Maya world tree
E642553
The Maya world tree is a central cosmological symbol in Maya mythology that connects the underworld, earthly realm, and heavens, often depicted as a great ceiba tree supporting the structure of the universe.
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
axis mundi
ⓘ
cosmological symbol ⓘ mythological concept ⓘ sacred tree ⓘ |
| appearsIn |
Maya cosmology
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Maya mythology NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| associatedConcept |
World Tree
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
axis mundi in Mesoamerica ⓘ |
| associatedTreeSpecies | Ceiba pentandra NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| category |
Maya mythology
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Mesoamerican mythology NERFINISHED ⓘ religious symbolism ⓘ |
| connectsRealm |
earthly realm
ⓘ
heavens ⓘ underworld ⓘ |
| cosmologicalFunction |
links different cosmic levels
ⓘ
organizes vertical structure of cosmos ⓘ |
| culture | Maya civilization NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| hasColorAssociation | directional colors in Maya cosmology ⓘ |
| hasDirectionAssociation |
center direction
ⓘ
four cardinal directions ⓘ |
| hasPart |
branches in upper world
ⓘ
roots in underworld ⓘ trunk in middle world ⓘ |
| influencedBy | Mesoamerican world tree traditions ⓘ |
| influences |
Maya ritual space organization
ⓘ
Maya temple and pyramid symbolism ⓘ |
| linkedDeityType |
maize god symbolism
ⓘ
sky deities ⓘ underworld deities ⓘ |
| oftenDepictedAs |
great ceiba tree
ⓘ
tree with branches in heavens ⓘ tree with roots in underworld ⓘ tree with trunk in earthly realm ⓘ |
| orientation | vertical axis of the universe ⓘ |
| region | Mesoamerica NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| relatedSymbol |
cross-shaped world tree motif
ⓘ
quadripartite cosmos ⓘ |
| religion | Maya religion ⓘ |
| role |
cosmic axis
ⓘ
supports structure of the universe ⓘ |
| symbolicTreeType | ceiba tree ⓘ |
| symbolizes |
center of the world
ⓘ
connection between worlds ⓘ cosmic order ⓘ fertility ⓘ life ⓘ |
| usedIn |
Maya ceremonial contexts
ⓘ
Maya iconography ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.