A Classic Maya Mystery of a Medicinal Plant and Maya Hieroglyphs

Jonathan Ferrier,Phillip Wanyerka,Victor Cal,John Thor Arnason,Nicholas Zinck,Sharon Curtis,Todd Pesek,Michael Balick

doi:10.3390/heritage3020016

Jonathan Ferrier, Phillip Wanyerka + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage3020016

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Abstract

The Maya employed the k’an |K’AN| glyph in Late Classic (~750 CE) hieroglyphs on murals and polychrome pottery as an adjective meaning precious, yellow. On cacao drinking vessels, the k’an glyph was suggested as a descriptor for a flavoring ingredient, allspice, Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. (Myrtaceae). However, our previous consensus ethnobotanical fieldwork with Q’eqchi’ Maya healers of Belize revealed another candidate among antidiabetic plants, Tynanthus guatemalensis Donn. Sm. (Bignoniaceae), which was the healers’ top selection for treatment of diabetes and an exceptionally active extract in an antidiabetic assay for inhibition of protein glycation. Traits of T. guatemalensis observed after cross sectioning the liana were: (1) a cross-shaped xylem organization similar to the k’an glyph; (2) an allspice-like aroma; and (3) yellow color. Based on taxonomy and ethnobotany, confirmation of the allspice-like aromatic compound eugenol, and antidiabetic activity, we determined the plant described by the k’an glyph to be T. guatemalensis (chib’ayal in Q’eqchi’), not P. dioica (allspice). In contemporary Q’eqchi’ tradition, the section of the chib’ayal vine with its cross is associated with the eighth day of their Tzolk’in calendar, which is called the “nawal” (energy) of “q’anil” (ripe, full yellow). This day is represented with a different glyph from the k’an glyph, but notably has a cross representing the four cardinal points. The identification of a potent medicinal plant used in the late classic as well as contemporary times may suggest the long-term preservation of traditional medicinal knowledge in Maya culture for pharmacologically significant plants.

Highlights

In the Yukatekan languages, the hieroglyph listed as T281 in the Thompson (1962) catalog [1](Figure 1) reads k’an [K’AN], meaning “yellow, ripe, or precious” [2]
The k’an glyph is a common cosmogram used by the Classic Maya to invoke cosmic locations, which often links these spiritual locations to precious sacrificial offerings like ripe maize or precious jewels [3]
While many cultivated food plants from Mesoamerica can be traced in the archeological record back to periods as early as 7000 years before present, the history and archeological record of medicinal plants, especially from the semi-evergreen tropical forests of the classic Maya heartland in the Peten and Belize are poorly documented, despite evidence of contemporary Maya use of hundreds of species [16,17,18,19]

Summary

Introduction

In the Yukatekan languages, the hieroglyph listed as T281 in the Thompson (1962) catalog [1]. (Figure 1) reads k’an [K’AN], meaning “yellow, ripe, or precious” [2]. K’an can relate to anything that can be described as being yellow or yellowish. The k’an glyph is a common cosmogram used by the Classic Maya to invoke cosmic locations, which often links these spiritual locations to precious sacrificial offerings like ripe maize or precious jewels [3]. The k’an cross symbolizes the pathway of the sun as it moves daily on its journey across the sky from east to west (ibid.). Each of the four cardinal directions has its own special tree, bird, color, and spiritual personages associated with its domain, and rituals associated with those personages (ibid.).

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