- "The Quadripartite Monster appears in the three major versions: as the rear of the Cosmic Monster, as an independant image at the base of the World Tree, and as a scepter of headdress. It never has a body and its head is usually fleshed above the muzzle and skeletal beneath it. A flat bloodletting bowl marked with the sign for the sun, kin, forms its forehead and a stingray spine, a shell, and crossbands rest in the bowl. The Stingray represents the blood of the Middleworld, the shell symbolizes the water of the Underworld; and the crossbands are the path of the sun crossing the Milky Way, a sign of the heavens which can be represented by a bird's wing in Early Classic examples. GI of the Palenque Triad often wears this image as its headdress. The Quadripartite Monster represents the sun as it travels on its journey through the cosmos." (A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya)
- During his fall from the Tree of the World, Pakal is seated upon the Monster of the Sun. The monster is aptly represented in its state of transition between life and death: a skeleton from the mouth down, with eyes that have the dilated pupils of living beings. The sun enters into this state of transition at dawn and at dusk. Here, however, the emblem of the Monster of the Sun contains the cimi or sign of death, emphasizing imagery representing the "death of the sun" or sunset, with the sun located on the horizon, ready to sink into the Underworld . . . and take the dead king with it. (Taken from :http://www.delange.org/PalenqueTomb/PalenqueTomb.htm)
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| (source: A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya) |
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| "quadripartite badge from the Temple of the Cross" |
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| Another depiction, Kinich Ahau - the Maya Sun God Jade Head (source: www.belize.com) |
Mayan mask showing a depiction of the same monster, but considered here a God
. "An idealized portrait of God GIII of the Planeque Triad from
the Mayan
lowlands, this mosaic mask is made of eighty-two individually cut
deep
green mottled jade, spondylus and conch shell plaques. The mask’s large
squared eyes have distinctive spirally incised conch shell pupils, each
carefully
highlighted by red pigment. The lower eyelids curl over the
nose to form the
characteristic cruller loop between the eyes. The
robust nose with slightly flared
nostrils is carved from a single piece
of jade. Distinguished by fish fin shaped
ornaments at the corners, the
wide mouth reveals a filed front tooth and flint-like
tongue. The figure
wears the headdress of the Quadripartite Monster, symbolized
by the
stepped plaque with a central flint. The overall effect is an imposing
representation of the Mayan deity. (source:http://collectrium.com/)
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