View source for Yopaat

[[File:Quirigua Altar O' Yopaat.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Sculpted image of Yopaat on Quirigua Altar O']]
'''Yopaat''' was an important [[Maya civilization|Maya]] [[Weather god|storm god]] in the [[southern Maya area]] that included the [[Maya city|cities]] of [[Copán]] and [[Quiriguá]] during the Classic period of [[Mesoamerican chronology]] (c. 250–900 AD). Yopaat was closely related to [[Chaac]], the Maya [[List of rain deities|rain god]].<ref name="GutiérrezGonzález2012p1061">Gutiérrez González 2012, p. 1061.</ref> Yopaat is depicted as bearing a flint weapon that represents a [[thunderbolt]].<ref name="Bassie-Sweet&Hopkins2015p127">Bassie-Sweet and Hopkins 2015, p. 127.</ref> Yopaat was held responsible for especially violent lightning storms, that were believed to cause earthquakes. He was often represented with a snake in place of one leg, demonstrating a close relationship with [[Kʼawiil]], another [[List of Maya gods and supernatural beings|Maya deity]] with similar attributes.<ref name="PallánGayol2008p26">Pallán Gayol 2008, p. 26.</ref>
The deity was most important during the Late Classic period (c. 600–900 AD).<ref name="GutiérrezGonzález2012p1061"/> Although his worship was concentrated in the [[Motagua River|Motagua Valley]], glyphic inscriptions of the name occur as far away as [[Palenque]], [[Yaxchilán]] and [[Toniná]].<ref name="GutiérrezGonzález2012p1062">Gutiérrez González 2012, p. 1062.</ref> Decipherment of a hieroglyphic text found at Palenque has resulted in the suggestion that Yopaat was associated with mist that forms before rainfall.<ref name="GutiérrezGonzález2012p1063">Gutiérrez González 2012, p. 1063.</ref> The name of the deity was frequently used as a part of the names of the kings of the Quiriguá dynasty,<ref name="GutiérrezGonzález2012p1061"/> and it is likely that Yopaat was the patron god of the city, which was subject to abundant rainfall and frequent floods.<ref name="GutiérrezGonzález2012p1066">Gutiérrez González 2012, p. 1066.</ref>
==Etymology==
The name Yopaat is formed from two elements – ''yop'' and ''aat'', literally ''leaf-penis''.<ref name="Stuart6March2013"/> This name has been tentatively linked to mythic imagery at [[San Bartolo (Maya site)|San Bartolo]], [[Petén Department|Petén]], and with other deities in wider [[Mesoamerica]] that feature an oversized leaf hanging from their abdomens.<ref>Pallán Gayol 2008, p. 27.</ref>
==Iconography==
In [[Maya art]], Yopaat is depicted using his thunderbolt weapon to crack the shell of the mythic turtle, an action that gives rise to the resurrection of the [[Maya maize god|maize god]].<ref>Looper 2003, pp. 4–5.</ref> Representations of Yopaat are almost identical to representations of Chaac, except his weapon, and curved dotted elements on his head. These dotted elements may represent clouds or mist,<ref name="Stuart6March2013">Stuart 6 March 2013.</ref> or may be sparks.<ref name="Bassie-Sweet&Hopkins2015p127"/> He also has stony markings on his body.<ref name="PallánGayol2008p26"/>
==Notes==
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==References==
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*Bassie-Sweet, Karen; and Nicholas A. Hopkins (2015) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=9uPuBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA127 Ancient Thunderbolt and Meteor Deities]" in K. Bassie-Sweet, ed. ''The Chʼol Maya of Chiapas'' (Norman, Oklahoma, US: University of Oklahoma Press). 123–144. {{ISBN|9780806149264}}. {{OCLC|907238631}}
*Gutiérrez González, María Eugenia (2012) B. Arroyo, L. Paiz, and H. Mejía, eds. "[http://www.asociaciontikal.com/pdf/089_Gutierrez.pdf Yopaat,  un  dios  Maya  de  la  Tormenta  en  Quiriguá] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175651/http://www.asociaciontikal.com/pdf/089_Gutierrez.pdf |date=2015-09-23 }}." [Yopaat, a Maya storm god at Quiriguá] ''Simposio  de  Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Guatemala'' (in Spanish) (Guatemala City, Guatemala: Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, Instituto de Antropología e Historia, and Asociación Tikal). XXV (2011):1061–1073. {{ISBN|9789929400375}}. {{OCLC|806091034}}
*Looper, Matthew (2003) ''Lightning Warrior: Maya Art and Kingship at Quirigua'' (Austin, Texas, US: University of Texas Press). {{ISBN|0292705565}}.
*Pallán Gayol, Carlos (2008) "[https://www.academia.edu/2460915/The_Many_Faces_of_Chaahk The Many Faces of Chaahk: Exploring the Role of a Complex and Fluid Entity within Myth, Religion and Politics]" Academia.edu.
*Stuart, David (6 March 2013) ''[https://decipherment.wordpress.com/tag/i/ Leaf Glyphs: Spellings with yo and YOP]''. Maya Decipherment: Ideas on Ancient Maya Writing and Iconography (decipherment.wordpress.com). Austin, Texas, US: University of Texas. Retrieved on 18 March 2016.
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==Further reading==
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*Bernal Romero, Guillermo (2008) "[http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?pid=S0185-25742008000300004&script=sci_arttext Las orejeras de Kʼinich Janahbʼ Pakal: comentarios sobre una inscripción olvidada de Palenque]" [The earspools of Kʼinich Janahbʼ Pakal: comments upon a forgotten inscription from Palenque] ''Estudios de cultura maya'' (in Spanish) (Mexico City, Mexico: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas). '''31'''. {{ISSN|0185-2574}}
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{{Maya}}
[[Category:Maya deities]]
[[Category:Thunder gods]]