THE 11 MOST IMPORTANT OLMEC GODS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS - HISTORY - 2024

The main Olmec gods include the jaguar, the spirit of rain, the feathered serpent and the dragon god, among many others. The Olmecs were a pre-Hispanic civilization considered the first in Guatemala and Mexico that developed approximately between 1500 BC and 400 AD.

The various gods that made up the Olmec religion were mainly linked to agriculture, animals, and nature. For the Olmecs, each one of the elements that surrounded them was alive; among these elements were caves, rocks, mountains and rivers.

Most representations of the Olmec gods mix human and animal elements. Source: Gunnar Wolf

According to the beliefs of the Olmecs, every living element that surrounded them was filled with spirits that had supernatural powers. Likewise, the rulers were also part of this circle of deities, since they considered themselves direct descendants of the gods and therefore also enjoyed powers.

Another important aspect related to the Olmec religion is that this civilization believed that humans and animals shared essential spiritual elements. As a consequence of this, it was possible for them to transform into each other in a controlled way and at will.

This conception may be the reason why it is common to find representations of Olmec deities in which human features are mixed with animal or nature characteristics.

Taking into account the above, it is usual to find feline features (which refer to the jaguar), figures similar to corn and humanoid faces, all in the same representation of a god.

The 10 most important Olmec gods

Nahual, the jaguar god

Olmec jaguar warrior. Century XVI.

It was also called Nahual, and it was the most important god of this pre-Hispanic culture. This animal was represented countless times in the different artistic representations of this culture, especially in lapidary art.

The jaguar god was linked to fertility and rain, and in some cases he was also related to specific people; the bond between man and jaguar was said to be such that if the jaguar died, the man who was associated with that jaguar would also die.

The Olmecs consider the jaguar as a shaman of the natural world, which is why it had a certain preponderance in relation to the other gods they worshiped.

The jaguar has long been thought to be the god around which the entire Olmec belief system revolved. However, various investigations have shown that, despite occupying an important place, the jaguar god was not the center of the Olmec religion, but one more deity within their religious system.

In any case, the image of the jaguar for the Olmecs was linked with fierceness and strength, and from time to time they made sacrifices to honor this god.

Olmec dragon

This figure was found after the most representative ones of the Olmec culture; However, it is estimated that the rituals associated with this deity may predate those dedicated to the so-called Feathered Serpent, one of the main Olmec gods.

As with other deities of this Mesoamerican culture, the representative figures of the Olmec dragon combine elements typical of the jaguar, birds and the serpent. Likewise, sometimes he is also represented as a figure with human features.

The archaeologist Carolina Meza Rodríguez directed one of the excavations through which evidence related to the dragon god has been found. This researcher indicates that in the relics found there are other elements clearly linked to the Olmec culture, such as a cross of Olmec origin and flare-shaped eyebrows.

Other research has determined that the image of the dragon god could be linked to a family that ruled this civilization for 300 years, between 800 and 500 BC. This would be consistent with the fact that the Olmecs considered their descendant rulers the gods.

The dragon god is also known as the "monster of the Earth" and was considered by the Olmecs to be a deity closely related to power and authority.

Feathered Serpent

Various Mesoamerican cultures had their own representation of the Feathered Serpent; however, the Olmec version is considered to be the oldest of all.

This deity was widely represented in various artistic expressions, such as sculptures and paintings, and it was common for it to be located near human beings. Pictorial representations of the Feathered Serpent have been found in caves and structures built by the Olmecs.

Physically it was represented as a large rattlesnake covered entirely with feathers; in addition, it had a profuse crest. The Feathered Serpent was related to life and the wind, so it was part of the deities associated with fertility.

Man-jaguar

According to an Olmec legend, the carnal union between a jaguar and a woman resulted in the so-called jaguar-men. Another version indicates that jaguar-men were conceived after the union of the rulers with jaguar beings of mythical origin.

In any case, the jaguar-men are the most obvious reflection of one of the essential beliefs of the Olmecs, according to which human beings had the possibility of transforming themselves into animals as they wanted due to the fact that both shared part of their spirits.

These figures were represented as elements that combined human and feline features, whose lips fell slightly giving the sensation of growling.

Olmec representations related to jaguar-men have been determined to be the first to exist in Mesoamerica. These figures have been found in caves and in sculptures made with stone, ceramic, and jade.

Homshuk, god of corn

Image source: afrarodriguez.blogspot.com

The god of corn is characterized mainly because it does not have a defined gender. The name given to it by the Olmecs was Homshuk and it has been represented in various Olmec sculptures and creations.

The shape of this god used to be represented in different ways, but they all had in common an oval base with a humanoid shape, which had a slit in the head from which sprouted what can be identified as a cob or other symbols related to corn.

Likewise, it was common to find in these sculptures the figure of a seed in the germination process located at the height of the forehead. Homshuk's features also had some references to the jaguar, which turned out to be a figure present in the various Olmec deities, to a greater or lesser extent.

The god of corn was one of the most praised, as this food represented the basis of the economy and the main livelihood of the Olmecs. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the archaeological zone called La Venta vestiges of a pyramid dedicated to this god, also considered the son of the Sun, have been found.

It is certain that this pyramid was dedicated to Homshuk because engravings representing the figure of this god were found at the top of the structure.

Spirit of rain

Source: Dorieo

The spirit of the rain is represented by a small male figure, which can be associated with a young man, a child or a dwarf. Some research even explains that they were considered very wise men who maintained their childlike appearance.

Despite her size, the Olmecs described her as a very powerful deity, who also had several helpers with whom she summoned the rain and who protected her. As expected, this god was also associated with lightning and thunder.

Some researchers, such as Olmec archeologist Michael Coe, have determined that the rain god actually was generated from the jaguar god. The argument that justifies this conception is that the representative figures of the rain god present a cleft similar to those that were also present in the figures of the jaguar god.

Likewise, the mouth of the rain god has a kind of fangs, features that are undoubtedly linked to the image of the jaguar.

Other physical characteristics of this deity are somewhat puffy eyelids, oblique eyes that have a tendency to narrow even more, and a frown. Some representations held a mitten in each hand, which were used in rituals with a combative character.

The god of rain was of great importance, as he was linked to abundance and rebirth and, of course, he was also related to corn, the main food of the Olmec culture.

Harvest man

Source: Cleveland Museum of Art

This deity was supported by a moving legend: for the Olmecs, the harvest man was an individual (it could have been a man or a boy) who sacrificed himself so that his people would be able to produce the food necessary for their own subsistence.

The harvest man was linked to fertility and, like much of the depictions of the Olmec gods, he usually has a cleft running through the top of his head.

As we have mentioned previously, this cleft is directly related to the representations of the jaguar god and the god of corn.

Bandit god

Source: Mag2017

Little information is available about this deity. However, it is known that its physical representation had the typical downward twisted mouth that referred to the figure of the jaguar. In addition, her head was characterized by being flat.

The most peculiar thing about this god is that he is represented with a slanted eye covered by a band that completely crosses his face; that's where its name comes from.

God of fire

Source: See page for author

This god is represented as an old being and it is estimated that he was one of the first gods to be venerated in Mesoamerica. Their presence is linked to the beginning of a new year.

The god of fire was the protagonist of a ceremony that the Olmecs carried out every 52 years. It is about the celebration of the new Fire, a festival through which they represented the end of one stage and the beginning of another.

In this celebration, all the inhabitants of the community got rid of their dresses and other attire, as well as the utensils of household chores.

These utensils were destroyed, generating large accumulations of broken clay within the community. Likewise, as part of the ritual, 52 bundles of firewood were cut and each one represented a year corresponding to the cycle of 52 they were leaving behind.

Another important element of the New Fire ritual is that it sought to combat the so-called demons of the night.

The Olmecs believed that if this ritual was not carried out, the Sun could not rise again and the ideal scenario would be generated for the demons of the night to invade their lands and devour men, thus generating perpetual night.

Some research has determined that it is highly likely that this New Fire ritual not only happened every 52 years, but was also celebrated annually.

Shark monster

This interesting deity was directly linked to creation, as understood by the Olmecs. It was the most relevant sea god, despite the fact that not many representations of it have been found.

Its relationship with creation is given by a legend according to which the shark monster was fighting with a man when there was still nothing but water in the world. As a consequence of the confrontation, the shark monster cut off an arm of the man, which resulted in the generation of dry land.

The virtues with which the shark monster was characterized are speed, the possibility of completely dominating the water and dexterity when hunting.

It is said that this was a relevant god for the Olmecs because all these characteristics were necessary for their daily performance, so they constantly summoned them through the figure of the shark monster.

References

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