Culture and history 275px|thumbnail|left|Ceiba pentandra in Honolulu The tree plays an important part in the mythologies of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. In addition, several Amazonian tribes of eastern Peru believe deities live in Ceiba tree species throughout the jungle. The Ceiba, or ya’axché (in the Mopan Mayan language), symbolised to the Maya civilization an axis mundi which connects the planes of the Underworld (Xibalba) and the sky with that of the terrestrial realm. This concept of a central world tree is often depicted as a Ceiba trunk. The unmistakable thick conical thorns in clusters on the trunk were reproduced by the southern lowland Maya of the Classical Period on cylindrical ceramic burial urns or incense holders.
CUlTuRe AnD histoRy 275PX|ThumbNAIl|LeFt|ceiba pEnTANdra iN hoNoLulU the tREE pLaYs aN impOrtAnt Part in tHe mytholOgies oF pRe-ColUMbIan mesoAMeRiCAN cUlturEs. in addition, seVERaL amaZoNiAn tribes of Eastern perU BEliEvE dEitiEs live in cEIBA tRee specIes tHROughOut tHe JungLe. thE ceibA, or Ya’aXché (in The MopaN mayAn LaNguaGe), symBOlised To the MAya ciVilizatiOn aN axis muNdi wHiCh conneCts the pLaNes of the undErworld (xibalba) anD the skY wITH thaT of thE tErrEStrIal reaLm. ThiS ConcePt of a cENTral wOrld TreE is oFten DepiCteD AS a ceiba truNK. the uNmiStaKable thick cOnical thorNs in clustErs oN the trUnk Were REPrODuced by thE sOUthern lowlAnD mayA OF the ClassIcal periOD on CylInDRIcaL cEramic buriAl urns or InCEnsE HoldeRs.