6/3/2019 Mesoamerican world tree - Wikipedia

Mesoamerican world tree

World trees are a prevalent motif occurring in the mythical
cosmologies, creation accounts, and iconographies of the pre-
Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. In the Mesoamerican
context, world trees embodied the four cardinal directions, which
also serve to represent the fourfold nature of a central world tree,
a symbolic axis mundi which connects the planes of the
Underworld and the sky with that of the terrestrial realm.[3]

Depictions of world trees, both in their directional and central

aspects, are found in the art and mythological traditions of
cultures such as the Maya, Aztec, Izapan, Mixtec, Olmec, and
others, dating to at least the Mid/Late Formative periods of
Mesoamerican chronology. Among the Maya, the central world
tree was conceived as or represented by a ceiba tree, and is
known variously as a wacah chan or yax imix che, depending on
the Mayan language.[4] The trunk of the tree could also be
represented by an upright caiman, whose skin evokes the tree's
A tableau from the Western Mexico shaft tomb
spiny trunk.[5] tradition, showing a multi-layered tree with birds.
It has been proposed that the birds represent
Directional world trees are also associated with the four souls who have not yet descended into the
Yearbearers in Mesoamerican calendars, and the directional underworld,[1] while the central tree may
colors and deities. Mesoamerican codices which have this represent the Mesoamerican world tree.[2]
association outlined include the Dresden, Borgia and Fejérváry-
Mayer codices.[6] It is supposed that Mesoamerican sites and
ceremonial centers frequently had actual trees planted at each of
the four cardinal directions, representing the quadripartite
concept.

Izapa Stela 5 is considered a possible representation of a World

Tree.

World trees are frequently depicted with birds in their branches,

and their roots extending into earth or water (sometimes atop a
"water-monster", symbolic of the underworld).

The central world tree has also been interpreted as a

representation of the band of the Milky Way.[7]
Tree of Life, Izapa Stela 5

See also
Axis mundi
Aztec mythology
Maya mythology
Olmec mythology

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The Fountain
Tree of life
Vision Serpent
Yggdrasil

Notes
1. AMNH, "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080928022116/http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/research/
mca_objects.cfm?case_number=3). Archived from the original (http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/research/mca_ob
jects.cfm?case_number=3) on 2008-09-28. Retrieved 2008-04-23., which further cites Butterwick, Kristi (2004)
Heritage of Power: Ancient Sculpture from West Mexico, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
2. Kappelman (http://www.utexas.edu/cofa/a_ah/dir/precol/west_mexico.htm)
3. Miller and Taube (1993), p.186.
4. Finlay (2003)
5. Miller and Taube, loc. cit.
6. Ibid.
7. Freidel, et al. (1993)

References
Adkinson, Robert (Ed.) (1996). The Maya: Sacred Symbols (Sacred Symbols Series). London: Thames and Hudson.
ISBN 0-500-06022-3.
Finley, Michael (2003). "Raising the sky: The Maya creation myth and the Milky Way" (https://web.archive.org/web/20
061225141405/http://members.shaw.ca/mjfinley/creation.html). The Real Maya Prophecies: Astronomy in the
Inscriptions and Codices. Maya Astronomy. Archived from the original (http://members.shaw.ca/mjfinley/creation.html)
on 2006-12-25. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
Freidel, David A.; Linda Schele; Joy Parker (1993). Maya Cosmos: Three Thousand Years on the Shaman's Path.
New York: William Morrow & Co. ISBN 0-688-10081-3.
K ,J "Art 347L Mesoamerican Art Syllabus: West Mexico (http://www.utexas.edu/cofa/a_ah/dir/precol/w
est_mexico.htm)", accessed April 2008.
Miller, Mary; Karl Taube (1993). The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya. London: Thames and
Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05068-6.

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