Did the Maya have a moon goddess?

Yes - she was portrayed as a beautiful young woman. Often she is depicted on painted pottery holding a rabbit in her arms and sitting in a crescent moon. The rabbit is the Maya's animal symbol for the moon. Many peoples both in Asia and the Western Hemisphere interpret a pattern of shadows on the face of the full moon as the shape of a rabbit.

Why were the Incas called "children of the sun god"?

The Incas told a story that the sun god sent his son, Manco Capac, and his daughter, Mama Ocllo, to earth to instruct the people of Peru in the arts of farming, weaving, making pottery, cooking, astronomy, and all the other skills that would help them live a better life. The Inca rulers believed that their ancestors were the offspring of the sun and called themselves "children of the sun." These rulers also thought of themselves as the sun god's representatives on earth, and the people worshiped them as the sun's direct descendants.

Who was the Hindu god of the underworld?

The Hindu god of the underworld was named Yama. Also the god of death, Yama is believd by Hindus to have been the first mortal (human) who died. As the first human, he was also the first one to make his way to the home of the gods and so became the ruler of the underworld. The Hindus depict Yama in art with red or green skin, red clothes, and riding a buffalo. In his left hand, he holds a rope that he uses to pull the soul from a dead body.

How was Calliope worshiped and where? What did she represent? How did she become a goddess and why was she so powerful?

Calliope was one of the nine Muses, goddesses who presided over all areas of the arts and sciences. According to Greek mythology, the Muses were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (the goddess of memory) and were born at the foot of Mt. Olympus, the home of the Greek gods. Calliope was patroness of epic poetry and eloquence (the art of speaking and writing gracefully and persuasively) - that's why it was quite appropriate to name this magazine for her. In legend, Calliope had three children. The most famous was Orpheus, who used his superb lyre-playing ability to enter the gates of the Underworld - and return! Calliope was also the deity asked by Zeus to judge the quarrel between the goddesses Aphrodite and Persephone. Check out a Greek mythology book for more information about this dispute.

Why did astronomers name a planet after the ancient Greek and Roman messenger god?

Well, it seemed most appropriate, as Mercury is the planet that travels around the sun at the fastest speed. Scientists also used his name for quicksilver, the silvery substance used in thermometers, because it could move rapidly from one place to another. Some florists honor the god Mercury as well - they use an image of him, with his winged feet and hat, as the symbol for FTD (Florist Transworld Delivery). Check out "Florists" in the Yellow Pages in a phonebook for the FTD symbol!

In the September 2006 issue of CALLIOPE, the poster on page 40 shows Zeus as Jupiter and Artemis as Diana. Why?

Good observation! The poster, which was in English, dated back more than 50 years and was published in India. At the time, it was common practice to use the names the ancient Romans, not the ancient Greeks, had given the deities. For example, the king of the gods was Jupiter to the Romans and Zeus to the Greeks; the goddess of the hunt was Diana to the Romans and Artemis to the Greeks. In modern times, it has become the practice to refer to each deity by the name that complements the context in which it is used. Hence, in the September issue, which focused on the seven Wonders of the Ancient World, CALLIOPE used the Greek names for Zeus and Artemis, as the wonders dedicated to them were in the Greek lands.

Who was the Maya god of the underworld?

The Jaguar God. As the god not only of the underworld, but also of night, caves, hunting, and war, he was very powerful. Beautiful and dangerous creatures, jaguars inhabited the jungles where the Maya lived in Central America, and they were feared and respected. The Jaguar God has several forms, including the Jaguar God of the daytime sun and the Jaguar Paddler God, one of several "Paddler" gods who guide other gods and supernatural beings through the waterways of the underworld in canoes. The Jaguar God's strength, stealth, and hunting ability must have impressed the Maya, since many of their rulers wore jaguar skins as a symbol of their power and leadership skills.

Who is Itzamna?

Itzamna is the name of the Maya creator god. The Maya depicted him as an old, wrinkled man and may have considered him their first priest. Itzamna was credited with the invention of writing and medicine. According to myth, he ruled over the other Maya gods and wore a black disc on his forehead, which may have represented an obsidian mirror to tell the future. He was sometimes portrayed as a small alligator, as a fish, or as a lizard, and was associated with water. His name was derived from the Maya word itzam, which means "iguana" or "whale."

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