Caves were sacred to the Taíno—the heart of their spirit and culture. Deep, dark, and cool: The caves protected worshippers and supplicants from the wind, the rain, and the all-powerful, all-seeing sun.

The legendary figure Macocael—“He of the Unblinking Eyes”—was the fierce guard who presided over one of the Taino’s most prized caves. His macus—“big eyes” or “eyes without lids”— kept unending vigil over the sacred site.