As each year in the Calendar was supposed to be under the influence of one or the other of these brothers, one Bacab was said to die at the close of the year; and after the "nameless" or intercalary days had passed the next Bacab would live; and as each computation of the year began on the day _Imix_, which was the third before the close of the Maya week, this was said figuratively to be the day of death of the Bacab of that year.

And whereas three (or four) days later a new year began, with another Bacab, the one was said to have died and risen again.
The myth further relates that the Bacabs were sons of Ix-chel.

She was the Goddess of the Rainbow, which her name signifies.

She was likewise believed to be the guardian of women in childbirth, and one of the patrons of the art of medicine.

The early historians, Roman and Landa, also associate her with Itzamna[1], thus verifying the legend recorded by Hernandez.
[Footnote 1: Fray Hieronimo Roman, _De la Republica de las Indias Occidentales_, Lib.