The Obituary
Itzamna was the supreme creator god of the Maya, lord of the heavens, day, and night, and patron of writing, medicine, and the priesthood. Tradition credited him with inventing the script, books, and the calendar that ordered Maya life. He was usually shown as a benevolent toothless old man, though he could take the form of a celestial bird or a great cosmic reptile. His worship, central to Maya religion, was suppressed during the 16th–17th century Spanish conquest and replaced by Catholicism.
Worth remembering
- He was said to have invented writing, books, and the calendar, and to be patron of learning and the priesthood.
- Depicted as a benign toothless old man, he could also appear as a celestial bird or cosmic monster.
Sources
- Itzamna was the Maya creator god, associated with writing and learning Wikipedia
- He was credited with inventing writing and the calendar and was patron of priests Encyclopaedia Britannica
A graveyard tradition: leave a stone to show you came, and remembered.