The Bacabs (Becabs, Bacabab, , Cantul-ti-ku) are rain gods of the Mayas (possibly borrowed from the Toltecs). All four are brothers and considered gods of agriculture. They are included among the attendants of the rain god Chac-Mool. Each acts as one-quarter guardian of the 260-day calendar and all are patrons of beekeepers. During the fourth month of Zotz, beekeepers prepared for their festival which was held in Tzec, the fifth month. The ceremony was variable depending upon which day was determined as the most auspicious.
Called the Four Wind Gods, these four brothers are the supporters of the four corners of the Earth called the Acantum or Ah Hoyaob, “Water Sprinklers,” and Pillars of Heaven. Cauac’s color is red, and he is the first guardian of the south. However, as the first guardian of the year, his color is sometimes listed as blue or yellow. The cult center of Cauac (Chac, Hozanek, Tochthli) is in the city of Chichen Itza where he has a sacred well. The second bacab is red for the east. This would be Kan (Acat, Acatl, Hobnil), though his color is listed as yellow. Mulac (Can Tzicnal, Tecpatl) is the third northern guardian with white as his color. The final bacab is Ix (Calli, Zac Cimi) with black for the west.
The Bacabs, the sons of Itzamna and Ixchel, are often depicted as four old men with upraised arms. They are also shown as human-headed water jars and are personified as various animals, usually frogs, tortoises, or jaguars. According to another Maya belief, the sky is held up by four trees of different species and color, the green ceiba tree (silk-cotton tree) at their center.