What did bats mean to the ancient Maya of Mesoamerica? From the mysterious figure of Camazotz, the so-called “death bat” in the Popol Vuh, to the striking depictions of bats in Classic Maya art (200–900 CE), this video looks at the art, mythology, and symbolism of bats among the Classic Maya. Learn about how bats are connected to Xibalba, the Maya underworld, and to powerful ideas about death, rebirth, caves, fire, fertility, and time. Learn why not every bat in Maya art represents Camazotz (don't Google Camazotz, eek!), and how these winged creatures symbolized both the darkness of the earth and the abundance of life. For the Maya, bats weren’t just spooky; they were sacred messengers between worlds, among many other things.

Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction to Bat symbolism and the ancient Maya

0:24 Camazotz and the Popol Vuh

0:44 The Hero Twins and Xibalba

1:30 Classic Maya imagery of bats

2:05 How bats appear in Maya art

3:00 Caves, bats, and the Earth

Learn more

• Check out our entire glossary of art history: https://www.artsq.org/about-key-terms-ideas-art-history

• Learn about the ancient Maya: https://www.artsq.org/the-ancient-maya-of-mesoamerica