Akbal

He is frequently characterized by a long, pendent head ornament, in which is the sign Akbal, darkness, night, which also appears in his hieroglyph before the forehead of the deity, surrounded by dots as an indication of the starry sky.

Representation of Deities of the Maya Manuscripts Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Vol. 4, No. 1 Paul Schellhas

Akbal-sign on the forehead of the dog's head occurring in it, and on the back of the head the Kin-sign, as symbols of the alternation of day and night.

Representation of Deities of the Maya Manuscripts Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Vol. 4, No. 1 Paul Schellhas

The dog as lightning-beast occurs with the Akbal-sign in the eye instead of on the forehead in Codex Tro. 23*a; here again its hieroglyph is an entirely different one (the third of the rubric).

Representation of Deities of the Maya Manuscripts Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Vol. 4, No. 1 Paul Schellhas

In Dr. 36a the dog bears the Akbal-sign on its forehead.

Representation of Deities of the Maya Manuscripts Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Vol. 4, No. 1 Paul Schellhas

According to Förstemann, his day is Akbal, darkness, night.

Representation of Deities of the Maya Manuscripts Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Vol. 4, No. 1 Paul Schellhas

Maya day sign, _Akbal_, possibly representing the head of a centipede.

Animal Figures in the Maya Codices 1915

Another point in this connection may be made if we consider the head of the centipede in the head-dress and in the glyphs as representing the day sign _Akbal_ (Pl. 3, fig. 10) as _Akbal_ in Maya means night.

Animal Figures in the Maya Codices 1915

It must be admitted, however, that the head might represent the day sign _Chuen_ almost as well as _Akbal_.

Animal Figures in the Maya Codices 1915

_Akbal_ (night) occurs as the eye in the figures from the manuscripts.

Animal Figures in the Maya Codices 1915

As has been noted, _Akbal_ means night and possibly death as well.

Animal Figures in the Maya Codices 1915