MA YA N L EGENDS Karen Due単as
C O N TEN TS /
Foreword
/
The Quail
/
The Legend of Xtabay
/
Nicté-Há
/
The Uxmal Dwarf
/
The Hero Twins
/
Bibliography
F OREWO RD
The Maya civilization was one of the most dominant indigenous societies of Mesoamerica. Unlike other scattered indigenous populations of Mesoamerica, the Maya were centered in one geographical block covering all of the Yucatan Peninsula and modern-day Guatemala; Belize and parts of the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas; and the western part of Honduras and El Salvador. The Maya excelled at agriculture, pottery, hieroglyphic writing, calendar-making, astronomy, and mathematics. They left behind an astonishing amount of impressive architecture, symbolic art, and mythological tales. Even though many of the text written by the Maya were burned on the arrival of the Spanish, some legends have survived and continue to be told today. On the following pages, you will encounter with a series of Maya tales that have been passed from generation to generation. We hope you enjoy and appreciate the uniqueness of this civilization through the narration of these tales.
T HE Q U A I L
In the old days, when the animals had just finished forming themselves, the quail (Bech) was the favorite bird of the gods. It was adored for its magnificent plumage, its flirty plume on its haughty head, and it was allowed to build its nests in the hollows of the trees, to protect its young from the traps of both wild animals and hunters. That is why its numbers grew so quickly. Any other living thing would have been very grateful for those privileges; but the quail, blinded in its egoism, wasn’t satisfied. In its secret desire, it cherished the hope that one day it would possess the whole world. One day, the good-natured Great Spirit had a desire to visit the earth, longing to contemplate once more the world it had helped to create. He invited Yaa-Kin, the prince of the sun, to accompany him on the trip and taking human form, he descended to earth. The news of this visit caused Box-Buc, the prince of darkness, to become black with envy. He swore to get his revenge by destroying the travelers’ plans. With that in mind, Box-Buc sent his spies to follow the trail of the visitors, and he sat on his ebony throne waiting for
the results of his plotting. However, the moment the visitors entered the forest, the good genies of the mountain noticed the presence of the spies and swore to protect their guests. Frustrated by the constant failures of their plans, the spies decided to question the birds, sweetening their harsh and unpleasant voices as much as possible. Nevertheless, with those false voices, they were unable to trick the astute little birds. And everyone refused to give them any information whatsoever, except Bech, who had ambitions for her own world. The selfish Bech gave secret instructions to her offspring. And when the divine visitors came near, the numerous quail family members rose up in flight, creating a great clamor. The travelers stopped to investigate, which allowed the spies to locate them. The Great Spirit felt a profound pain when he realized the perverse strategy of Box-Buc, but when he realized that the informer was the quail — the very one he had loved so much — tears of disappointment filled his eyes, and he pronounced:
“
Traitor Bech, from today onward, you and yours will remain at the mercy of the wild animals and the hunters; you will live on the ground for all time.”
T HE LEG END OF XTABAY
An ancient Mayan legend warns young men out walking on moonlit nights to be wary of Xtabay. The beautiful long-haired seductress awaits beneath ceiba trees to lure passing men to their deaths. Often she will be gently whispering or singing a seductive love song to lure men to her. “Stay with me. Stay with me and I will bear your children.” If a man gazes into her eyes, she will cast a love spell on him, luring him closer to her. While in her arms, the Xtabay kills the man in a frenzy of infernal passion. Most of the Xtabay’s victims are found dead, but over the centuries, a few have managed to escape and tell their story. Some claim that the Xtabay is actually the guardian of morals rather than a mysterious siren, who mercilessly punishes drunkards, thieves and those who commit violent crimes, but another version paints a much more forgiving picture of her. The following is the story of how the evil Xtabay woman came to haunt the tropical forests of Yucatan: Once upon a time in an ancient Mayan village in Yucatan, there were two very beautiful sisters who lived in a village. The first woman, was always in and out of love. The villagers said that love and passion were her sickness and that she gave herself to every man that strayed across her path. Her name was
Xtabay. The second woman, who was the darling of the village, lived near her in a neat little house. Her name was Utz-Colel, which means good, clean and decent woman, but in truth, she was haughty, arrogant, rigid and egotistical. However, despite her reputation, Xtabay was as goodhearted as she was beautiful. She was generous to the poor and those in need, cared for animals that had been abandoned, and even traveled to distant villages to help the sick. One day the people of the village began to notice a seductive fragrance in the air, an intoxicating scent that led them to the home of the Xtabay. When they went inside, they found her lying dead, alone and forgotten by all, but cared for by the animals. It was from her dead body that the mysterious and divine odor was emanating. When news of the death reached Utz-Colel, she exclaimed that there was no way that such a heavenly perfume could have come from the Xtabay’s corrupt body and that any odor coming as it did from a sinner would be harmful and should be avoided. She assured the villagers that when she, a virtuous woman, died, the fragrance would be even more delightful. Out of pity, the villagers buried Xtabay’s body and the next day her grave was covered with a beautiful and sweet-smelling flower previously unknown to the Maya. There were so many flowers that it looked like a
heavenly cascade. Strangely enough, the road leading to the cemetery kept the wonderful fragrance for three days after the Xtabay was buried and beautiful wildflowers grew up and covered the earth around her grave. Shortly thereafter, Utz-Colel died and the entire village turned out for her funeral. The grief-stricken mourners extolled her virtues, saying that she was pure-hearted and had died a virgin; and for three days after she was buried, her body gave off such a foul odor that the people of the town could not help but vomit. No one could explain how it was that all the beautifully fragrant flowers that were brought to her grave withered and died within minutes. Mayan storytellers declare that the flower that sprang from the grave of the sinner Xtabay was none other than Xtabentun, a wild flower that grows in hedges, along paths and in henequen fields that is used to make the liqueur of the same name. Utz-Colel’s soul was trapped for an eternity in a spiny cactus with a unpleasant smelling flower called the Tzacam. Her soul was perverted and evil due to the coldness of her spirit and so it came to pass that she became the dreaded Xtabay woman who seduces men and then kills them in the midst of their passion. It was then that the people realized the truth; real virtue comes from the heart.
N ICTÉ-H Á
In the deepest part of the Mayab jungle, there used to be a marvellous kingdom, whose prince was named Chacdziedzib which means “nightingale.” He was head over heels in love with the daughter of the guardian of the sacred cenote, Nicté-Há, now known as Lotus Flower. One day, the king of the Mayab, convinced that Chacdziedzib should marry a king’s daughter, opposed his love of Nicté-Há and brought together all the elders, who decided that the daughter of the guardian of the sacred cenote should die. The court jester had heard everything and full of fear, told the prince of the red cloak. Chacdziedzib immediately ordered his best warrior to search for his princess and bring her to the Royal Palace where he would take her for his wife. The noble warrior set out on his mission, but in the dark of night, the hands of some assassins took his life and threw his body into the bushes. The court jester again saw it all. When the prince of the red cloak found out what had happened, he took his bow and went to the sacred cenote to look for his beloved. All night long, Chacdziedzib guarded the sacred cenote and Nicté-Há's dream under the ceiba trees.
As soon as the sun came up, Nicté-Há went to look at her reflection in the quiet waters of the sacred cenote. There the prince came near and took her in his arms, showing her that he loved her with all his might. The scene was interrupted by an arrow which came from the shadows and pierced the young woman’s heart. Her fragile and lifeless body fell, sinking in the waters of the sacred cenote, home of the gods. Chacdziedzib was overcome with profound pain. Bathed in tears, he prayed to the gods for pity and compassion. Such was his sadness that his heart broke into pieces, and he fell in agony on the rim of the cenote in a pool of blood. The gods heard his cries and sent the Lord of the Waters and the Lord of the Birds. The Lord of the Waters entered the depths of the cenote, and changed Nicté-Há’s inert body into a beautiful lotus. Meanwhile the Lord of the Birds stood over the Chacdziedzib’s heart and changed him into a beautiful nightingale, forever full of love. Ever since then, at daybreak, the red bird goes to the water’s edge of the sacred cenote to trill his song of love over the open calyxes of the lotus flowers.
T HE U XMAL DWAR F
In the city of Kabah, there lived an ancient witch who knew all the mysteries of the stars and the secrets of the herbs. Every day, the witch gazed sweetly at a very small egg which she had found by chance. One day, the egg opened and a child appeared. This child became the happiness of the witch’s old age. With the passing of time, he became an adult; his beard and his hair grew, but his body remained small. The long–lived witch spent most of her time at the fireside, for she jealously guarded a tunkul (musical instrument) which she had hidden there. The dwarf, shrewd and malicious, taking advantage of a careless moment of hers, found the tunkul among the ashes. The sound he made from the tunkul was so strong that it reached the palace of the king of Uxmal. This sound was the precise signal of a terrible prophecy which announced the end of his reign. For this reason, the king decided to investigate where this sound was coming from, and if there existed any way to be freed from this terrible prophecy. Eventually, the king found out that the dwarf was responsible
of such sound and he asked for the dwarf's help. The dwarf responded that he would have a road built from Uxmal to Kabah, and when the road was finished, he would return with the answer. As soon as the road was finished, the dwarf added a new condition: break a “cocoyol” (local hard fruit seed) on the head of both. The king accepted, as long as the dwarf would be the first to pass the test, and he passed with no problems. However, the king lost his life in the attempt, and so the dwarf was proclaimed king of Uxmal. That same day the witch called him home to tell him:
“
Be fair and always face the truth, but don’t forget it is more important to be good than to be fair. Follow the voices of the gods, but listen to the voices of men. Never scorn the poor and always distrust the powerful.”
The old witch died a short time later, and as long as he followed her sage advice, the city of Uxmal enjoyed long periods of peace and happiness. The moment arrived when the dwarf began to commit excesses, finally becoming a proud tyrant. He ordered a clay statue to be made which he placed over a bonfire, so it would become a more powerful deity than the other gods. The statue not only survived the fire, but caused the vibration of every bell. The people, thinking that the statue was speaking, submitted themselves to its adoration.
The other gods, indignant for such a sacrilege, punished the city. Thousands of warriors from the underworld entered Uxmal, sacked it, and burned it, erasing forever the memory of the people and of the dwarf who had once reigned over them. This is how the glorious city of Uxmal was left in ruins and disappeared in the jungle.
T HE H ERO TW INS
In the lore of the Quiché Maya, One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu were the first generation of hero twins. These boys were passionate ballplayers. They were so good at it, and so noisy about it, that they came to the attention of the Lords of Death. The rulers of the Underworld sent messengers to summon them to a ballgame. They were told to bring their rubber ball and their protective gear; but instead, they hid them up under the rafters of their mother’s house. Then they set out for Xibalba, the kingdom of the Lords of Death. At the bottom of a cliff, they made it safely across a river of spikes, then a river of blood and a river of pus. When they came to the throne room of the Lords of Death, they greeted them by name. Only these weren’t the Lords of Death at all, but carved wooden replicas. This was a test, and they had failed it. “No hard feelings,” said the Lords of Death. “Have a seat.” The twins sat right down on a burning bench and shot right back up again. For failing tests like these they were sacrificed. Their bodies were buried under the ballcourt in Xibalba. But the head of One Hunahpu was placed in the fork of a tree. A maiden approached the tree, and the head of One Hunahpu spoke to her and when she reached out her hand, he spat into it. The saliva of One Hunahpu grew into babies
in the womb of the woman. She gave birth to the Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque. Here’s how the Hero Twins found out that they were destined to be great ballplayers. They were trying to make a garden, but every time they cleared away the underbrush, the forest animals put it back again. They tried to snare the animals but had no success until at last they caught a rat. They held his tail over the fire (which is why rats have no hair back there). They were starting to kill him when the rat protested, talking fast to save his hide. “Look, you two aren’t cut out to be gardeners anyway,” he squealed. “There’s something you’d be better at. I’ll tell it for some food.” And the rat told them about how their father and uncle had been great ballplayers, and how they were cut out to be great themselves. “You just need the proper gear,” said the rat. “And I happen to know where they hid it.” But the rat didn’t want to get caught in the house by the Twins’ grandmother. So they let him loose in the wall and then asked their grandmother for food and drink. The water jar needed filling, because they had secretly emptied it. So their grandmother went out to the well. The boys let loose a mosquito that punctured her water jug, so water leaked out every time she filled it. While she was gone, the rat bit the twine that held the ball gear to the ceiling, and down it fell. So one day they were playing ball like their father and uncle before them. Their gleeful shouts were heard down below in
Xibalba. The Lords of Death were affronted. These twins were no more humble than the others, and so messengers were dispatched, summoning them to a ball game in Xibalba. It broke their grandmother’s heart to think that she would lose her grandsons to the Lords of Death, just as she had lost her sons before them. But this generation succeeded where the first had failed. They knew that the Lords of Death expected to be greeted by name. So one of them plucked a hair from his shin, and it turned into a mosquito. And the mosquito went on ahead and bit the first Lord of Death. Only there was no reaction, since this wasn’t a real Lord of Death at all but only a wooden replica. Then the mosquito bit a real Lord, and he let out a cry. “What’s the matter?” asked the one seated next to him, calling him by name. And when the mosquito bit the other Lords and each cried out in turn, the twins learned all the names. Then they entered the throne room of Xibalba and declared that they weren’t about to say good morning to wooden dummies. “Then have a seat,” said the Lords of Death, gritting their teeth in frustration. “Not on that cooking griddle,” said the Twins. Now the Twins were challenged to a series of ordeals, each in a special house. In the Dark House they were given a torch and two burning cigars. They were supposed to return these in the morning just as they had received them. Their father and uncle had let the torch burn out, and they had smoked the cigars. But the Hero Twins knew better. They swapped a
macaw’s scarlet tail feathers for the torch’s flame. And they stuck fireflies on the ends of their cigars. When they were sent to the Razor House, sharp blades were supposed to cut them to pieces. But they convinced the blades that their job was to cut up animals, not hero twins. And when they were sent to the Jaguar House, they distracted the tigers by feeding them bones. The Cold House they survived by locking out the cold. The Fire House didn’t burn them to ashes, but only toasted them golden brown. It was when they were sentenced to the Bat House, they made their first mistake, in accordance with their destiny. Hunahpu decided to peek outside the blowgun and see if it was morning yet. When he did so, a bat sliced off his head and it went rolling out onto the ball court of Xibalba. His brother called all the animals together, asking each to bring its favorite food. The coati brought a squash, and with the help of the gods this became a new head for Hunahpu. Meanwhile the Twins told a rabbit to hide outside the ball court. When the Lords of Death started the game, they used Hunahpu’s head for the ball. As far as they were concerned, this made them victors automatically. But when they kicked the ball, Xbalanque deflected Hunahpu’s head flying toward the rabbit’s hiding place. The rabbit hopped off, and the Lords of Death thought it was the bouncing ball and raced off in pursuit. The boys got Hunahpu’s head back and put the squash in
its place. When the game began again and Xbalanque gave the ball a particularly energetic boot, it split open and all its seeds came spilling out. The Hero Twins had defeated the Lords of Xibalba. So the Lords of Death, with all their tricks and all their tests couldn’t kill the Hero Twins. But still the boys knew that they would have to die for their quest to be complete. They even knew how the Lords of Death would kill them. So when they were called before the Lords of Xibalba and challenged to a new and different game, they knew it was a trick. “See this oven?” said the Lords of Death. “Bet you can’t jump over it four times.” “We’re not falling for that one,” said the boys, and without any further ado they jumped right into the flames. At this point the Lords of Death made a big mistake. Instead of throwing Xbalanque and Hunahpu over a cliff or hanging their bodies in a tree, they ground their bones on a grinding stone and sprinkled them in the river. This was the only way that the Twins could come back to life. And come back they did, first as catfish and then as their normal selves. Only now their outward appearance was different. They looked like tattered beggars, the kind who go about dancing and performing tricks for a living. And their tricks were amazing. They’d burn a house down and then make it like new. They’d even sacrifice each other, laying down under the blade then springing up again. Word of their renown reached the Lords of Death, and they were summoned for
a command performance. The Lords of Death asked that a dog be sacrificed and then brought back to life. And when this was done, they asked that it be repeated with a human. And when this too was accomplished, they asked the Twins to sacrifice each other. So Xbalanque dismembered his twin and cut out his heart. Then he started dancing and commanded Hunahpu to get up and join him. And when Hunahpu got up as good as new, the Lords of Death were caught up in a frenzy of delight. “Now do us!” they cried. And so the Twins sacrificed the two foremost of the Lords of Death. Only they didn’t bring them back to life. And the other Lords knew that they had been defeated, and from that day forth Xibalba had lost its glory. The Twins took the head of One Hunahpu from the tree in which it hung, and they put him back together and restored him to life. They left him there in a place of honor beside the ball court in Xibalba. And then the Hero Twins, Xbalanque and Hunahpu, their heroic quest complete, ascended into the sky and became the sun and the moon.
B IB LIO G RAPHY
Fernandez, Yurina. “Mayan Myths: Lotus Flower.” Yucatan Today. N.p., 15 July 2010. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. Fernandez, Yurina. “Mayan Myths: The Quail” Yucatan Today. N.p., 15 July 2010. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. Fernandez, Yurina. “Mayan Myths: The Dwarf of Uxmal” Yucatan Today. N.p., 15 July 2010. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. Hacienda Tresrios. "SEMARNAT, 15 June 2012. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. Tedlock, Dennis. “Popul Vuh: Hero Twins.” Myth Web. N.p., 2014. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
M AYA N N UMBERS
The Mayan number is a vigesimal system that works up to nineteen. Twenty is a single dot above a shell. You’ll be stacking the numbers in columns rather than rows.
Base number
/
Three main symbols
/
Format for recording
/
20 (vigesimal system)
0
1
5
Positional convention
To calculate a Mayan number, you need to divide the number into powers of twenty.
5124 = 12 x 20 x 20 + 16 x 20 + 4 =
The great advantage of the positional system is that you need only a limited number of symbols and you can represent any whole number, however big. Presumably the Mayas chose five and twenty as the two bases of their system as there are five fingers on one hand, and twenty fingers and toes on one person. An eastern abacus has beads for five as well as beads for units. It makes sense, as it is hard to instantly recognise groups of symbols more than five. Some peoples, like the Babylonians arranged them into neat patterns to make it easier, but then it became harder to draw. The Maya system is quick to write, and simple to understand. However, multiplication tables need to be learned up to twenty, rather than just ten.
C OLO PH O N This book has been designed, illustrated, and bound by Karen Due単as at Texas State University. The text is composed in Univers LT Std. It was printed on Color Xpressions paper with a Laserprinter at Copycats.