Popol Vuh

Dennis Tedlock is McNulty Professor of English and Research Professor of Anthropology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is the coeditor of American Anthropologist and the author of several books.

• CONTENTSIllustrationsPrefaceIntroductionPart OneThis is the beginning of the Ancient WordThis is the accountNow they planned the animals of the mountainsAnd then the deer and birds were toldAgain there comes an experiment with the human workThen comes the naming of those who are the midmost seersAgain there comes a humiliationThis was when there was just a trace of early dawnPart TwoHere is the beginning of the defeat and destruction of the day of Seven MacawAnd here is the shooting of Seven Macaw by the two boysAnd here are the deeds of ZipacnaNow this is the defeat and death of ZipacnaAnd the third to magnify himself is the second son of Seven Macaw, named EarthquakePart ThreeAnd now we shall name the name of the father of Hunahpu and XbalanqueAnd these are the lords over everythingAnd now for the messengers of One and Seven DeathAfter that One and Seven Hunahpu leftAnd One and Seven Hunahpu went inside Dark HouseAnd here is the account of a maidenAnd after the maiden was noticed by her fatherAnd when Blood Moon came to the mother of One Monkey and One ArtisanAnd this is their birth; we shall tell of it hereAnd then they sang, they played, they drummedAnd now they began to act out their self-revelationSo now there was fire in their heartsHappy now, they went to play ball at the courtThey went down to XibalbaFirst they entered Dark HouseAnd after that, the boys next entered Razor HouseAnd now they entered Cold HouseSo next they entered Jaguar HouseSo next they entered the midst of the fireNow they were put inside Bat HouseAnd here it is: the epitaph, the death of Hunahpu and XbalanqueThis is the making of the ovenAnd on the fifth day they reappearedAnd they came to the lordsAnd this is the sacrifice of little Hunahpu by XbalanqueAnd then they named their namesAnd this is their grandmother, crying and calling out in front of the ears of green cornAnd here their father is put back together by themPart FourAnd here is the beginning of the conception of humansThese are the names of the first people who were made and modeledAnd then their wives and women came into beingAnd this is our root, we who are the Quiché peopleAnd this is the name of the mountain where they wentThey walked in crowds when they arrived at Tulan, and there was no fireWhen they came away from Tulan ZuyuaAnd then they came away, just camping on the roadAnd then Tohil, along with Auilix and Hacauitz, spoke to themAnd here is the dawning and showing of the sun, moon, and starsparAnd there began their song named "Camacu"And here they burn their copalAnd then comes the killing of the tribesFirst the tribes tried to plan the defeat of Tohil, Auilix, and HacauitzAnd they sent the two of them, named Lust Woman and Wailing WomanAnd here is the joining together of all the tribesAnd then Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Not Right Now, and Dark Jaguar had a planAnd these are the ones who were there: Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Not Right Now, and Dark JaguarNow this is where we shall tell about the death of Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Not Right Now, and Dark JaguarPart FiveAnd then they remembered what had been said about the eastAnd then they came before the lord named NacxitAnd then they came to a place where they founded a citadel named Thorny PlaceAnd Bearded Place is the name of the mountain of their citadelAnd then they got up and came to the citadel of Rotten CaneAnd here are the titles of the lords who led the CauecsAnd now these are the lords who led the GreathousesAnd now these are the Lord QuichésAnd there were also two lineages of Zaquic lordsThen splendor and majesty grew among the QuichéAnd here are the names of the sixth generation of lordsAfter that came the sentriesAnd now we shall name the names of the houses of the godsAnd this is the cry of their heartsAnd here are the generations, the sequences of lordshipsAnd here shall appear the faces, one by one, of each of the Quiché lordsAnd here are those of the GreathousesAnd now these are for the Lord QuichésAnd there are three Masters of Ceremonies in allThis is enough about the being of QuichéNotes and CommentsOrthographyAbbreviationsMayan PoeticsThe Mayan CalendarNotes and CommentsGlossaryBibliographyIndex

"Popol Vuh is one of the great books about the creation of the world. It is the Mayan Bible." –Carlos Fuentes