Both
men and women perced their ears and tattooed parts of their bodies. To
tattoo, the design was peinted on the body, which was then cut into. The
paint and scar formed a tattoo. The process was said to be extremly
painful, and for this reason tattoos were signs of personal bravery; the
process caused infection and temporary illnes. Some individuals were
depicted with tattoos in Maya art, but most did not have them. Tattooing
may have become more prevalent by 16th century, when the Catholic
priests complained of it and banned it. Men were not tattooed until
their marriage, after whic they would tattoo their bodies and parts of
their faces. Women tattooed more delicate designs into the upper part of
their bodies, but not on their breasts. (Lynn V. Foster)
Mayan
Mythology Acan Ac Yanto Acat is the Mayan god of tattoos. The Mayans
thought that having the symbol of a God tattooed on their flesh would,
they believed, give them just the faintest bit of the Godly essence
themselves.(Jakob Ortiz Breiting)
God of Tattooing. There is mention of Acat, a god of tattooers. Acat is a Nahuatl day name meaning "reed", Ah Cat would be "He of the Storage Jar." (J. Eric S. Thompson)
God of Tattooing. There is mention of Acat, a god of tattooers. Acat is a Nahuatl day name meaning "reed", Ah Cat would be "He of the Storage Jar." (J. Eric S. Thompson)
Yucatec divine patron of those making scarifications and tattoos (Cogolludo); also called Acat *CHB* and Ah Cat (Wikipedia)
The
god of the art of tattooing and patron of tattoo artists, Acat is also
associated with the growth and development of fetuses. He is further
designated by the names Acat-Cib and Ah - Kat (byJoshua J. Mark)
The
Maya placed great importance on the process of Tattooing, believing
that tattoos in the image of a god would imbue a person with some of
that god's power. Because of the importance and difficulty of this art
form it was only natural that there was a god responsible for it. Acat
was said to bless the ink, needles, and work spaces, and steady the
hands of the artists for better results. (Wikipedia)
Acat,
Acat-Cib, Acaat, Ah-Kat: god of tattoos, tattooing and tattoo artists;
god of fetal growth and development; God of Life; possible Becab(Bacab)
of the East In Yucatec, Acat is the god of tattoos and sacrifices
Acatl is the reed used in tattooing; hence may be a nickname or epithet
of another god; Acatl is the god of dwellings. Encyclopedia of Ancient
Deities (edited by Charles Russell Coulter, Patricia Turner) states
that Acat is a god of life and tattooers for the Maya People of the
Yucatan; one of the Bacabs aka Wind Gods aka four pillars of heaven
whose names differs with each culure in the area. (Melia Brokaw)¸
