In Mayan and other ancient cultures, monkeys were seen as the sacred guardians of cacao. These cultures believed that monkeys had a special connection with the gods and could communicate with them. 

They observed how monkeys were drawn to the cacao fruit, often eating it and discarding the seeds on the forest floor, which would eventually sprout into new cacao trees. This symbiotic relationship led to the belief that monkeys nurtured and protected cacao, earning them a place in stories and art as the guardians of this valuable resource.