Songs of Dzitbalche facts for kids
The Songs of Dzitbalché (also known as El libro de los cantares de Dzitbalché in Spanish) is a very special book. It holds almost all the ancient Mayan lyric poems that we still have today. This book is similar to the Books of Chilam Balam, which were sacred books for the Yucatec Maya people during the colonial period.
The only copy of the Songs of Dzitbalché that still exists was written in the 1700s. It was written in the Mayan alphabet. The person who wrote it said his name was Ah Bam. He was an elder from the town of Dzitbalché. He also seemed to say that the book was first written way back in 1440.
Books from that time were often copies of older copies. So, experts look closely at the book's content to guess its true original age. Many of the poems seem much older than the 1700s copy. They include old songs for ceremonies and special traditions. Other poems are about love, deep thoughts (philosophy), and spiritual beliefs. Many of these poems were likely sung with music.
The book's first name was The Book of the Dances of the Ancients. Its name was changed to Songs of Dzitbalché by the first person who translated it.
Contents
About the Songs of Dzitbalché
This unique book gives us a peek into the ancient Maya world. It shows us what was important to them through their songs and poems.
Who Wrote the Book?
The author of the Songs of Dzitbalché called himself Ah Bam. He was an elder, meaning a respected older person, from the town of Dzitbalché. This town is located in what is now Mexico.
When Was It Written?
The copy we have today was made in the 1700s. However, Ah Bam suggested the original book was written much earlier, around 1440. Books from that time were often copied by hand many times. This means the poems themselves could be even older than the 1440 date.
What Are the Poems About?
The poems in the book cover many topics. Some are about important ceremonies and rituals of the Maya people. These songs helped them connect with their traditions and beliefs. Other poems are more personal. They talk about feelings like love, or they share deep thoughts about life and the world (philosophy). Many of these poems were probably sung, perhaps with musical instruments.
Translations of the Songs
Over the years, people have worked hard to translate the Songs of Dzitbalché so more people can read them.
First Translations
The first complete Spanish translation was made by Barrera Vásquez in 1965. Later, in 1982, Edmunson created an English version.
More Recent Translations
In 2005, Curl published some parts of the book online. Then, in 2013, Bowles translated all the songs into English poems. This was part of his book called Flower, Song, Dance: Aztec and Mayan Poetry.
See also
In Spanish: Cantares de Dzitbalché para niños
- Index of Mexico-related articles
