The Popol Vuh: The Maya Story of Creation
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 มิ.ย. 2024
- Explore the Maya story of creation as recorded by the K'iche Maya and see how the Maya saw the world around them.
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Sources and Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1x...
American civilizations are underappreciated, just like this channel.
Thank you!
I disagree.
The history that most people know is after the conquering from Europe and in Most schools in Mexico (At least from what I remember when I was little) they mainly talk about after the conquering and in movies they only portray us as savages.
It's sad they should teach the history before the conquering
@@meng9632 I agree!
Archaeologists for a long time had thought that the Popol Vuh that was found in the Kiche highlands of Guatemala had been tainted by the Spaniards in the 1500s, but in the early 2000s in the Preclassic Maya ruins of El Mirador, Guatemala, archaeologists found the Maya creation story on a 300 BC stucco panel wall adorned with the Maya creation story like the Popol Vuh book read that was found 1,900 years later in the Kiche highlands of Guatemala. That is fascinating.
The Poplo Vuh I read at California State University was almost a parody to the "holy" Bible of the modern times with different characters. .
Wait so did or didn't the Spaniards taint the story
@@Guess963 wow 🤦🏻♂️
I was thinking to myself it had a lot of similarities of the biblical creation story.
@@Guess963 they didn't
28:43 I love that the 3rd human's name is "Not Right Now." It makes this old man smile to think of a scene where the gods are worn out from creating the first three people so when the third person asks to be named, the gods tiredly wave them away saying "Not right now."
Or even better, an elder was telling the story at this point to a Spanish missionary studying the Kiche culture and then was interrupted to his chagrin:
“Go away, my child. I am trying to tell our stories to this stranger.” He turns towards the Spaniard.
“So, there was Jaguar Quitze, then Jaguar Night. Then, there was- NOT RIGHT NOW!”, he _calmly_ states in a Kiche tongue to the young man.
“Not Right Now? What an interesting Mayan name!” thinks the unsuspecting missionary.
Im originally from Mexico. When I read the Popol Voh in 6 grade I hardly understood it. It is so amaizing! Mayan mithollogy is so underappreciated even in Mexico. I guess because it is very complex and difficult to understand. I appreciate so much the effort you put to share all this information. Its amaizing. Thank you!
You're welcome!
The original people of Mexico is melenated!!
@@juanmctillman1375 huh?
I'm from Honduras. We read in the school as well. However, until I was at University, I really understood how valued was our culture
Not underappreciated, but avoided. Talk about the old, hungry gods and they have a bad habit of showing up. If most rancheros when plowing dig u something like an image, they rebury it and plow around that part of the field.
Thank you for providing these videos and work! I am Guatemalan, and I really appreciated two specific aspects of this video: 1) you made sure to mention right from the start that this is a K'iche' text and therefore shouldn't be assumed to represent every one of the many, many Maya nations; and 2) that you concluded the video by showing some of the metaphorical connections between the stories and the astronomy and agricultural practices--I think that's a really key aspect for people to understand, even though I know it can be very challenging to learn and teach!
Thank you!
I like how you mentioned that there are other versions of the Hero Twins. I have read about and researched some of them, the ones I am familiar with include: Hahgwehdiyu and Hahgwehdaetgah (Iroquois mythology); Enumclaw and Kapoonis (Cherokee mythology); Glooskap and Malsumis (Abenaki, Algonquin, and Penobscot mythology); First Creator/Coyote and Lone Man (Mandan (Siouan) mythology); Nayenezgani and Tobadzhistshini (Navajo mythology); Iatiku and Nautsiti (Acoma mythology); Chata and Chicksah (Choctaw mythology); Coyote and Puma Chemchuevi mythology); Coyote and Cirape (Crow mythology); Sanyu.xav and her two boys (I don’t know their names) (Yuma mythology of California); Xolotl and Quetzalcoatl (Aztec mythology); Boinayel and Marohu (Taino mythology, Caribbean); Makunaima and his brother (I don’t know his name) (Carib mythology of Guiana, South America); Tuminikar and Duid (Guiana, South America).
Fascinating! I'd love to hear more about the similarities between the different mythologies!
@@valkeakirahvi I read a lot about about Tawiscara and Ioskeha of Huron mythology. They're a bit different from the traditional narrative but they have similar tropes. They were gods born from the Sky Goddess, however, Tawiscara was evil whereas Ioskeha was kind. Tawiscara created all that is 'bad' in the world such as bad weather, volcanoes, and even killed the creator god in some tellings, wheras Ioskeha created all that was good. They often did battle with Tawiscara usually losing but was unable to be killed due to his divinity.
At least that's how I remembered it. There are plenty of online resources for these guys if that helps.
Krishna and Balaram? :)
@@EresirThe1st Yes, I agree with you. I was only focusing on the Americas because that is where the Mayans live. But I get what you're saying. The Wergaia Aborigine people of Victoria, Australia believe in a pair called Yuree and Wanjel. In Australia there are also Bunjil and Pallian (Victoria); Crocodile and Lizard; the iguana twins called Mumba and Kurukadi (Western Australia); Narugul and Ngarang (Victoria); two kangaroo gods called Minawara and Multultu (Nambutji mythology, Central Australia); Djunggun and Wodoy (western Kimberley region of Australia); the two sons of Bluetongue Lizard (Warlpiri mythology, Northern Territory, Australia). There are a few from the Americas that I forgot to mention in my original post, and these include: Kuat and Iae (Kamaiura mythology, Brazil); Ariconte and Tamendonare (Tupi mythology, Brazil); Yoalox Brothers (Yamana mythology, Tierra del Fuego, South America); Ahayuta and Achi (Zuni mythology, New Mexico, U.S.); Tihtipihin and Kwatiyat (Nootka mythology, British Columbia, Canada); Chietsum and Pauk (Chehalis Native American mythology of the Pacific Northwest); Kotcimanyako and Iatiku (Native American Cochiti Pueblo mythology). There are also Kabundungulu and Sudika-Mbambi (Ambundu (Bantu) mythology, Angola, Africa); Gilgamesh and Enkidu (Mesopotamian mythology); Heracles and Iphicles (Greek mythology); Krishna and Balarama (Hindu (Indian) mythology); Fujin and Raijin (Shinto (Japanese) mythology); Beowulf and Wiglaf (Anglo-Saxon (Germanic) mythology); Phrixus and Helle (Greek mythology); Hansel and Gretel (German fairy tale); Inanna and Ereshkigal (Sumerian mythology); Emesh the shepherd and Enten the farmer (Sumerian mythology); the shepherd Dumuzi and the farmer Enkidu (Sumerian mythology); Cain and Abel (Jewish mythology); Isaac and Ishmael (Jewish mythology); Jacob and Esau (Jewish mythology); Joseph and Benjamin (Jewish mythology).
Not to forget Romulus and Remus, Castor and Pollux - and many more! Where did twin foundation legends originate?
It would be great to see an animated version of this.
There is: th-cam.com/video/FHSOGryN-DA/w-d-xo.html
@@daviddeltoro1808 you beat me to it!
Strange. Very, very strange.
@@AncientAmericas I.....ttthhhINK NatGeo had such a story w/ about 6 panels +/- 2000ace. But then again that might have been like a young hero vs the bat god of the UNDER world...er something?
@@daviddeltoro1808 I remember watching this back in the '80s. Thanks!
I'm Afro American and have been fascinated with all Meso American Peoples Pre Columbian .
The Maya , Olmec and Oaxacan are my favorites. I remember learning in school a small bit on them and the Azteca , Inca and Mapuche but the books explained from a heavily biased pro Spanish POV (Manifest Destiny , Doctrine of Discovery ) in terms of their ways and subjugation was good for them. Same as with my ancestors brought here from West Africa.
This brings so much energy to counter the status quo and give strength and renewal to Indigenous People of the Americas no matter their lineage.
Because you were not brought here, brother, your ancestors were already here for thousands of years and you were sold from the Americas to the other lands and many of your black, American ancestors traveled pre-colonial teacher in the whole world, culture, spirituality, knowledge
@Dahvahdah YHVD Autochthonous American hebrew for the historical record and by genetics African Americans came here from West Africa by slave traders.
@@Aboriginal_American_Hebrew you're people are not my People, your people made their own destiny and enslaved and dimmed their own minds. Do not take my ancestors as your own because you are ignorant and embarrassed by your true ancestors.
Btw buddy, manifest destiny is an American doctrine, not Spanish
@@Aboriginal_American_Hebrew this is a crock! There is no science behind ur culture vultures BS! They looked for it, but nada, zero, zilch! No DNA, no written or oral history or language, no tribe, no spiritual connection to other tribes. Get over it, you ain't Native and we ain't Afro. Take ur rediculous wannabe interloping culture vultures BS to science and genealogists, they disagree with you.
The fact that this is the first video essay I've seen about the Popol Vuh that's made with such detail and care brings a huge smile to my face. Thanks for your time and for sharing our history.
Thank you for posting. I'm originally from Yucatan and worked as a translator for anthropologist and historians working for the State University. I got to really admire Mayan culture.
Mayans are still here and as long as they here their culture will remain alive. Papadzules anyone?
my family is also from YUCATAN MERIDA to be exact im proud to be part mayan and I'm glad for content like this i still have family there but my parents live here in california
Mayan#1: I'm bored... Mayan#2: Wanna get drunk and make a creation story?
Papadzules? Not my favorite but my Mom makes them every so often for my Dad. His parents made sure him and his siblings learned maya and Spanish.
Remember that the Mayan people were not only in Yucatan. Their area of influence started in Comalcalco, Tabasco down to Santa Rosa de Copan in Honduras. Yes, they are an amazing culture but many other cultures in Mesoamerica need to be remembered and studied. In Mexico Antropology has dominated over Paleoantology when both are as an important to knowledge but, it seems, the first one is a bigger source of money that the other one.
@@gorkivalenzuela6940 Yes, Mexicas (and Central Mexico peoples), Mayans, Zapotecs seem to be very popular and overshadow other civilizations. Would love to visit Tula!
So cool You dedicated a Channel and too a History and topic not much discussed or known in the world 🇬🇹🇲🇽🇺🇸
Thanks! I hope more people take an interest in ancient american history.
Refreshing honestly. Was surprised at the lack quality content on TH-cam regarding a lot of this stuff. This channel is truly a hidden gem 💎
Mayates will always be the first. Western Xia Dynasty.
Mayans were also in el Salvador and Honduras
@@OseeQuanKang lol doesn't mayates mean something else
I'm from Argentina and we had to read the Popol Vuh for our literature class once. We read myths from all around the world but I really enjoyed the Popol Vuh specifically, I wish it were better known worldwide. We usually just focus on Greek and Roman mythology here, but I had a cool teacher haha
Arrogantina? Lol. Yes. We know how back water they can be. Where to begin with this one?
@@c.c.c.7756 😂😂
@@nicolascordone8180 you didn't get it. Butt hurt? Youre the one responding in a defensive manner. Lol
So many cultures have roughly the same story i wouldn't be surprised if these stories go all the way back to the awakening of mankind.
yep. Pretty obvious to me that there's some truth to these 'myths'. But the so-called 'experts' think they just happened to make up very similar fictions... what a coincidence
@@Yarblocosifilitico no its seems that thee aint up on it they are experts and playing the game. Like celebs, politicians and whoever is popular in this world! that's why the world is against The Savior. He got famous spreading good news.
@@Yarblocosifilitico to me it feels like the coincidence is just a possibility. just as there being truth to myth. my idea is that there is a story that has been told so many times it inevitably gained embellishments
@@M4ni4cM0n573r well, that still works for me because it would imply a global civilization at some point, or at least way more migrations and trade routes than we've been lead to believe.
Otherwise, myths in India wouldn't be so similar to myths in South America, and so on.
Can't see any connection with creation stories in asia , Africa Oceania, the middle east or europe though....
While my country (Nicaragua) was never a mayan territory our elders would always be frightened by seeing or hearing owls around, and they would say to us that their presence meant that somebody in the neighborhood was going to die, I never understood why until now, truly amazing how this ancient belief still survives.
I wish more intercultural interpretations happened. Thanks for sharing!
My tribe, the Miwok here in California have the same belief but it was understood the Owl was only the messenger.
In my culture the owl represents old age
En Argentina los gauchos o la gente del campo también creía eso mismo. Yo pensaba que venía de alguna tradición hispánica.
Thank you for sharing that! I am Chahta (our homelands are in Mississippi) and we also associate owls with death or a curse (as do all the other nations around us). We do have ways of distinguishing between "normal owls" and harbinger-of-evil owls, but no joke most folk will cover their eyes/look at the ground if they see/hear one--wether it is a real bird or just an image of one. Here on the Rez, stuff in the stores with an owl on it usually doesn't get bought and courteous customers will often put something in front of it on the shelf or turn it around so it isn't looking our at folx!
Proud to have mayan blood i love my culture
I just wished the Spanish conquistadors never set foot in the new world.
@@lamarravery4094 if they hadn't where would we be?
@@secnock. it would be a very different world indeed today !
Portuguese here, your culture speaks truth
I have mayan blood too; my an my parents!
Humans and their imagination really is fascinating. All cultures invented so different and rich creating stories just by using their mind. I find this one in particular extra creative.
Maybe it’s not at all in their imagination. Possibly these creation stories are filled with metaphors of how their ancient ancestors remember the creation of their civilization. Why do all ancient cultures contain flood stories or stories of civilizers? Maybe it’s just my human imagination also
@@AvocadoAlpaca Often they are based on real events. You are right I think :) The flood I'm sure happened and it spread to different cultures as their own story.
Imagination is all of existence.
-Hey, wanna play ball game?
-Not right now, Not Right Now.
The amount of interesting content in there is astonishing. I don't know what I expected, but I think it holds up really well compared other scriptures in terms of world-building, lessons, insights and storytelling.
Not Right Now is by far the best name! 🤣
I've wondered if that name is still used by any Maya today. If not, someone needs to get on that.
@@AncientAmericas It would have to be used as it sounds in English, once you translate it losses character, even translated to Spanish doesn't sounds good and in Maya it would get lost in translation as an inside joke. Unfortunately!
"Next, they create a human out of mud... this beings head can't move, and it only babels nonsense. And it has no mate with which to reproduce" Ah, thats where most youtube commenters come from
That's also how Adam of Genesis was created.
There is no coincidence.
Leftists & Democrats as well...
@@BigHickory357 very humorous...
@@sethflores1680 from life comes tragic "comedy"... best comedy, is true...
@@EinsamPibroch278 interesting!
Thank you so much, I'm mexican and is still so hard to find any explanation or comprehensive retelling of our past, and so it's hard to motivate people to look into it so it keeps getting cloudier and cloudier, but I hope people finally start to get interested and uncover more. 💜🇲🇽
Thank you!
🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹 best country I've visited culture, folklore, gastronomy, majestic and the most honesty and nicest people I've been around. Guatemala has it all.
I'm naming my hair metal band Demon Of Jaundice.
Also, this is one of the most metal myths ever told.
The complexity of Kukulkan also extends to his stature among the ancient Mayan gods. In some stories, he is a creator deity - not only of the Earth but of the failures that came before the modern world. In other stories, Kukulkan is the chief among all of the Mayan deities, taking on a role as a priest-king of the god.
Probably the deity of meteors/draco constellation/inevitable cataclysms just like how Loki also is the lowest/highest God when it comes to rebirth.
One hell of a name. Let's shorten it to KKK
In Mexico we read this book in middle school. I went to a catholic school and I found an incredible resemblance with the Genesis.
Humans have a limited amount of ways to describe happenings, and the whole world experienced the same change when the ice age ended.
The most advanced people before the "floods" were most likely shoreline people who then would spark the myth of being punished by the gods with water.
@@fredriks5090 Yeah, many many creation stories like the turtle island skywoman story, and the Hawaiian Kumulipo all basically tie back to floods or everything starting from the water. Super interesting tbh.
it seems as if it is a metaphore on how their civilized world was created, first animals, then people that lived from the woods (would be barbarians for them) and afterwards people who would be fed by maze that eventually develops civilization and art.
Sounds to me like they were doing their best to explain an ET visit they had no concepts or language for.
@@stefanschleps8758 or atlanteans, still far from them technologically
Maize is delicious.
It's the Human Origin Story with Mayan flavor, but it's basically the same story the Bible tells - just preserved with much more detail and literary style.
That actually makes a lot of sense. Farming was a huge event in human evolution.
The Sumerian creation myth also involves a winged serpent and humans formed from clay.
Hmm 🤔
The first Creator really loved birds, from all over the world.
The Sumerians borrowed those concepts from ancient East Africans, the Egyptians.
@@sjoncb : The Sumerian civilization predates the earliest Egyptian civilization.
Interesting similarities to the Bible, too, with the serpent in the garden who presumably did not “crawl on its belly” before being cursed (so did it fly? Doesn’t say) and Adam is made from the “dust” of the earth
"In the beginning the world is only a dark sky and primordial waters below it."
I loved this content thanks for putting the time into creating it. Great work I subscribed. Please work on the volume leveling. Different audio sources aren't the same level and I had to turn volume up and down to hear.
Thank you! And yes, I'll be more mindful of that going forward.
@@AncientAmericas thanks for replying that means a lot to me. I use Camtasia for my editor and there is a feature I drop on all clips called volume leveling and it adjusts everything to the same volume. It makes the job easier with less thinking and then I just adjust all the clips from there by percentage of volume. Usually the leveling lowers the level a little so I bump everything up to 130% of original. Anyway this is amazing content and I enjoy it a lot.
I am glad you found a channel you like I state when I become a new subscriber to any show I sub to support their channel.
@@tylermckillop408 thank you!
LOVED it I lived in Guatemala in the late 50's for 6 years and remember some of what you spoke of I remember Hunapuh a friend named his dog that!
Thank you!
I'm so happy to have come across this channel. Such interesting stories 🤔
Thanks!
very similar to all the rest of mythology. makes me wonder how all the stories are so close without the internet, thats another story thank you very much
This is fascinating. Back when I was a teen, living here in the USA in the late 80's I saw an animated redaction of the twin gods going down to zivalva (again, wrong spelling). I thought it was interesting. As a kid (living in my country of birth) I recall watching TV and there were short infomercials by the turism and museum boards about ancient artifacts and how important they were to our heritage. (Born in El Salvador).
Their art is just so beautiful! I mean, come on! My eyes can’t take such beauty.
I've been binge-watching your content for a week, ever since TH-cam recommended your channel. I must say I am impressed with the breadth and quality of your work. 👍👍
Thank you! Enjoy the binge until you finally catch up!
Nilze, Ni Ca Mexica-Otomi. Ipolnemohuani. I appreciate you building a bridge for your people to understand the culture of Central Indigenous people. My advice to you is to have the indigenous people tell these stories. It doesn't do the people much justice to speak as if they aren't present or capable of speaking themselves.
Infact, the Mayans are some of the people trying to Migrate north right now and the U.S. government and other foreign built infrastructures of power are actively preventing the migration of the indigenous people from this continent.
This is a bitter sweet bridge for the indigenous people as while there is fascination, there is also the brutal hatred that is existed for the indigenous people for 528 years. Tlazokamati
I deeply appreciate your honesty. You are 100% correct. I'm not an indigenous person myself and I feel very much the outsider presenting this for a wide audience. I would much rather see this done by indigenous voices because they can tell the story from a perspective that I could never do. Unfortunately, the resources at my disposal are extremely limited and I can only do this for better or worse. I hope that my videos can build an appreciation for indigenous culture and history among non-indigenous people.
And yes, the treatment of the Maya (and other groups) trying to migrate into the United States is appalling. I have Maya family and I think of them often when I see this on the news. It's unbearably tragic.
@@AncientAmericas I don't mean any illness and I'm glad you don't perceive my words as such. I was born and raised myself in El Paso Texas where a man with a gun killed 75 people who looked just like me and some who may have looked like you.
Many of the them indigenous people trying to build with what little they had. It's unfortunate that time has permitted the silence of the indigenous people, along side past peoples of persecution. My true name is Mahtlactli-omei Cuauhtli, which in this english language means " 10 and 3 Eagles " or 13 Eagles. That is the name my Otomitl ancestors gave to me cause they too lived by the Tonalpohualli and the Tonalamatl.
I am of a different descendance than Maya and do not know the language but, I promise you. The resources are not far. If you have any of that blood in you, it's fighting for it's life on a daily basis. Thank you for your words of recognition, many who are dead would have appreciated it as well. Cualli Yohualli, Ihni
@@AncientAmericas I haven"t read the Spanish version but more than once I've heard comments favoring the English version over the Spanish version.
Plz keep these videos up! I love Meso American cultures especially since I’m also learning about my ancestry as well
Thank you! This was wonderful. I love hearing the stories of my ancestors. Peace.
You're welcome!
I remember the story of creation! We learned in school (in El Salvador) when I was a child :)
"... the four hundred boys, who were the gods of alcohol production"
"I'm sorry, what?"
The Maya culture is impressive, went to Tulum, Chichen itzá, and Uxmal two years ago.
Can’t wait to go to Mexico again 🇲🇽
Can't wait to see them someday myself!
@@AncientAmericas Tulum sucks now, they built thousands of condos on every corner. It takes 2 hours to drive what should be 8 mins. It’s not what it was even 10 yes ago. Just a bunch of rich pricks from mostly the east coast paying $200,000 for a 300sqft Studio condo.
Those places are like the Patron tequila in the Mayan world, they look cool(taste) but are not quite pure and genuine. Want to really experience Mayan culture and see amazing original Mayan architecture? Travel to Guatemala!
@@RgGalvez
Not again after traveling 18 hours from Antigua to Tikal through bumping and muddy roads, no stores along the way, and no hot water in the “hotels.” Poor infrastructure and tourist facilities.
The main reason I wanna go back to the riviera Maya is to try the new train 🚊 and new archeological sites
@@raggazo23 That’s precisely the point, if you want to experience Maya light, with comfort and from a privileged standpoint enjoying a cultural façade, Tikal is not for you. Guatemala is trying to preserve its essence.
As far as infrastructure, I do agree with you, it needs some work. However, I don’t agree in gentrifying a well preserved cultural site by eliminating its natural beauty. Anyway, it’s not for everyone.
Which means 1/4 of humanity would be decedents of Not Right Now. Sounds accurate.
I have something to say about that later.
The picture appeared in the minute 29.28 of the video looks fascinating to me. Because the object above the head gear looks like " kirtimukha" image normally seen above the top of the temples in South India !!
look up Praveen Mohan, he shows a temple in Cambodia that's too similar to one in Guatemala to be a coincidence.
The 'experts' ignore or avoid this, but there is definetely a connection between South America and India.
@@Yarblocosifilitico yayyy someone else who points out praveen
My boy mohan.
yep south India has the oldest history connected with a looot.
@@Yarblocosifilitico I love that he travels to other places in the world too♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ we are all connected
@@coffeebeann1 haha yes! He's great, I definetely trust him more than the 'experts' that date an ancient site based on its last inhabitants only...
So much about India/Cambodia is obscured and dismissed, but the buildings are so exceptional that they seem out of this world.
I just found your channel. I am really enjoying all of your videos, synthesizing the history, peoples, and cultures of the Americas. Thank you sooooo much!
Thank you for the lovely words!
@@AncientAmericas It’s taking me some time but I’m scrolling down and given a heart on every comment you made
The wooden people sound a lot like the majority of today’s society
No comment.
same with the mud people
We live in a society
@@blasemusha4001 that’s a solid observation. God bless you brother
I must praise you for presenting this history in the most respectful way. So many videos focus on sensationalizing and oftentimes, belittling ancient peoples. I am glad you've taken a noble high road to informing the public. Thank you. ♥♥♥♥
Thank you!
Its such a shame that Maya and other American mythologies have been overshadowed by western traditions like Norse and Greco-Roman religions. Its so fascinating and truly a peak of storytelling
Nobody in my family's ancestry is from any American indigenous people. However, I do recall there always being a few ears of corn hanging in the house. What an amazing tidbit that it references ancient indigenous ritual reminders of their stories.
This is so helpful! I had to read this for one of my college classes, and I have an extremely difficult time trying to concentrate on this kind of thing without my brain wandering and my eyes going all wonky, I'm so grateful to find this video and make it easier to understand. Thank you so much!
Thank you! Yeah, reading this was pretty tough but the translation I had included a summary and analysis which made it much easier to keep up with what was happening.
Brooo same
I’m not entirely sure why, but I see a lot of people comparing the Popol Vuh to Abrahamic myths such as Genesis in these comments as if they are equivalent when there’s very little comparison to be made. Yes there are similar motifs, such as a great flood and the creation of men from mud, but to say that there’s an actual one-to-one to be made is highly inaccurate. One of the most important myths in most Abrahamic faiths, the ‘fall from grace’ is effectively the opposite of the story of the Popol Vuh, and the actual stories present are more similar to Greco-Roman myth than Abrahamic Myth (you’d have a much easier time comparing the Hero Twins to Orpheus than David or Moses for). Trying to apply a modern, monotheistic mindset and set of myths to a polytheistic set of myths is not only inaccurate, but it’s dangerous and can lead to wrongly representing the stories themselves. So please, stop comparing the Popol Vuh to Genesis as if they’re the exact same.
-signed, a slightly annoyed anthropologist and historian
As a Christian I didn’t get it either. It’s very different after the flood account. But that would make more sense in the Abrahamic religions after the flood account it says the nephilim came down to the Tower of Babel and confused everyone, their languages, separated them, and had them worship them instead of God. A LOT of religions/mythology are very similar up until the flood account and then they all change.
The Popol Vuh is very similar to many other creation stories in that it is more akin to an ancient soap opera about discord in a family of “gods” than the account in the Bible which has a single deity. These type of intricate stories appear to be nothing more than intricate stories spun by members of a priestly or shamanistic sector coached in human terms and situations. Today many such individuals would be scriptwriters in the entertainment field. IMHO, it is often difficult to determine which is the oldest profession- priestcraft or prostitution. Both of which have much in common. I am a Christian and I believe in the Word as it has a cohesiveness and consistency lacking in other beliefs. It also makes predictions which later come to pass. These predictions are consistent with the entire thrust of Yahweh God and His Word.
I recently subscribed to this channel and I am amazed and grateful that the great civilizations of The Americas (pre-European) are finally getting such intricate and respectful analyses. Thank you very much!
Thank you!
Excuse my French but you have no clue how fucking stoked I am to see the Popol Wuj being exposed to hundreds of thousands of people who probably would have never knew it existed. PLEASE oh PLEASE make a follow-up video on the second half of the text, there's still a lot of mythological content that slowly forms into history, that would make a really really interesting deep dive. Also please consider doing a video on the postclassic K'iche' kingdom of Q'umarkaj, all of the shenanigans of the highland kingdoms including conquest, sacrifice, warfare, and kingship really echo the more famous Classic Period and I think more people should know about it. I'm broke as hell but If i saw either of those videos pop up in the future I'd become a Patroon in a heartbeat.
Thank you! I don't have any plans in the foreseeable future to cover the history of the post classic k'iche although it would be a great topic. I still have all the Classic to get through and that's going to be a lot of episodes!
@@AncientAmericas I definatley look forward to the episodes. Fingers are still crossed for a "Popol Vuh Part II" video though.
The popol vuh is so dear and treasured by the mayans that it is in essence thier Soul
Amazing, PLEASE make more videos on the Maya.
All in good time sir.
Jaguar Quitze. Jaguar Night. Dark-Jaguar.
Not Right Now.
That is just beautiful.
What a delightfully informative and entertaining channel devoted to a collection of subjects which don't get enough press. Great work!
Thank you!
MAN YOU ARE MY DREAM TH-camR, IVE BEEN WISHING TO FIND A CHANNEL LIKE YOURS FOR QUITE A WHILE. Great content man, keep it up!
Thank you!
This is like me explaining my dreams
Excellent story! I read Popul Vuh years ago during mission service in Guatemala. It was wonderful to hear your insightful summary.
Thank you!
Wow. Well done. Excellent narrative and superb delivery.
Anything “Lost or Destroyed “ was shipped off to a storage room in a powerful families private collection , the buildings were pulverized and smoldered
When I was in first grade in Guatemala, I kind of remember they used to teach from this book, I am sure it's no longer out in the classrooms.
I'm never losing this story as long ad I live.
What’s the name of the book ? I think in Mexico we also learned about this ! But I was to young to remember all of these stories ! Too me they were boring now I wish I had retained those text books so I could study them now !
As a native Guatemalan (kiche or what was quiche) Mayan I’m proud of my history 🩵✊🏾🇬🇹
i was so excited when i saw this in my subscriptions man! keep up the great native america videos
I'm planning on it!
Awesome Video! Really helped me understand the Popol Vuh better for my class!
I'm glad it was helpful!
This channel is phenomenal!!!! Keep the content flowing!!!!!
Thank you! I plan on it.
@@AncientAmericas I'm a geek for ancient history. More modern history too, but the ancient stuff is so much more interesting. I find it so hard to find much info on native americans. I've always wanted to know pre Columbian American history. Your channel not only has lots of amazing info, but also real pics to go with it. Can't get enough!!!!!
Thank you for this great video. I have tried to read this before, but this is the most clear version I have heard.
It is not an easy read.
Please, make a video about the concept of teotl. And argue about its history, nature and confimation.
Ooof. That is a tall order and philosophy is not my forte.
Kind of wish you had used the one translation of the beginning of the Popol Vuh "This is the account of when all is still, silent, and placid. All is silent and calm. Hushed and empty is the womb of the sky."
The Chilum Balum/Jaguar Priests transcribed much onto the "Bark" of Trees....Thats the why and how of our as much as preserved WAS preserved....The story of the Twins: Hunapuh Xbalanque...amazing ...its the commonality of various mythologies that gives us the collective existenntrial overview that is ultimately priceless...A treasure beyond measuring becasue its Knowledge that is our heritage and the truth thats truly sets us free
Hello. I just subscribed to your channel. This was a very interesting and detailed explanation of the contents of the Popul Vuh. I have always wanted to know more about it. Greetings from the southern Caribbean.
Thank you!
Another excellent episode. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Was trying to read the replies, so many good ones. You're doing a great work, and none of the commenters are bad. Thanks.
Do you plan on going into the cultures further north. Like the Anasazi?
Thank you. At some point, I'm sure I will. No native American culture is off limits.
@@nicolascordone8180 I do want to cover them someday.
Xibalba is interesting. When studying under a grandfather-in-law (who called me a witch because of my mother's people), one of the thing to learn was how to enter the good side, paradise, to look for people who wandered from their body and went there. When someone falls sick and passes out for a long while, a sacred person is called in to hunt for their spirit. If nothing is done, very often the victim dies. I don't care who a person belonged to, from South America to Canada, all sacred persons are to learn how to do that. niio
I love hearing the stories of The Maya .... I'm so happy the language of the codex was returned the the Maya Peoples. 🤗❤️
Most cultures have some sort of creation myth. Like the bible. As someone who has been researching my pre- columbian meso-american ancestry for over thirty years I appreciate what you are doing.
Thank you!
I love this channel. Subscribed!
Thank you!
@@AncientAmericas I love it it You take the time to reply to everyone you’re a sweetheart
12:13 - speaking of ”colorful death metal names”, Xibalba is a pretty good metal band :)
"Colorful Death Metal worthy names" hahaha as a Mayan Culture and Death Metal fan, I'm loving this video, thank you!
Great video as always
Thank you!
Popol Vuh?
You mean the most Epic and Hilarious Story ever written?
Plus the most Epic Heroes to ever exist, who conquered the old lords of Death?
Yep, during a rematch of a mayan basket ball. I wouldnt call it "conquered". More like "played" the lord of death ;)
Would you prefer marvel comics or hustler magazine better yet the USA constitution so you stand above everyone else.
This story is absolutely amazing.
Loved this. Just found you subscribed and shared. Thank you.
Off topic, but I talked to an archaeologist back in the day that told me that the stacked Chaac masks you see adorning many Late Classic sites such as Uxmal are made of lots of intricate elements such as snakes for the jaws and flowers for ear spools. Each one is slightly different and she said they can kind of be read as a story, prayer or warning. I've tried to find this online, but I suck lol. Just wondering if you've heard the same?
I'm definitely familiar with those chaac masks but I haven't heard about those variations or the theories behind them. If you ever find the source for that, shoot it to me because that sounds real fascinating.
I'll try looking through some of my books too.
@@AncientAmericas I’m not reading them all but I’m definitely just click on the heart button
I look forwards to your video about the shared Hero Twins stories with other Native cultures. As soon as you started talking about them, I immediately realized the Navajo have a Hero Twins creation story as well, so I'm curious how many others do and how similar they are.
I know that the Mississippians have a hero brothers story that has a lot of similarities to the twins. I've heard of a few others as well but I can't name them off the top of my head.
@@AncientAmericas I also have discovered the prevalence of the Spider Goddess at Teotihuacan and the same spider-origin woman with regards to Hopi, Zuni, and Navajo mythology. Quite interesting. Especially considering the trade that existed between the Southwest and Mesoamerica.
@@AncientAmericas it's common throughout the world not just the Americas. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_twins#:~:text=The%20Divine%20Twins%20are%20youthful,Proto-Indo-European%20mythology.
I wonder if this twin story has any connection with the thunderbird and the underwater panther
@@nnez9009 There's also Anansi, the spider, in African lore.
Reading Rainbow💜 covered a children's book version, which I loved. Also, Neil Gaimon has a fascinating book set in Caribbean stories/mysticism, which includes Anansi and twins. (Sorry, I can't recall the name🤦).
Lovey. Thank you so much for the both intellect and sense of humour
Thank you!
So fascinating. I did a thing on Mayan astronomy once through an art history class.
Maya astronomy is a very interesting topic in its own right.
This is soooo well made! what an incredible video, thank you!!
Thank you!
@@AncientAmericas please check out Mohan praveen!
I’ve been motivated to make videos on the connections of our ancestors cultures and how crazy similar they are around the world.
now...that's a creation myth....
way better than 7 days and a lump of clay
watch it again
"Next, they create a human out of mud..."
so, mud is much better than clay? Or wood? xP
They are essentially saying the same thing
@@toddmaek5436 exactly, people get too hung up on the details, when it's basically the same story, which is quite interesting, because either there's some truth to it, or it was passed down by the same people to all these different cultures
@@Yarblocosifilitico Mayan were "Saturnian" that mean's they worship the same god as Orthodox christians. Yahweh, Zues, Jesus, Saturnine, are all Saturn. Egyptians and Meso American cultures used the same calender, but egyptians were 2,600 year cycles and mesos used 5,200 year cycles... 2,600 times 2. In the past (the forgotten times) Sunday didn't exist because no one would have venerated the Sun, Saturn would have been the last day of the week as he was the highest ranking god.
This is such a great overview video and content, and lots of wisdom in this story 🎉🎉
Learning this in my world history right now!! Great video btw.
Thank you!
Man I love me some creation stories. Other than the mainstream religions, those are not my taste nor my belief. Nowadays it seems out there to say all humans came from the ground as clay and mud lmao. There are few variations of the Chata creation story. But the most talked about one within my tribe is this one:
(Also for context the “Creator” can be whom ever you want, for many tribes pre colonial times, the creator was a celestial being neither man or woman. The creator wasn’t a being just a spirit. Some tribes acknowledge some sorta central creator but some do not and have many smaller gods.)
Before anything there was nothing, the Creator could do as he pleases with no interferences. The Creator crafted the earth and along with that made all the plants and animals past and present today. However over time the Creator wanted more on earth. Nanih Waiya was created as the birth place of man. Acting like an oven the Creator would sculpt us humans in all the many different shapes and sizes. Then the Creator would bake inside the mound to give us our spirit and life. The Creator experimented with all the various heat levels and times. Making all the colors of people in this world today including us Natives.
This sorry had evolved through time since over time the world has changed. Before Columbus, there was only several colors among the native Americans groups. Mainly brown. The original one suggested we were better stating that once the Creator made us, the Chata people, he was pleased and stopped making humans. Before making us the creator would throw out the other colored humans. I’m not a big fan of this one as today that’s simply not the case lol.
“So InGRAINED in the Maya...“, unintentional pun?
The Movement- Popul Vuh
First time hearing about this from this song.
What an interesting mytology, thanks again for this excelent videos!
Thank you!
Bravo, Ancient Americas. Very detailed account of a very intricate creation story.
Not sure if this fits your channel theme but the Stanzas of Dzyan (Ancient Creation account re-told by Blavatsky and M. P. Hall, both) are mind blowing too, as a creation story.
Thank you!
Mayans had lots of pyramids, temples, statues, stairs, steps, stoops, roofs, doors, fences, walls, gates, windows, calenders, coins, and other kinds of well values
Im from Central America and we always learn about the Mayas in History class. Of course there are plenty of maya descendants in my country...
THESE STORIES HAD ME ROLLING! SO STRANGE HOW OLD CULTURES THOUGHT! TERRIFIC STORYTELLING.
Proud to be Mayan 🪶
Can i ask you one question?