nosed god of the Dresden Codex,
there is no doubt that the same deity is referred to. It is worthy of
notice in this connection that Plates 29-41 of the Dresden Codex, which
are devoted almost exclusively to this deity, refer very largely to
water, the god being figured in connection with water no less than
twenty-eight times. He is also twice colored black, probably to symbolize
the dark rain cloud, and twice blue, denoting water. It is therefore fair
to conclude that the author of this codex considered him the giver of
rain.

[Illustration: FIG. 382. Copy of head from the Borgian Codex
(Quetzalcoatl).]

The following reasons given by Dr. Schellhas for supposing that the deity
indicated is Kukulcan apparently justify his conclusion, though it is
possible some other name may have been applied to him:

He is represented in all the manuscripts, and far more frequently
than any other deity. His characteristic marks are always
unmistakable. An entire section of the Dresden Codex, pp. 29-43, and
pp. 1 and 2, belonging thereto, treat almost exclusively of this
god, and wherever he is pictured there we also find his name
hieroglyph. He is always characterized by the double, snake-like
tongue hanging from his mouth and by the peculiar eye, two marks
that are never absent, how numerous and varied soever may be his
representations, his symbols, and attributes. We also find him with
torches in his hands as symbols of fire; he sits on water; he stands
or sits in water or in falling rain; he rides in a boat; he appears
in company with a fish as symbol of water or in company of a bird's
head as symbol of the atmosphere, upon the day sign _Cab_ as symbol
of the earth, sitting, with the ax (machete) in his hand, with
arrows or spears, with a scepter, and finally, also, with the body
of a snake. Considering the immense variety of this god's
representations and the numerous symbols of power in the various
elements which the deity rules, we may well be justified in assuming
that there are indications here of one of the most important figures
in Maya mythology, with one of the principal deities of the people.
The most important god of the Mayas was Kukulcan, the creator of the
country's civilization, who had come from the far, unknown east, the
Mexican Quetzalcohuatl, the Gucumatz of the Kiche, the Kukulcan of
the Tze