Awilix () (also spelled Ahuilix, Auilix and Avilix) was a goddess (or possibly a god) of the Postclassic Kʼicheʼ Maya, who had a large kingdom in the highlands of Guatemala.Carmack 2001a, pp.362-363. She was the patron deity of the Nijaʼibʼ noble lineage at the Kʼicheʼ capital Qʼumarkaj, with a large temple in the city. Awilix was a Moon goddess and a goddess of night,Carmack 2001a, pp.362-363. Fox 1987, 2008, p.205. although some studies refer to the deity as male.Christenson 2003, 2007. Awilix was probably derived from the Classic period lowland Maya moon goddess or from Cʼabawil Ix, the Moon goddess of the Chontal Maya.Orellana 1981, p.160. Fox 1987, 2008, p.56.
Etymology and symbolism Awilix was the goddess of the moon, the queen of the night.Carmack 2001a, p.275. She was associated with the Underworld, sickness and death and was a patron of the Mesoamerican ballgame.Carmack 2001a, p.275. Her calendrical day was probably (moon) in the 20-day cycle of the Maya calendar.Carmack 2001a, p.275.
The eagle was the totem animal of the Nijaʼibʼ, and it is presumed that the bird was associated with the lunar aspect of the goddess, with the jaguar associated with her night aspect.Carmack 2001a, p.363. Fox 1987, 2008, p.205. Awilix was one of the three principal deities of the Kʼicheʼ, together with Tohil and Jacawitz, and the trinity of gods was sometimes referred to collectively as Tohil, the most important of the three.Christenson 2003, 2007, p.61.n.65, p.228.n.646. Alternate origins have been suggested for the origin of the name of the goddess, it has been suggested that "awilix" derives from or in the Qʼeqchiʼ Maya language, which means "swallow" (the bird). It has also been suggested that the Nijaʼibʼ migrated from the area around the Pico de Orizaba mountain in central Mexico. This area was formerly known as Awilizapan in the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs, and it may be that the Nijaʼibʼ derived the name of their goddess from their place of origin.Christenson 2003, 2007, p.198.n.552.
Awilix is mentioned throughout the Kʼicheʼ epic Popul Vuh and is also mentioned in the important Kʼicheʼ document known as the Título de los Señores de Totonicapán.Recinos 1998, pp.173, 175, 179. Ixbalanque, one of the Maya Hero Twins of the Popul Vuh, was the incarnation of Awilix.Fox & Cook 1996, p.813.
Temples of Awilix
In Qʼumarkaj the temple of Awilix faced the temple of Tohil across a small plaza. It was on the east side of the plaza with a stairway giving access from the west.Christenson 2003, 2007, p.269.n.822. Investigations at the temple have revealed that eagle imagery was predominant.Lucero 2007, p.410. The high priest of Awilix was chosen from the Nijaʼibʼ lineage and was called the Ajaw Awilix.Orellana 1981, p.163.
According to a drawing made by Rivera y Maestre in the early 19th century, the temple of Awilix was not as tall as the temple of Tohil.Carmack 2001a, p.362. This structure was apparently the second most important temple in Qʼumarkaj.Carmack 2001a, p.362. Originally this temple was formed of a large rectangular platform supporting a smaller platform and a temple structure on the east side.Kelly 1996, p.200. Carmack 2001a, p.361. A wide stairway climbed the west side of the temple, it was flanked on the lower level by two large talud-tablero panels.Kelly 1996, p.200. Carmack 2001a, p.361. The exterior stonework of the building has been completely stripped away.Carmack 2001a, p.361. There were four principal phases of construction and there is evidence that the temple had been repaired various times prior to the Spanish conquest.Carmack 2001a, pp.361-362. The floor under the third phase of construction had been painted dark green.Carmack 2001a, p.362. Archaeological investigations found fragments of incense burners underneath the first building phase.Carmack 2001a, p.362.
The temple is similar in form to a temple mound on the west side of the first plaza in Iximche, the postclassic capital of the Kaqchikel Maya.Carmack 2001a, p.361.
Structure 4 at Zaculeu, the capital of the Mam Maya, is a temple-palace combination situated on the southeast side of one of the main plazas and was likely to have been a temple of Awilix.Rodríguez Rouanet et al 1992, pp.16-17. Kelly 1996, p.204. Fox 1987, 2008, pp.183-184. This temple-palace is Kʼicheʼ in style and has been identified with the Nijaʼibʼ lineage of the Kʼicheʼ, being very similar to the Temple of Awilix at Qʼumarkaj.Fox 1987, 2008, pp.183-184. The structure consists of a central pyramidal base flanked by two attached range structures. The pyramidal base is topped by a shrine containing three rooms, the final room of the three is circular. The temple has three steep stairways flanked by balustrades. The main stairway ascends directly from the plaza, those on either side are perpendicular to the main stairway. The balustrade of each stairway terminates at the top in a vertical panel. The temple facade is in good condition although the roof of the temple is missing. The range structures are unequal in size and each contains a single long room atop a low platform. The facade of each of these rooms once possessed a row of columns although only stumps remain in situ.Kelly 1996, pp.204-205. Fox 1987, 2008, pp.183-184.
Modern worship The modern descendants of the Nijaʼibʼ in Momostenango revere rival syncretised forms of the goddess, who are said to be the lovers of the town's patron saint Santiago (St. James).Fox & Cook 1996, p.814.
In popular culture Awilix is featured as an assassin of the Maya pantheon in the video game Smite. She is one of multiple Maya goddesses in the game.
See also List of lunar deities
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