
808:References
582:2016-08-19
512:Psychopomp
485:Hunab' Kuh
426:huay chivo
378:Chinantecs
351:Purépechas
305:itzcuintli
243:Citlalicue
219:Hero twins
111:itzcuintli
96:underworld
56:ChupĂcuaro
52:Preclassic
26:Codex Laud
22:Itzcuintli
1264:0188-8218
1235:0188-8218
960:0188-8218
866:163296003
419:, in the
405:black dog
390:Huitzilan
321:Apanoayan
210:Popul Vuh
196:Guatemala
1272:29789840
1243:29789840
1143:43879188
1125:ABC-CLIO
1072:: 1–23.
1050:48156221
1023:56096386
999:(2002).
968:29789840
939:42213077
912:59601185
839:49936017
491:See also
477:Jakaltek
439:Kakasbal
431:huay pek
413:Veracruz
409:Tlaxcala
347:Tlalocan
341:ahuizotl
153:The Maya
100:delicacy
470:Ladinos
462:Chiapas
454:Tzeltal
317:Mictlan
223:Xibalba
212:of the
139:Mixtecs
125:in the
115:Nahuatl
87:Zapotec
1270:
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1131:
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1001:Aztecs
985:657860
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827:
517:Nagual
497:Cadejo
447:nahual
417:nahual
401:Mexico
386:Oaxaca
269:maguey
265:Xolotl
143:coyote
119:Aztecs
89:, and
83:Toltec
75:Colima
1062:Numen
878:(PDF)
523:Notes
394:Devil
382:Mixes
274:Venus
123:tz'i'
91:Aztec
79:Mayan
69:is a
1268:OCLC
1260:ISSN
1239:OCLC
1231:ISSN
1139:OCLC
1129:ISBN
1092:link
1046:OCLC
1036:ISBN
1019:OCLC
1009:ISBN
981:OCLC
964:OCLC
956:ISSN
935:OCLC
925:ISBN
908:OCLC
898:ISBN
862:OCLC
852:ISBN
835:OCLC
825:ISBN
456:and
452:The
411:and
380:and
241:and
188:Maya
129:and
65:The
34:Dogs
1256:XXI
1227:XXI
1192:PDF
1161:PDF
1074:doi
466:Eve
384:of
233:In
194:in
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