Editing Itzamna (section)

===Principal Bird Deity===
[[File:WLA metmuseum Maya Double Chambered Vessel 5th C.jpg|thumb|right|Principal Bird Deity and worshipper, Classic period, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY]]
From the Late Postclassic [[Paris Codex]] back in time to the Pre-Classic [[San Bartolo (Maya site)|San Bartolo]] murals, Itzamna has the so-called Principal Bird Deity - perhaps the Yaxcocahmut mentioned above - for a transformative shape (see figure). The bird often holds a bicephalous (two-headed) snake in its beak. Its head sometimes resembles that of a rain deity; at other times, it is more like that of a [[bird of prey]], perhaps the [[laughing falcon]] believed to be a harbinger of rain.<ref>Bassie-Sweet 2008: 141-143</ref> The wings are repeatedly inscribed with the signs for "daylight" and "night", suggesting that the bird's flight could represent the unfolding of time. The San Bartolo murals have a Principal Bird Deity seated on top of each of four world trees, recalling the four world trees (together with a fifth, central tree) which, according to some of the early-colonial [[Chilam Balam]] books, were re-erected after the collapse of the sky. These world trees were associated with specific birds. Four world trees also appear in the Mexican Borgia Codex. The shooting of the Principal Bird deity is one of the main episodes of the Classic Period [[Hero Twins]] myth; but strong arguments plead against the Principal Bird Deity's equation with [[Vucub Caquix]], a bird demon shot by the [[Popol Vuh]] Twins.