The Cat Who Bites the Strongest
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strip of green jungle vegetation
Can you guess which feline has the strongest bite of all? Is it the lion or the cheetah in Africa? The tiger or lynx in Asia? Or Mr. Fluffs purring on your lap as you read this? They’re all beautiful in their own right. But none of the above big (or small) cats have the bite strength of the powerful jaguar—the cat king of the Americas.
The word “jaguar” comes from the Paraguayan Guaraní language and means “he who kills with one blow”.
Many cultures throughout the continent have worshipped the jaguar in different iterations. Most prominently, the jaguar was an important mythological figure in Aztec, Inca and Maya mythology.
Today we’ll explore the jaguar’s role in Mesoamerican mythology.
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close up of a jaguar’s head in the middle of the jungle
But what is Mesoamerica?
Let’s get this question out of the way first. Mesoamerica refers to the part of the American Continent that stretches from central Mexico to roughly Costa Rica.
This area saw a great flourishing of culture and organized civilization between the 1500s BCE and the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores in the 1500s CE. That’s 3,000 years!
Forget Werewolves. Think Were-Jaguars!
One of the earliest representations of the jaguar in Mesoamerica came from the Olmecs (Mexico, 1200-400 BCE), who portrayed the were-jaguar in statues and figurines as a half-man, half-jaguar entity. Archeologists call this the were-jaguar.
The archaeological evidence found so far doesn’t show the jaguar exclusively as an animal. Instead, Olmec art shows human figures with certain feline characteristics or vice versa. The jaguar remains an enigmatic figure in Olmec mythology because there is no clear answer as to its nature or meaning for these early Mesoamericans.
Later Maya and Aztec accounts talk about the power to become half-jaguar and half-human. Both cultures believed that anyone able to accomplish this could act on their most hidden desires. In other words, they could rid themselves of all cultural restrictions and inhibitions and be free to roam the world.
Credit: j’enrike marrokín/unsplash
stepped pyramid temple of the great jaguar in tikal, guatemala, surrounded by an archeological area
The B’alam
In Maya mythology, the jaguar ruled over the underworld (Xibalbá) and represented the night sun and darkness. Because of this, there are many temples dedicated to the jaguar throughout southern Mexico and Central America. Two notable examples are the Temple of the Great Jaguar in Tikal, Guatemala and the Temple of the Jaguar in Chichén Itzá, Mexico.
High-ranking Maya priests who embodied the jaguar were the only ones allowed to officiate at the most important ceremonies. If these priests or shamans sighted a black jaguar, it was an omen for disaster and catastrophe.
Beyond that, Maya kings often added the word “B’alam” (jaguar in the Mayan language) to their regal name.
The bravest and fiercest Maya soldiers belonged to the order of jaguar warriors. Think of them as the SEALs of Ancient Mesoamerica.
Wearing a jaguar pelt, whether spotted or black, was a symbol of prestige and power reserved only for priests, warriors and kings.
source: wikimedia commons, codex magliabechiano
drawing of an aztec jaguar warrior wearing a jaguar attire and feathers
Tezcatlipoca
Centuries after the Maya, the Aztecs venerated a god called Tezcatlipoca. As one of the main Aztec deities, Tezcatlipoca was the god of the Great Bear constellation (Ursa Major) and the night sky. This god’s animal disguise was the jaguar, whose spotted skin resembled the starry sky at night.
Tezcatlipoca was also a creator god who ruled over the Ocelotl Tonatiuh (Jaguar Sun), which was the first of the four worlds that were created and destroyed before the current universe.
Like the Maya, the Aztecs also had an elite order of warriors who wore jaguar pelts as their fighting attire. These fearsome warriors had to capture four enemies from battles before they could become a member of the order.
As opposed to the Maya, however, the Aztecs didn’t entirely see the jaguar as a protector or symbol of the elite. Instead, they believed that Tezcatlipoca was the protector of slaves and those who suffered ill-treatment. He rewarded the virtuous with riches and fame while sending sickness or poverty to wrongdoers.
King of the (American) Jungle
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jaguar lying on top of a rock in the middle of the jungle
Many jaguar myths and gods extend far beyond Mesoamerica, from cultures ranging from the southern United States all the way to Argentina.
For the American peoples who came before us, the jaguar symbolized the most desirable traits of bravery, righteousness and protection. Sadly, its habitat is quickly diminishing each year—there are only an estimated 15,000 jaguars left in the wild.
With its robust yet agile body, superb tree-climbing abilities and magnificent spotted golden fur pattern, it’s no wonder that this big cat was a central icon in Indigenous American mythology for millennia.
Today, just as back then, the great jaguar remains the true king of the American jungles.
Let’s keep it that way!
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Raf N.
After finishing a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Digital Marketing, Raf ventured into the exciting world of professional writing. Some of Raf’s interest include travel, photography, history, languages, and dogs.
