Werejaguar facts for kids
The were-jaguar was a very important symbol and a special spirit for the ancient Olmec people. It might have even been a god.
This were-jaguar symbol often had almond-shaped eyes, a mouth that turned downwards, and a head with a split or "cleft" in the middle. You can find this symbol in many Olmec artworks and ruins. Sometimes, the symbol itself stood for the powerful were-jaguar spirit. People used to think the were-jaguar was the most important god of the Olmec culture. But now, experts believe it was just one of many important spirits.
The word "were-jaguar" comes from an old English word, were, which means "man". It's combined with "jaguar", a big wild cat found where the Olmec lived. It's like the word "werewolf", which means "man-wolf".
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What Did the Were-Jaguar Look Like?
The main were-jaguar symbol had a split head, slanted almond-shaped eyes, and a mouth that turned down. This mouth often had a wide upper lip and no teeth.
Artists and archaeologists like Marshall Saville and Miguel Covarrubias were among the first to describe this special symbol. Covarrubias even thought the "jaguar mask" was the ancestor of all later rain gods in Mesoamerica.
Around 1955, a theory called the Stirling Hypothesis suggested that the were-jaguar was born from a jaguar and a woman. Because of these ideas, the were-jaguar became a central part of understanding Olmec art. Many things with a downturned mouth or a split head were called "were-jaguar". A big art show in 1965 even called the were-jaguar "the divine power of the Olmec civilization".
However, this idea changed when Las Limas Monument 1 was found. This stone sculpture showed a were-jaguar baby, but also four other spirits, all with split heads. This discovery helped experts realize that not every split head or downturned mouth was a were-jaguar. In 1976, Peter David Joralemon described eight different Olmec spirits, each with their own special features.
The Were-Jaguar as a Rain God
After more research, it became clear that the were-jaguar was not the only spirit with a split head or downturned mouth. Some experts now believe the were-jaguar spirit is actually the Olmec rain god. Miguel Covarrubias had suggested this idea back in 1946.
The Olmec rain god (or spirit) has the usual almond-shaped eyes, split head, and downturned mouth. But it also has other special features. These include a headband and a headdress, which is usually split. The headband often has decorations. The spirit also has ear bars, which are often pleated, running down its face. Plus, it has a "crossed-bars" symbol on its chest or belly.
Other Names for the Were-Jaguar
Some experts have even tried to use different names instead of "were-jaguar". For example, Anatole Pohorilenko used "composite anthropomorph" (meaning a human-like figure made of different parts). Other researchers, Miller and Taube, said that one single "were-jaguar" theory can't explain all the different Olmec spirits. They believe only one spirit, the "Rain Baby", clearly looks like a mix of human and jaguar.
How Were Were-Jaguars Shown?
Even though they are "strangely absent" from pottery, you can find three-dimensional were-jaguar spirits in many stone carvings. These range from small greenstone statues (like a 9 cm figurine) to large basalt sculptures (like San Lorenzo Monument 52).
Were-jaguar babies are often shown being held by calm adults, as if they are being presented. This scene appears in many types of art, from small carvings to large stone statues and huge altars (like Altar 5). We don't fully understand what this act means.
Two-dimensional pictures of the were-jaguar were carved onto greenstone celts (ancient tools). They were also painted on pottery and carved onto four huge stone monuments at Teopantecuanitlan. Lively were-jaguar babies are shown carved on the sides of La Venta Altar 5.
Archaeologist Peter Furst thinks were-jaguar figures might have been used as household gods. They may also have been spirit helpers for priests or shamans, helping them with special rituals and transformations.
Where Did the Idea Come From?
- Further information: Jaguars in Mesoamerican culture
The jaguar was the most powerful predator in Mesoamerica. Ancient societies respected it greatly. Leaders often used jaguar symbols to show their power. However, this doesn't fully explain the were-jaguar symbol itself. Experts have been trying to figure out its origins for over 50 years.
Genetic Conditions
Some experts, like Michael Coe, looked for biological reasons for the were-jaguar's fleshy lips, split head, and toothless mouths. They suggested genetic conditions like Down syndrome and spina bifida. People with spina bifida can have developmental issues that match the were-jaguar's features. For example, encephaloceles can cause the skull bones to separate, leading to a split in the head.
These conditions can run in families. If children born with these conditions were seen as divine or special, then multiple births of affected children in a family could have made that family's power stronger.
Were-Jaguar as a Toad
Peter Furst and others have suggested that the were-jaguar might actually represent a type of native toad. They believe it's a toad shaped like a human but with jaguar features.
Toad species common in Mesoamerica, like Bufo marinus or Bufo valliceps, have a clear split in their head. Like all toads, they have fleshy mouths with no teeth. These toads were important in ceremonies for many Mesoamerican cultures. Toad bones have been found at Olmec sites. Toads have symbolic power because of their life cycle (changing from tadpole to toad), their ability to have many babies, their venom, and especially how they shed their skin.
The "fangs" often seen on were-jaguar images could also be explained by toads. Toads shed their skin several times a year. As they eat their old skin, it hangs out of their mouth and can look like fangs. This process of shedding and growing new skin might have symbolized death and rebirth, which was very important in their religion.
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Were-Jaguar as a Harpy Eagle
The were-jaguar could also be shown as a harpy eagle. Peter Furst argues that the harpy eagle is the sky version of the were-jaguar. Both are powerful creatures linked to ancient Olmec shamans changing into animals. Furst believes this because of the art and because harpy eagles are also top predators.
Summary of Ideas
There are many ideas about the were-jaguar symbol, and they don't have to be completely separate. It's possible that were-jaguars meant different things at different times during the Olmec period. They might also have meant different things to the many people who created the images. The mystery of the were-jaguar is still being explored!
