Summary of The Popol Vuh: The Maya Story of Creation

Maya culture and history have flourished for thousands of years, with a rich mythology that is important to understanding Maya cosmology.

The Popol Vuh, meaning "council book," contains the history of the K'iche people from the beginning of time.
The creation story in the Popol Vuh involves multiple attempts by the gods to create beings that can honor them, leading to the creation of mankind out of wood.
The story introduces the hero twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, who play a central role in preparing the world for humanity.
The hero twins defeat the pretentious lords of the underworld through clever tricks and sacrifices.
The story continues with the journey of Hunahpu and Xbalanque's father, Hunahpu, back to the surface and his rebirth as the maize god.
The gods eventually create humanity from maize, symbolizing the cycle of life and death.
The Popol Vuh's characters and events are mirrored in the cyclical movement of the stars and planets, showing the interconnectedness of mythology and everyday life in Maya culture.

Notable Quotes

— 03:27 — « name now our names praise us we are your mother. »

— 03:58 — « they can only chatter, squawk, and howl. »

— 04:06 — « **thus the first attempt fails**. »

— 13:00 — « as they enter shabalba and get fooled by the dummies that the lords had set up. »

— 24:10 — « in the underworld the lords of death are waiting for the twins. »