Chan K'in Viejo and his son perform a ceremony at the Temple of Hachäkyum, Yaxchilan.
photos by G. Blom
Yaxchilan (Chixokla) and Palenque
The Ruins of Yaxchilan, and to a lesser extent Palenque, have religious significance to the Lacandones. The Lacandones make pilgramages to the ruins of Yaxchilan (they call them Chixokla) to perform rituals in the buildings thought to be homes of various Lacandon gods. At least since the turn of the century, Lacandon god pots and clay bowls have been found abandoned among the buildings at this site. The imposing Temple 33 is thought to be the home of Hachakyum, "Our True Lord", principal solar deity and creator of human beings. Although Palenque was thought to have been the original home of the gods and Lacandon myths describe events said to have occured there, no evidence exists that the Lacandones ever made pilgrimages to Palenque. As one elderly man put it, "The gods are not there, they live in Yaxchilan." Antonio and Chan K'in Cuarto of Najá visited Yaxchilan in April 1996 to perform ceremonies while curious tourists kept a respectful distance.[adapted from Life, Ritual and Religion Among the Lacandon Maya by R. Jon McGee]
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