Popol Vuh

The oldest surviving written account of Popol Vuh (ms c.1701 by Francisco Ximénez, O.P.) Popol Vuh (Popol Wuj [poˈpol wuχ] in modern K'iche') is a corpus of mytho-historical narratives of the Post Classic K'iche' kingdom in Guatemala's western highlands. The title translates as "Book of the Community", "Book of Counsel", or more literally as "Book of the People".[1] Popol Vuh's prominent features are its creation myth, its diluvian suggestion, its epic tales of the Hero Twins Hunahpú and Xbalanqué,[2] and its genealogies. The myth begins with the exploits of anthropomorphic ancestors and concludes with a regnal genealogy, perhaps as an assertion of rule by divine right. As with other texts (e.g., the Chilam Balam), a great deal of Popol Vuh's significance lies in the scarcity of early accounts dealing with Mesoamerican mythologies. Structure[edit] Popol Vuh encompasses a range of subjects that includes creation, ancestry, history, and cosmology. Preamble Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Maya "Painted Pyramid" Reveals 1st Murals of Daily Life November 12, 2009—A series of unusual Maya wall murals, complete with hieroglyphic captions, are providing archaeologists with a priceless look at day-to-day life in the empire circa A.D. 620 to 700. Previously known Maya murals all depict the ruling elite, victories in battle, or religious themes. (Explore a map of Maya ruins.) But exterior walls on a "painted pyramid" buried for centuries in the Mexican jungle (pictured, a corner of the pyramid undergoing excavations) have shown Maya scholars something completely different. The murals—discovered in 2004 at the Maya site of Calakmul—depict ordinary people enjoying much more casual pursuits, according to a new, detailed description of the wall art. "There's really nothing like this in any of the [known] murals. "This is everyday life with people who are not upper-crust Maya but rather people engaged in everyday activities." Maya Food and Fashion "In other words, they were public," Coe said of the Calakmul paintings. —Brian Handwerk

Cradle of Maya Civilization Gets Rescue Plan The new Archaeological Development Plan for Guatemala's Mirador Cultural and Natural System, home to the largest Pre-Classic Maya center, has been unveiled. In time for the celebration of the Year of the Maya in 2012, the Global Heritage Fund (GHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and development of archaeological sites in developing countries, has officially unveiled the long-awaited Archaeological Development Plan for the Mirador Cultural and Natural System. This system is an area in Guatemala that contains some of the world's largest pyramids, including La Danta, the world's largest pyramid by volume, and the large Pre-Classic Maya complex that is touted today by many archaeologists as the birthplace, or cradle, of Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. Above and below, examples of the archaeological remains at El Mirador, the world's largest Pre-Classic Maya center. [2] Global Heritage Fund at