Chaak

Chaak, also spelled Chaac, is the Maya rain god, a principal deity in the religious pantheon of the Maya civilization. He presides over rain, storms, thunder, and agriculture, and is closely linked to maize cultivation. In Maya belief, rainfall is controlled by Chaak’s movements in the heavens; he releases rain when clouds gather and his ceremonial axe is used to strike the sky to provoke precipitation. Adequate rainfall was essential for crops and survival in the Maya world, making Chaak one of the most consistently honored gods in Maya ritual.

In art and iconography, Chaak is typically depicted as a male figure with a long, prominent nose and a distinctive headdress. He commonly carries a ceremonial lightning axe, a tool associated with striking clouds to produce rain. He may be shown with water motifs—drops, rivers, or rain symbols—and sometimes with glyphs identifying him as a rain deity.

Cultic practice: Chaak was widely worshiped across Maya centers, from the Yucatán Peninsula to the Guatemalan lowlands. Ritual offerings, including incense, food offerings, and bloodletting, were made to please Chaak and secure rain. Ceremonies and seasonal rites were conducted during planting and during dry spells to avert drought and ensure agricultural fertility.

Legacy: The figure of Chaak appears in Maya inscriptions, murals, and codices, and his image remains part of contemporary Maya religious and cultural practice. He is often viewed in relation to other Mesoamerican rain deities, such as Tlaloc in Aztec tradition, reflecting a common emphasis on rain as a life-giving force across the region.