section_path: Other characteristics/Mythology and worldview/Symbolism of space and time
section_name: Symbolism of space and time
paragraph_text: Symbolism of space and time
  
  It has been argued that among Mesoamerican societies the concepts of space and time are associated with the four cardinal compass points and linked together by the calendar. Dates or events were always tied to a compass direction, and the calendar specified the symbolic geographical characteristic peculiar to that period. Resulting from the significance held by the cardinal directions, many Mesoamerican architectural features, if not entire settlements, were planned and oriented according to directionality.
  
  In Maya cosmology, each cardinal point was assigned a specific color and a specific jaguar deity (Bacab). They are as follows:
  
  Later cultures such as the Kaqchikel and K'iche' maintain the association of cardinal directions with each color, but use different names.
  
  Among the Aztecs, the name of each day was associated with a cardinal point (thus conferring symbolic significance), and each cardinal direction was associated with a group of symbols. Below are the symbols and concepts associated with each direction: