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This web page is designed to aid students taking Honors Spanish at the University of Central Florida
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The creation stories of the Mayan Indians is recorded in a book called the Popal Wuh. The Popal Wuh recounts the history of the Mayans from creation to it's rulers in 1550.
The information for this website was taken from "Primal Myths:Creating the World" by Barbara C. Sproul, "Popal Wuh: Ancient Stories of the Quiche Indians of Guatemala" adapted by Albertina Saravia E.
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In the beginning there was no earth, only the sea. Within the sea, lay the plumed serpent god Gucumatz. Above him in the sky was the Heart of Heaven, or Hurancon, whom is represented by lightning. These two gods spoke together and discussed the idea of creation. Through their discussion, the mountains and the earth rose from the sea. Forests quickly blanket the land (see picture at right). The gods then created the animals and the birds. They asked the animals to praise them as their creators but the request was met with silence.
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WHO WILL WORSHIP US?
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Because the animals could not praise them, the gods refused to give them dominion over the earth. They were left to remain wild as food for those who would worship the gods. So, Gucumatz and Huracan decided to create humans. They first tried to fashion people out of clay. These creations did talk but they quickly fell apart and crumbled into pieces. The gods next try to make people out of wood.
Althought these beings look and mulitply like people they lacked souls. They also lacked understanding and did not worship their creators. This angered the gods and they sent a great flood to destroy the wooden people. The remains of the wooden people became what we know today as monkeys. This is why monkeys are the animals that most closely resemble humans. They serve as a reminder of the defiance of the wooden people. The gods tried one last time. With the aid of the animals they used the plants (mostly corn and beans) to fashion four men. These men were powerful wizards whose knowledge and insight amazed even the gods. The gods then made four women for the men and they all stood on a mountain and awaited the first dawn. (The picture above is of a god making a man out of wood. Next to that picture is a monkey).
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