Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Maya mythology

Evidence of the Maya civilization's religious beliefs is extensive.

Some gods had different aspects based on four directions. There were thirteen gods of thirteen heavens and nine gods of nine underworlds. Natural elements, stars and planets, numbers, crops, days of the calendar and periods of time all had their own gods.

The Quiché Maya creation story is the Popol Vuh. This has the world created from nothing by the will of the gods. Man was made unsuccessfully out of mud and then wood before being made out of maize and being assigned tasks which praised the gods - silversmith, gem cutter, stone carver, potter, etc. Some argue that the Maya did not believe in art per se; all of their works were for the exaultation of the gods. The Popul Vuh then tells of the Hero Twins and their adventures in defeating the lords of Xibalba, the underworld.

The last thirteen creator gods (built humanity from maize):

  1. Ajbit
  2. Ajtzak
  3. Alom
  4. Bitol
  5. Chirakan-Ixmucane
  6. Gucumatz
  7. Hunahpu-Gutch
  8. Huracan
  9. Ixmucane
  10. Ixpiyacoc
  11. Tepeu
  12. Tzacol
  13. Xumucane

The second seven creator gods (built humanity from wood):
  1. Alom
  2. Bitol
  3. Gucamatz
  4. Huracan
  5. Qaholom
  6. Tepeu
  7. Tzacol

The first three creator gods:
  1. Gucamatz
  2. Huracan
  3. Tepeu

The four gods who held up the corner of the world were (Bacabs):
  1. Cauac
  2. Kan (later replaced by Chac)
  3. Ix
  4. Mulac

The four progenitors of the human race were:
  1. B'alam Agab
  2. B'alam Quitze
  3. Iqi B'alam
  4. Mahucatah

Some of the named Maya gods:
  1. Ac Yanto
  2. Acan
  3. Acat
  4. Ah Bolom Tzacab
  5. Ah Cancum
  6. Ah Chun Caan
  7. Ah Chuy Kak
  8. Ah Ciliz
  9. Ah Cun Can
  10. Ah Cuxtal
  11. Ah Hulneb
  12. Ah Kin
  13. Ah Kumix Uinicob
  14. Ah Mun
  15. Ah Muzencab
  16. Ah Patnar Uinicob
  17. Ah Peku
  18. Ah Puch
  19. Ah Tabai
  20. Ah Uincir Dz'acab
  21. Ah Uuc Ticab
  22. Ahau Chamahez
  23. Ahau-Kin
  24. Ahmakiq
  25. Ahulane
  26. Ajbit
  27. Ajtzak
  28. Akhushtal
  29. Alaghom Naom
  30. Alaghom Naom Tzentel
  31. Alom
  32. Bacabs
  33. Backlum Chaam
  34. Balam
  35. Balam-Agab
  36. Balam-Quitzé
  37. Bitol
  38. Bolontiku
  39. Buluc Chabtan
  40. Cabaguil
  41. Cabrakan
  42. Cacoch
  43. Caha-Paluma
  44. Cakixia
  45. Cakulha
  46. Camaxtli
  47. Camazotz
  48. Camulatz
  49. Cauac
  50. Chac
  51. Chac Uayab Xoc
  52. Chamer
  53. Chaob
  54. Chibirias
  55. Chiccan
  56. Chirakan
  57. Choimha
  58. Cit-Bolon-Tum
  59. Cizin
  60. Colel Cab
  61. Colop U Uichkin
  62. Coyopa
  63. Cum Hau
  64. Ekchuah
  65. Ghanan
  66. Gucumatz
  67. Gukumatz
  68. Hacha'kyum
  69. Hun Came
  70. Hun Hunahpu
  71. Hunab Ku
  72. Hunahpu
  73. Hunahpu Utiu
  74. Hunahpu-Gutch
  75. Hunhau
  76. Hurakan
  77. Iqi-Balam
  78. Itzamna
  79. Itzananohk'u
  80. Ix
  81. Ix Chebel Yax
  82. Ixchel
  83. Ixmucane
  84. Ixpiyacoc
  85. Ixtab
  86. Ixzaluoh
  87. Kan
  88. Kan-u-Uayeyab
  89. Kan-xib-yui
  90. Kianto
  91. K'in
  92. Kinich Ahau
  93. Kinich Kakmo
  94. Kisin
  95. Kukulcan
  96. Mahucutah
  97. Mitnal
  98. Mulac
  99. Nacon
  100. Naum
  101. Nohochacyum
  102. Popol Vuh
  103. Tecumbalam
  104. Tepeu
  105. Tlacolotl
  106. Tohil
  107. Tzakol
  108. Tzununiha
  109. Voltan
  110. Votan
  111. Vucub Caquix
  112. Xaman Ek
  113. Xecotcovach
  114. Xmucane and Xpiayoc
  115. Yaluk
  116. Yum Caax
  117. Zipacna
  118. Zotz

External Links

http://www.geocities.com/athens/academy/7286/popolvuhmain.html