{"id":2371,"date":"2020-12-13T10:54:49","date_gmt":"2020-12-13T10:54:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toonsarah-travels.blog\/staging\/?p=2371"},"modified":"2021-01-30T10:58:53","modified_gmt":"2021-01-30T10:58:53","slug":"meeting-maximon-the-idol-of-santiago-atitlan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toonsarah-travels.blog\/staging\/meeting-maximon-the-idol-of-santiago-atitlan\/","title":{"rendered":"Meeting Maxim\u00f3n, the idol of Santiago Atitl\u00e0n"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The small boys who meet the boats arriving in Santiago on the shores of Lake Atitl\u00e0n know that the visiting tourists are here to see one thing above all others. They want to meet Maxim\u00f3n. It\u2019s a good idea to accept the children\u2019s offer as this intriguing Mayan idol (part saint, part devil) doesn\u2019t have a permanent home in the town. Instead he is hosted by a local family, moving to a new house every few years.  <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course your young guide will expect a tip, but if you negotiate it won\u2019t cost you too much and will mean a lot to them. It also gives you a chance to chat to them as you walk through the town. Our young guide, David, was trilingual and spoke a few words of his Maya language, Tz’utujil, for us. He led us through the back streets to Maxim\u00f3n\u2019s current home, a few minutes\u2019 walk from the dock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Street
The main street through the town<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Maxim\u00f3n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It is a great honour among local families to act as Maxim\u00f3n\u2019s host, and also a great responsibility.  He has his own room and is watched over day and night. During the day he receives visitors, who light candles at his feet and offer him money, cigarettes and alcohol. At night he is \u2018put to bed\u2019 \u2013 winched up into a private space above where he can rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maxim\u00f3n is believed to be a form of the pre-Columbian Maya god Mam, blended with influences from Catholicism; he is sometimes equated with the Catholic San Simeon. He is also linked to Judas Iscariot, probably because the Spanish conquerors, fearing Maxim\u00f3n\u2019s influence over the people, chose this way of trying to turn them against him. Nowadays he takes the role of Judas in the Holy Week procession, before moving to his new home for the coming year. But the traditional Maya religion recognises him as the incarnation of the ancient Mayan god of sexuality. One legend tells that one day while the village men were away working in the fields, Maxim\u00f3n slept with all of their wives. When they returned, they were so angry they cut off his arms and legs. This is thought to be why most effigies of Maxim\u00f3n are short, often without arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He does not live up to Christian notions of sainthood, but instead is rather a bully; he is as likely to grant prayers for revenge as for anything else. Offerings are made less in worship and more in fear of what he might do if not<\/strong> so honoured.<\/p>\n\n\n