men. It may symbolize smoke or fire, thus alluding to the fiery nature of the region to which the tree belongs. A cloud of darkness and a stream of blood wind around the stem. It is surmounted by the arara bird.
These four trees have parallels in Maya mythology, as, for example, on the altar-pieces of the cross from Palenque (Temple II) and elsewhere.
The gods governing the five regions of the universe are31:
- Centre—Xiuhtecutli.
- East—Mixcoatl and Tlaloc.
- North—Itztli and Xochipilli.
- West—Iztac Mixcoatl and Quetzalcoatl.
- South—Macuilxochitl and Xipe.