Ancient Mayan Stories



The Popol Vuh tells the story of the four creations of the world and the gods and heroes that were involved. In each creation, an event triggers the destruction of that world and transformation of it's creatures into the new world.

The Popol Vuh records one branch of the ancient Central American heritage. Written shortly after the Spanish conquest by a Quiche Indian in his native language but using the Roman alphabet, it was transcribed and translated into Spanish by a Dominican priest in Guatemala at the end of the 17th century.

Ancient Mayan Stories

His manuscript, housed in the library of the University of San Carlos, Guatemala City, was brought to the attention of European scholars in 1854, making Maya cosmogony and history available outside Central America. Today researchers can also draw on other documents, inscriptions, and the traditions kept alive by the Maya's descendants.

The legend of Sac-Nicte and Canek Sac-Nicte means white flower. She was born in Mayapan. The legend says that a young adviser to the princess told Canek that Sac-Nicte would be waiting among green flowers and that it would be necessary to fight for her, before destiny fought against them.

Ancient Mayan Stories

The day of the wedding, Canek arrived with 60 of his best warriors and climbed to the altar screaming Itzalan! Itzalan! As if he was in the battlefield and stole the princess from the altar. Ulil, enraged, launched a war: Mayapan and Uxmal against Izta.

The itzaes abandoned their homes and temples in Chichen Itza. Leading the way was King Canek, hand-in-hand with his beloved Sac-Nicte. The Uxmal and Mayapan armies found an empty Chichen Itza, left dead, abandoned by its citizens.

Ancient Mayan Stories

A MAYAN LIFE is the first novel ever by a Mayan writer, and thus the first in which the Maya themselves tell their own story. Through the eyes of Lwin, living in the hamlet of Jolomk'u, in the municipio of San Pedro Soloma, high up in the isolated Cuchumat n Mountains of Guatemala (about six hours by dirt road from the nearest town),

we live the drama of an oppressed people struggling to survive and maintain their dignity five centuries after the Spanish invasion. Rich in personal and ethnological detail, the reader comes away knowing better just what it means to be a contemporary Maya.

Rabbit stories :- Rabbit is called the Mayor (Alcade); no one knows why, but perhaps these stories do explain it. Some of the rabbit stories are :-

  • Rabbit and the Cap of Antlers
  • Rabbit Throws out his Sandal
  • Rabbit Tricks Coyote Twice
  • Rabbit as Cowherd Tricks the Boss
  • Rabbit as Swineherd Tricks the Boss
  • Rabbit Helps Ram Escape Enemies

More info on- Mayan Books

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