The three feathers which surmounted the yax kukul, as shown in No. 4, Fig. [45], also developed in the hieroglyphs to an important sign. It is shown in Fig. [46], No. 1, and is the uppermost sign in the “Initial glyph” of Palenque (see p. 137) and was a mark of eminent distinction. (See Fig. [47], No. 2.)
These three feathers indicated in Maya symbolism the highest place and power. They appear on the head of the important statue unearthed by Dr. Le Plongeon at Chichen Itza, which he calls “Chac Mool,” in the form given Fig. [46], No. 2. Three was a sacred number with the Mayas, and with this in mind I shall refer to it as the “trinal” sign.
Fig. 46.—The “Trinal” Feather Emblem.
In Mexican writing the three feathers appear in the ikonomatic sign for tecpan, royal, in the Lienzo de Tlascala, pp. 56, 57, 78. As feather in Maya is kukum, which is allied in sound to ku, god, kul, divine, etc., we see what an appropriate rebus the “trinal” makes.
Rounded figures, identified by Seler as “feather balls,” are sometimes portrayed above the men, or “Mother Earth” sign, and in other relations. See Cod. Peres., p. 7, for a good example.
Fig. 47.—The “Cross-hatched” Signs.
A number of drawings in the Codices represent textile materials—mats, cotton cloth, wicker-work, etc. That Fig. [47], No. 1 is frequent, both as an affix and as part of costume. Thomas calls it a trellis or lattice work; Seler, an imitation of a snake skin; Förstemann, of the shell of a tortoise. In some places it is clearly a part of a helmet made of interlaced and twisted cords attached to a frame. (See Cod. Tro., pp. 2, 3, 6, 19, 22*, 23*.)[[123]] In Nos. 2 and 3 it appears as a written character with superfixes. It forms part of the sign of the day chicchan, and is attached to the sign of the sun and of the world.
This cross-hatching I regard as showing woven stuff, or that twisted, knotted, and plaited; and I consider its value when used phonetically to be “strong, mighty,” because the word for “strong” in Maya is chich, and that for twisting and interlacing cords is chich-kuch,—again a simple rebus.[[124]]