Customer Reviews

Popol Vuh: The Definitive Edition of the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life and the Glories of Gods and Kings

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This book is an English rendition of an ancient text known as the Popol Vuh, the Mayan equivalent of the Bible. The story describes the creation of the world, as known to the Mayans, and of nature, man, and civilization. The authenticity of this story is unknown, as there is very few copies of the original text, and they were published in a Western alphabet (Latin I believe) after the Spanish conquest of Central America. Hence the amount of corruption due to conversion from the Mayan language to a Western one, and due to socio-political pressures of the Spanish presence is unknown.

Taken at face value, the story told in this book is quite interesting. It tells of creatures both known and unknown (supposedly), gods, and humans with abilities that are of course supernatural. The protagonists are two men; brothers we are told. They travel thru early nature, which of course resembles tropical Central America, and encounter a series of challenges and diversions. These brothers are the first men, according to this story, so they actions they do forecast many features of Mayan culture, such as the ballgame, and the daily interplay with nature at the physical and spiritual levels.

I read this book as part of a history class. I found this book quite interesting, though it will probably confuse many Western readers. But I recommend it as a way to expand your horizons and get to know how others think of their past.