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Article: Popol Vuh
- Article from:
- Myths and Legends of the World
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Macmillan Reference, USA. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Popol Vuh
The
Popol Vuh
is the most important source of information on the mythology of the ancient Maya. A sacred book of the Quich
é
Maya of Guatemala, it was written down in the mid-1500s. A Spanish priest discovered the
Popol Vuh
manuscript in the early 1700s. After copying the text, he translated it into Spanish.
The
Popol Vuh
is divided into five parts. The first contains an account of the creation of the world and of the failed attempts to produce proper human beings. The second and third parts tell of the adventures of the Hero Twins, Hunahp
ú
and Xbalanq
ú
e, and their forebears. The last two parts deal with the issue of creating humans from corn and then tell the ...