What are aluxes?

In news– Mexico President claimed a blurry, dark photo of a tree at night showed a figure from Mayan mythology as ‘alux’.

What are aluxes?

According to Mayan mythology, aluxes are small, mischievous creatures that inhabit forests and fields and play tricks on people, like hiding things. It is said that some people leave small offerings to appease them.
As per the legends, shelter-like structures were built for aluxes when construction works were undertaken in the area.
It was believed these shelters would attract the creatures, who would then help ward off any hindrances and help work proceed smoothly.
Similarly, there are myths about angering the forest spirits. During a 2010 concert by British singer Elton John in the region, local Mayan leaders complained about it being held near the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza.
They said a state collapse before the performance, which hurt three people, was the work of aluxes for not taking permission from the Gods.

History of the Mayan civilization-

The larger Mayan civilisation (which reached its zenith between 300 AD to 900 AD) is recognised as one having significant cultural heft in its time with innovations in farming, stone architecture, the study of mathematics and astronomy, devising calendars, as well as large-scale human sacrifices as part of religious rituals.

Yucata, a peninsula in Mexico on the Gulf of Mexico, has important Mayan sites. Ek Balam, the archaeological site referenced by President AMLO, is also in Yucata.
Mayan people, to date, continue inhabiting some of these regions.
Though the number of people speaking the indigenous languages and following traditional customs has fallen over time with Spanish colonisation or the post-Hispanic period, president AMLO has been known to emphasise aspects of indigenous culture.
Lopez Obrador has often spoken about the pre-colonisation culture and blamed colonial-era abuses for present-day injustices in the country.
The socialist leader has also pressured a Vienna museum to lend Mexico a bejewelled feather headdress in the last few years.
Another pet project of his is the Maya Train tourism project, which runs through Mexico’s thickly-forested regions.
In 2022, a prehistoric human skeleton believed to be at least 8,000 years old was found in a cave on this path.