Mayan Creation Myth Summary

Overview

This lecture recounts the Mayan creation myth, detailing the origins of the earth, life, humanity, and the sun and moon.

In the beginning, only stillness, silence, and water existed; there was no land, light, plants, people, or animals.
Six deities, including Framer, Shaper, Tepew, Quetzal Serpent, Xpiyacoc, and Xumucane, lay in primordial waters.
With the help of Heart of Sky (Hurakan), these deities created the Earth through their spirit and miraculous power.
They named the heart of Hurakan "Heart of Earth".
A tall ceiba tree separated sky from earth, with roots in the Maya Underworld, trunk on land, and branches in the Upperworld.

Plants were created first, followed by animals who could not speak or worship.
The deities created humans from mud, but these had no souls and failed as "keepers of the day"—destroyed by a flood.
Next, humans made from wood also failed to worship and were destroyed; survivors became monkeys.

The earth and sky existed but lacked the sun and moon; Seven Macaw falsely claimed to be both.
Hero Twins, Hunajpu and Xbalanque, defeated Seven Macaw.
Their tale began with their mother, Ixkik’, and their father, Hun Hunahpu, who was slain by Xibalba lords.
The twins played and won a ballgame against the Underworld lords to revive their father as the Maize God.
They ascended from Xibalba, became the sun and moon, and brought light to the world.

With light present, the deities created the lasting form of humans from white and yellow corn.
Corn is considered the substance that succeeded in producing true and enduring humans.

Ceiba Tree — Sacred tree separating the Maya Underworld, Earth, and Upperworld.
Hurakan (Heart of Sky) — Mayan deity involved in creation.
Xibalba — The Maya Underworld ruled by its lords.
Hero Twins (Hunajpu and Xbalanque) — Mythical twins who became the sun and moon.
Maize God — Revived father of the Hero Twins, associated with corn.