God L Relief Panel
Date
850-950
Creator
Location
Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
This panel depicts God L (a title assigned by scholars) who is a Maya merchant deity. It is now believed that his name, or at the very least his epithet (descriptor), was Ik’-(y)ak’ab’-Ta[h]n or "Black His Dark Heart." God L is a lord of the underworld, and is therefore associated with rainfall, agricultural fertility, and consequently, riches. He holds a chicahuaztli, a ceremonial rattle staff linked with fertility and agricultural renewal, which is identifiable due to the open hand on top and the three resonance chambers that run down the body of the staff. He smokes a cigar and stands upon a merchant bundle used to transport trade goods, such as cacao beans and quetzal feathers.
![This panel depicts God L (a title assigned by scholars) who is a Maya merchant deity. It is now believed that his name, or at the very least his epithet (descriptor), was Ik’-(y)ak’ab’-Ta[h]n or "Black His Dark Heart." God L is a lord of the underworld, and is therefore associated with rainfall, agricultural fertility, and consequently, riches. He holds a chicahuaztli, a ceremonial rattle staff linked with fertility and agricultural renewal, which is identifiable due to the open hand on top and the three resonance chambers that run down the body of the staff. He smokes a cigar and stands upon a merchant bundle used to transport trade goods, such as cacao beans and quetzal feathers.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fiiif-image.library.nd.edu%2Fiiif%2F2%2F2004.048%2F2004_048-v0002%2Ffull%2Ffull%2F0%2Fdefault.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
![This panel depicts God L (a title assigned by scholars) who is a Maya merchant deity. It is now believed that his name, or at the very least his epithet (descriptor), was Ik’-(y)ak’ab’-Ta[h]n or "Black His Dark Heart." God L is a lord of the underworld, and is therefore associated with rainfall, agricultural fertility, and consequently, riches. He holds a chicahuaztli, a ceremonial rattle staff linked with fertility and agricultural renewal, which is identifiable due to the open hand on top and the three resonance chambers that run down the body of the staff. He smokes a cigar and stands upon a merchant bundle used to transport trade goods, such as cacao beans and quetzal feathers.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fiiif-image.library.nd.edu%2Fiiif%2F2%2F2004.048%2F2004_048-v0001%2Ffull%2Ffull%2F0%2Fdefault.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
![This panel depicts God L (a title assigned by scholars) who is a Maya merchant deity. It is now believed that his name, or at the very least his epithet (descriptor), was Ik’-(y)ak’ab’-Ta[h]n or "Black His Dark Heart." God L is a lord of the underworld, and is therefore associated with rainfall, agricultural fertility, and consequently, riches. He holds a chicahuaztli, a ceremonial rattle staff linked with fertility and agricultural renewal, which is identifiable due to the open hand on top and the three resonance chambers that run down the body of the staff. He smokes a cigar and stands upon a merchant bundle used to transport trade goods, such as cacao beans and quetzal feathers.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fiiif-image.library.nd.edu%2Fiiif%2F2%2F2004.048%2F2004_048-v0003%2Ffull%2Ffull%2F0%2Fdefault.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
![This panel depicts God L (a title assigned by scholars) who is a Maya merchant deity. It is now believed that his name, or at the very least his epithet (descriptor), was Ik’-(y)ak’ab’-Ta[h]n or "Black His Dark Heart." God L is a lord of the underworld, and is therefore associated with rainfall, agricultural fertility, and consequently, riches. He holds a chicahuaztli, a ceremonial rattle staff linked with fertility and agricultural renewal, which is identifiable due to the open hand on top and the three resonance chambers that run down the body of the staff. He smokes a cigar and stands upon a merchant bundle used to transport trade goods, such as cacao beans and quetzal feathers.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fiiif-image.library.nd.edu%2Fiiif%2F2%2F2004.048%2F2004_048-v0004%2Ffull%2Ffull%2F0%2Fdefault.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
![This panel depicts God L (a title assigned by scholars) who is a Maya merchant deity. It is now believed that his name, or at the very least his epithet (descriptor), was Ik’-(y)ak’ab’-Ta[h]n or "Black His Dark Heart." God L is a lord of the underworld, and is therefore associated with rainfall, agricultural fertility, and consequently, riches. He holds a chicahuaztli, a ceremonial rattle staff linked with fertility and agricultural renewal, which is identifiable due to the open hand on top and the three resonance chambers that run down the body of the staff. He smokes a cigar and stands upon a merchant bundle used to transport trade goods, such as cacao beans and quetzal feathers.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fiiif-image.library.nd.edu%2Fiiif%2F2%2F2004.048%2F2004_048-v0005%2Ffull%2Ffull%2F0%2Fdefault.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at RMMACollections@nd.edu.