The problem of Olmec iconography has troubled scholars for years. The “Jaguar Baby” motif is inseparable in its motivation from all other known Olmec objects but has never been subject to scholarly consensus. The wide use of motif demands that we investigate the significance of the jaguar to the Olmec. This piece attempts to draw together the various writings on the significance of the motif, in order to extract some meaningful conclusions about the religion of the Olmec and its relationship with the fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula. Three major discussions arise; 1) that the jaguar was a representative tool, functioning as a symbol of the dominance of the ruling class 2) that the jaguar was a “power animal” of a shaman caste and stood for a “spirit journey,” recalling a shared religious experience 3) that the Olmec believed themselves to be descended from the jaguar. In all these instances, were-jaguars or jaguar babies show a transitional phase or a synthesis of the man and jaguar. By closely reading all the sources, this project draws the conclusion that the jaguar was a natural choice as a symbol of the “royal house” but had a religious importance that predated this connection and was concurrent with it.

Essex Student Journal Volume 3 Issue 2 2010