The sacred book of the maya however many nations live in the world today, however many countless people, they all. The popol vuh is the most important example of maya literature to have survived the spanish conquest. The great classic of central american spirituality, translated from the original maya text. Bought it as a gift for my husband who is very interested in mayan culture. Popol vuh, the quiche mayan book of creation, is not only the most important text in the. Most of the maya books were destroyed by zealous priests during the colonial era. I happened to have with me a copy of the popol vuh manuscript, a book that was compiled in the midsixteenth century at a town that still exists less than thirty miles from. The popol vuh, meaning book of the community, narrates the maya creation account, the tales of the hero twins, and the kiche genealogies and land rights. Hunahpu the civilizing hero of quichemaya culture is a redemptorgod, son. A sacred book of the maya montejo, victor, garay, luis, unger, david.
Most previous translations have relied on spanish versions rather than the original kichemaya text. Popol vuh, maya document, an invaluable source of knowledge of ancient mayan mythology and culture. Popol vuh, maya document, an invaluable source of knowledge of ancient mayan. It certainly belong to the great works of world literature. One of the most famous of all creation stories is that found within the book of genesis, where the judaeochristian god is said to have created the world in six. Written in kiche a mayan language by a mayan author or authors between 1554 and 1558, it uses the latin alphabet with spanish orthography. The popol vuh is considered sacred by modern maya and is a priceless resource for understanding maya religion, culture, and history. Popol vuh sacred book of the quiche maya people translation and commentary by allen j. It is also one of the worlds great creation accounts, comparable to the beauty and power of genesis. Popol vuh is a text recounting the mythology and history of the k. The maya hero twins are the central figures of a narrative included within the colonial k.
The sacred book of the ancient quiche maya by adrian. It contains an account of the cosmogony, mythology, traditions, and history of this native american people, who were the most powerful nation of the guatemalan highlands in preconquest times. The great classic of central american spirituality, translated from the original maya text allen j. The original book was discovered at the beginning of the 18th century by. The popol vuh is the sacred book of the quiche, a branch of the ancient maya race. The quiche mayaa thriving culture located in northcentral guatemala consider the popol vuh to be a holy book, a sort of maya bible. The popol vuh is a sacred maya text which narrates the maya creation myths and describes the early maya dynasties.
The name popol vuh translates as book of the community, book of counsel. The popol vuh kiche for council book or book of the community. The popol vuh serves the purpose of documenting mayan oral culture. The definitive edition of the mayan book of the dawn. The name popol vuh is usually translated as book of the council, but opinions differ 2. It is written in an exalted and elegant style, and is an epic of the. Popol vuh the sacred book of the mayas continued written by editor vopus the significance of the book is enormous since it is one of a small number of. The popol vuh is the sacred book of the quiche maya indians of southern guatemala, central america. It includes the mayan creation myth, the exploits of the hero twins hunahpu and xbalanque, and a chronicle of the k.
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