| Camazotz | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Other Names |
Cama-Zotz, Sotz, Zotz |
|
First Appearance |
Mayan Mythology |
|
Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
In Maya mythology, Camazotz (meaning “death bat” in Kʼicheʼ) is a bat spirit serving the lords of the underworld, Xibalba. Associated with night, death, and sacrifice, Camazotz appears in the Popol Vuh, where the Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, encounter bat spirits during their trials. When Hunahpu peeks from his hiding place to see if dawn has come, Camazotz decapitates him and takes his head to be used as a ball in the gods’ game.
In Classic Maya art (200–900 CE), bats are often shown as nahuals (spiritual doubles) that bring disease or misfortune, though they rarely appear in full mythological stories like in the Popol Vuh.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Camazotz from before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Popol Vuh