[This article is part of the Learner's Maya Glyph Guide.]
CMGG entry for "GOD-GI"

Translation: “God GI”
Part of speech: Noun

Logogram spellings of "GOD-GI"

                                       

MHD.SN1b.1&2                                      1011st                              T1011

-                                                                 -                                        -

 

                                                                                                       

Schele                                  Schele                               Schele                            Schele                               Schele                         

PAL TI ET B8                        PAL TI ET D11                  PAL TI ET F9                  PAL TI CT E6                     PAL TI WT A5            

CHAAK                                  CHAAK                              CHAAK                          CHAAK                               CHAAK                        

 

                                                                                     

Coll-1                                   Stuart-TIfTXIX.p96.fig68                                              Stuart-TIfTXIX.p99.fig70                             

PAL Temple 14 H7             PAL Temple 19 Platform West Side D3                    PAL Temple 19 Platform West Side F1a              

CHAAK                                 ta.CHAAK                                                                       CHAAK

 

·    This is God-GI of the Palenque Triad.

·    Tuszyńska-ALatEGIT.p2.pdfp2.para-1: GI is one of the most mysterious Maya deities. He can be recognized by a shark tooth, a fish fin or barbel on the cheek, an eye with a scrolled pupil, and a spondylus shell earflare (Schele 1976).

·    He seems to be a manifestation of Chaak, as the glyph has the distinctive spondylus shell as the central part of his ear.

·    In addition to that, what makes him different from the “standard” Chaak are:

o Fish fins: one as a forehead ornament and one immediately to the right of the mouth.

o A shark tooth.

The above explanation is rather confusing, because many examples of “standard” Chaak have fish fins and a shark tooth as well – i.e. the fish fins and shark tooth do not serve to distinguish God-GI of the Palenque Triad from “standard” Chaak.

·    It’s unclear whether (as a variant of Chaak) the glyph should be read as Chaak/Chahk, or whether it has its own, independent reading, due to the additional fins and shark tooth. In any case, this glyph has been given the nickname “GOD-GI” for ease of reference.