Popul Vuh and Other Creation Myths

             The Popol Vuh, the creation myth of the Maya, tells the story of the time of the beginning of the Earth. In the beginning, the gods of the primordial sea, came together to discuss bringing life and light into the world. Based on their ideas of human beings, they set out to create humans. However, because of various faults in the humans in each of the three initial attempts, they were destroyed. Finally, on their fourth attempt, with the counsel of two elderly couples named Xpiyacoc and Xmucane, they were able to create humans that satisfied the god's requirements. These humans were made from grounded corn mixed with flour and water, and grounded bones from the river of the underworld. The main part of the story beings with two twin boys, named One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu, who became ballplayers. The Lords of Xibalba became annoyed with the twin's ballplaying and challenged the twins to the ballgame. After being tricked by the Lords, the twins were sacrificed and the head of One Hunahpu was hung on a calabash tree. One day, Blood Moon, the daughter of a Lord of the underworld named Blood Gatherer, discovers and talks to the head of One Hunahpu. One Hunahpu spits into Blood Moon's hands and impregnates her with the two twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque.
             At first, the twins thought they were farmers until one day when they discovered that they, like their fathers, were ballplayers. They decided to take up ballplaying and again, the Lords of Xibalba became annoyed and challenged the twins to a game. The Lords challenged the twins to various tests and trials, all of which the twins were able to outwit the Lords and pass. This was until one trial when the twins were to spend the night in the Bat House. During this trial, Hunahpu's head was cut off by a bat and was taken to the ball court where his head was used as a ball. Once again, the Lords were outwitted and Xbalanque was able to revive Hunahpu. The Lords became ang...

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Popul Vuh and Other Creation Myths. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 15:11, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/11086.html