Editing Chaac (section)

== Mythology ==

The rain deity is a patron of agriculture. A well-known myth in which the Chaacs (or related Rain and Lightning deities) have an important role to play is about the opening of the mountain in which the maize was hidden. In [[Tzotzil people|Tzotzil]] mythology, the rain deity also figures as the father of nubile women representing maize and vegetables. In some versions of the [[Qʼeqchiʼ people|Qʼeqchiʼ]] myth of Sun and Moon, the rain deity Choc (or Chocl) 'Cloud' is the brother of Sun; together they defeat their aged adoptive mother and her lover. Later, Chaac commits adultery with his brother's wife and is duly punished; his tears of agony give origin to the rain. Versions of this myth<ref>Thompson 1970: 364</ref> show the rain deity Chac in his war-like fury, pursuing the fleeing Sun and Moon, and attacking them with his lightning bolts.

In some mythologies, it is believed that water and clouds are formed within the Earth in caves and cenotes and then carried into the sky by deities such as Chaac.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vail |first1=Gabrielle |last2=Hernández |first2=Christine |title=Re-Creating Primordial Time: Foundation Rituals and Mythology in the Postclassic Maya Codices |date=2013 |publisher=University Press of Colorado |pages=63–64 |jstor=j.ctt5hjz2g.9 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5hjz2g.9}}</ref> Classic period Maya sources also suggest that Chaac was the god who opened the mountain containing maize, using his lightning axe, [[Kʼawiil|K'awiil]].<ref>Vail, Hernandez 2013: 66</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzsimmons |first=James L. |date=2024-10-03 |title=Centuries ago, the Maya storm god Huracán taught that when we damage nature, we damage ourselves |url=https://theconversation.com/centuries-ago-the-maya-storm-god-huracan-taught-that-when-we-damage-nature-we-damage-ourselves-238180 |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref>