This is the account of when all is still silent and placid. All is silent and calm. Hushed and empty is the womb of the sky.
First page from the 18th century Popol Vuh in the Ayer Collection of the Newberry Library
Photo Credit: Paulo Cesar Coronado
So begins the creation myth of the Maya as it is reported in one of the most discussed and misrepresented documents in Maya history: the Popol Vuh, or Council Book, a manuscript written by the Quiché Maya in the early Spanish colonial period of the mid-16th century AD.
Contributing writer Nicoletta Maestri recently wrote an article describing the contents and history of the Popol Vuh, and places the stories of the Maya creation and the Hero Twins in the context of what archaeologists have learned from other places. Great stuff!
- The Popul Vuh, from Nicoletta
- The Hero Twins in Maya mythology
- Popul Vuh: translation and commentary by Allen J. Christenson from Mesoweb (this link leads to directly to the pdf which will start downloading)
The Popol Vuh originally appeared on About.com Archaeology on Wednesday, May 28th, 2014 at 08:15:44.
