Chaac, the Maya rain god, and cenotes
Chaac is the Maya god of rain, thunder and lightning. Because the Maya depended on rain and cenotes for water, cenotes were key places to honour him and ask for rain.
How Chaac is shown
Chaac is often carved with a long, curled nose and holding an axe that makes lightning. His masks cover buildings at sites like Uxmal and Kabah in the Puuc region.
Chaac and water
Maize farming depended on rain. In drought, people made offerings at caves and cenotes, which were seen as homes of the rain gods.
Ceremonies today
Rain ceremonies called Ch'a Cháak are still held in some Yucatán villages, mixing Maya and Catholic traditions.
Chaac and other rain gods
Chaac is often compared with Tlaloc, the Aztec rain god, and Cocijo of the Zapotecs. A large part of the Dresden Codex, one of the four surviving Maya books, is about the Chaacs.
The Ch'a Cháak ceremony
In the modern Yucatec rain ceremony, four boys, one for each direction, sit at the corners of the altar and croak like frogs to call the rain.
Symbols of Chaac
- Axe or serpent: the lightning bolt he strikes clouds with.
- Gourds or jars: the water he pours as rain.
- Long hooked nose: the most recognisable feature of his masks.
- Four colours and directions: red east, white north, black west, yellow south (commonly cited).
The Codz Poop at Kabah
The façade of the Codz Poop palace at Kabah is covered with hundreds of stone Chaac masks, often reported at about 250, making it the most striking Chaac monument in the Puuc region.
Why Chaac lived in cenotes
The Maya believed rain came from Chaac and his helpers, who poured water from jars and struck clouds with lightning axes. Because cenotes held water deep in the earth, they were seen as his homes and as doors to the watery underworld.
Offerings to Chaac
- Jade, which stood for water and life.
- Copal incense, whose smoke rose to the sky.
- Pottery and food.
- In droughts, sometimes people, as at the Sacred Cenote of Chichen Itza.
Chaac Mool is not Chaac
Chac Mool statues (a reclining figure holding a bowl) are a different thing; the name was given by explorer Augustus Le Plongeon in the 1800s. Cenote Chac Mool near Puerto Aventuras is named after the statue, not the rain god.
Where to see Chaac today
- Codz Poop at Kabah: a wall of hundreds of Chaac masks.
- Uxmal and the Ruta Puuc: masks on building corners.
- Chichen Itza: masks on the Nunnery and other buildings.
- Merida's Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (reported).
New to cenotes? Start with our main guide: what is a cenote. Ready to visit? See the best cenotes in Tulum. Want to swim near the ruins? See the cenotes near Chichén Itzá, including Cenote Ik Kil.
Chaac: frequently asked questions
What is the Mayan word for rain?
In Yucatec Maya, cháak means rain or storm, the same root as the god's name.
Is Chaac the sun god?
No. Chaac is the rain and storm god; the sun god is usually called K'inich Ajaw.
Is Chaac one god or several?
Often four Chaacs are described, one for each direction, as well as a single rain god.
Where can I see Chaac masks?
Uxmal, Kabah and Chichén Itzá have many carved Chaac masks.
Who is Chaac's Aztec equivalent?
Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain.