Today, March 21st, is Donaji's Birthday!

Her full name, Bilachi Donaji, means “Ten-Jaguar Great Soul”, so here’s a flaming jaguar Donaji.

Today marks the beginning of Spring as well!

References

These are some of my references from codices for the jaguar design, most specifically for the feathers ornament on the head. Most jaguar-related characters often wear an ornament with white and green feathers. Her “bracelets” were taken from the jaguar god Tepeyollotl, depicted in Codex Borbonicus (4th picture). The Zapotec relief also has a neck ornament or pectoral with bells. Since Donaji is Zapotec, this lead me to look for inspiration in Zapotec iconography for the design.

For the necklace ornaments I referenced Zapotec sculptures that had similar neck ornaments or pectorals to the previous jaguar relief. The white and red knot tied to the neck with a thick rope is a very common element in Zapotec urns, as well as the bells, which tell them apart from other cultures’.

The paws are partly based on this urn of the Zapotec Jaguar God.