Popol Vuh facts for kids

This is the first page of the Rabinal Manuscript of the Popol Vuh. It is kept in a library in Chicago.

The Popol Vuh is a very old and important book from the Maya people. Its name means "Council Book" or "Book of the Community" in the K'iche' language. This book tells amazing stories about how the world was created. It also shares myths about two special heroes, Hunahpu and Xbalanque.

Besides myths, the Popol Vuh also records the history of the Quiché kingdom in the highlands of Guatemala. It lists the rulers and important events of their past. The book was written down using the Latin alphabet around 1550, but it's believed to be based on even older Maya writings. A copy of this important book is kept safe in Chicago today.

The Popol Vuh is super important because it's one of the few ancient texts from Mesoamerica that we still have. It helps us understand the beliefs and history of the Maya people.

What's Inside the Popol Vuh?

The Popol Vuh is usually divided into different parts. It tells a big story from the very beginning of time.

The Creation of the World

The book starts with the world being dark and silent. Only the Creator gods were there, floating in the water. These gods, like Tepeu and Gucumatz (who looked like a feathered serpent), decided to create the world. They also wanted to create humans to keep them company.

Their first tries to make people were not perfect:

• First, they made humans out of mud. But these mud people couldn't move or speak properly. So, the gods destroyed them.
• Next, they made people out of wood. These wooden people could speak, but they didn't have souls or feelings. They also forgot their creators. The gods were unhappy and destroyed them too. These wooden people turned into monkeys.

Finally, the gods found the right material: maize (corn). They used white and yellow corn to make the "True People." These were the first real humans, and they had flesh, arms, and legs made from cornmeal.

Stories of Hero Twins

After the creation story, the Popol Vuh tells about the adventures of two special brothers, Hunahpu and Xbalanque. They are known as the "Hero Twins."

Their stories include:

• Defeating a proud bird monster named Vucub-Caquix and his sons.
• Facing the cruel lords of Xibalba, the Underworld. The twins had to pass through dangerous houses filled with gloom, knives, cold, jaguars, fire, and bats. They used their cleverness and magic to win against these dark lords.

The History of the Quiché People

The last part of the book focuses on the history of the Quiché kingdom.

• It describes how the first four "real" people were made.
• It tells how different tribes came to be and how their languages became different.
• It explains how the god Tohil became important to the Quiché people.
• Finally, it lists the family lines (genealogies) of the Quiché rulers. This shows how their kings were connected through history.

The Popol Vuh Today

Even now, the Popol Vuh is a very important part of the beliefs of many K'iche' Maya people. It helps them connect with their ancestors and understand their culture.

A Small Piece of the Book

Here are the first few lines of the Popol Vuh, translated into English:

"This is the root of the ancient word

  of this place called Quiché.

Here

  we shall write,

  we shall plant the ancient word,

the origin

the beginning of all what has been done in the

  Quiché Nation

  country of the Quiché people."

And here are the opening lines of the creation story:

"This is the account of how

all was in suspense,

all calm,

  in silence;

all motionless,

all pulsating,

  and empty was the expanse of the sky."

Images for kids

• 

  This image shows the Tonsured Maize God and the Spotted Hero Twin.

• 

  This is a family tree showing some of the gods and demigods from the Popol Vuh.

See also

In Spanish: Popol Vuh para niños