CHARACTERISTICS of the Popol Vuh

The Popol Vuh It's one of the most important holy books of pre-Columbian cultures. It is known as the Bible of the Quiché Mayan people and was translated into Spanish thanks to the work of Fray Francisco Ximénez. The content of this book tells us mythological and legendary facts of this Mayan people, as well as gives us a version of the origin of the world and of the human being. In this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to discover main characteristics of the Popol Vuh so that you know in more detail this important text for both literature and history.

Before talking about the Popol Vuh it is important that we know what this well-known book is about. It is one of the most sacred books of the Mayan culture and, etymologically speaking, "Popol Vuh" in the language of the Quiché people (a Mayan people) means "council book". In reality, we are dealing with a writing that brings together the mythological and historical narratives of a Mayan people who were known by the name of "k'iche '" people and many scholars have indicated that this book can be regarded as the Bible of this town.

Remember that the Mayans did not have writing and, therefore, the form in which this book was originally presented was by means of pictography. But Father Ximénez, a Spanish priest, translated this book into Spanish so that, today, we can better understand the beliefs and traditions of this Mayan people.

Inside the book we find the myths of the Quiche Maya, a people who lived in the upper zone of Guatemala and that he recovered thanks to the translation work of the priest father Ximenez. If you want to know the summary of the Popol Vuh you have to know that it is a book that has 5 parts; are as follows:

• The first part focuses on explaining the Mayan myth about the creation of the world and of the human being
• The second and third part tells us the adventures of two very important characters in the beliefs of this town: the twins. Hunahpú and Xbalanqué
• The fourth and fifth part of the Popol Vuh explains how human beings were created from corn and the tribal wars and the rulers that this town had until 1550 are narrated

As we can see, the content of this book brings together myths and legends of this town, thus offering an account of the beliefs that this people had. pre-Columbian town. We can also know the names of some mayan gods that to those that this civilization worshiped as is the case of the gods Tepeu and Gucumatz who were the creators of human beings.

The author of the Popol Vuh

As we have already commented, the Quiché Mayan people did not have writing. The method they used to leave a trace of their beliefs and myths was through pictorial writing and that is how Father Francisco Ximénez discovered the Popol Vuh in the 18th century. This parish priest decided to transfer the pictorial text to the Quiché language (with the Roman alphabet) and, later, translate it into Spanish. Today, the Quiché book has been lost and we only keep the manuscript in Spanish.

Therefore, the author of the Popol Vuh is not Father Ximénez rather, he is simply their translator, the one in charge of translating into written language all the cultural and mythological legacy of this people. The original author is anonymous and, as in the vast majority of civilizations, is assumed to be a popular creation that was passed from generation to generation.

Let's go fully into the characteristics of the Popol Vuh in order, thus, to know what is told us in this text that is so important both historically and literary. The most prominent elements of this text are the following:

• Written in Quiché and then in Spanish: It is known that Fray Francisco Ximénez first wrote the Popol Vuh in the Quiché Mayan language and later translated it into Spanish. He used the Roman alphabet to transfer the pictographic information to the written language and, thus, leave testimony of everything that was related in the images. However, the manuscript in the Mayan language has been lost and today we only keep its translation into Spanish.
• Epic genre: one of the characteristics of the Popol Vuh is that it is a literary text that is framed within the epic and, specifically, the epic. Here we find a narrative that mixes fiction with history and reflects the customs and beliefs of the Quiche.
• Omniscient narrator: It is also important to detail that the narrator who tells us the story is omniscient, therefore, he is an objective narrator who He simply describes what happens and what the members of this civilization do without expressing his point of view or his own assessment.
• Solemn language: Throughout the story we find that the characters usually address the gods and the language used for this purpose is always solemn and respectful.
• Cosmogonic myths: Another of the characteristics of the Popol Vuh is that we find the story of some myths of the Quiché Mayan people in which an attempt was made to explain the origin of the world and the human being. Therefore, we are faced with a philosophical story that is of very outstanding anthropological value.
• Polytheism: the Popol Vuh affirms that this people also believed in the existence of multiple gods that were associated with different planes of reality and nature.
• Abundant descriptions: During the narration of the Popol Vuh we find that the narrator stops on many occasions to describe the events or customs carried out by the citizens of this civilization. A description made in simple and elevated language that makes the text literary and historical at the same time.
• Heroic character of the characters: Throughout the text we find the presence of characters who are characterized by their courage and heroism. Characters who presented themselves as models of society and as role models.
• Popol Vuh themes: It is important to be clear that this book talks about three main themes which are creation, mythology and genealogy.
• Structure: the book begins with a preamble and, later, with four parts (or books) in which the whole argument is developed.

To end this lesson with the characteristics of the Popol Vuh, it is important that we also stop to meet the protagonists of the stories told by this anonymous author. As we have already commented, these characters are closely linked to the mythology and legends of the Quiché people, therefore, they are a hybrid between fiction and reality.

The names of the most prominent Popol Vuh characters son the following:

• Ixmucané: the goddess in charge of creating humans from corn. She is also a very prominent character for being the mother of twins Hunahpu and Ixbalanque.
• Hun Camé: a god of the underworld.
• Hunahpu and Ixbalanque twins: two very important characters of the Popol Vuh since they star in the second and third part of this book
• Tepeu: is a character that is buried under the feathers of the quetzal. He is about the first deity.
• Xpiyakok and Xmukane: They are two very prominent characters in this literary work as they provide advice to the stick men, one of the first to be created.
• Tojil: He is one of the most important gods since he is the one who provides fire to human beings.
• Quiché people: the town also appears like personage of the Popol Vuh and it is presented / displayed like a wise town.