Original Maya Texts

Thousands of Maya texts destroyed by

Spanish.
Popol Vuh Only 4 known to have survived: Madrid,
Paris, Dresden, and Mirador codices.
Madrid, Paris, Dresden survived because
sent out of Mexico.
Texts significant because record some of
ideology, in addition to calendar and
astronomical data.

Madrid Codex (reproduction) Codices

Mirador Codex: located at the
National Museum of Anthropology in
Mexico City - - has not been opened.
Paper so heavily damaged that
sheets cannot be separated - - solid
block of lime.

Grolier Codex
Found in a private collection in NY.
Mystery document: paper appears to
be authentic pre-Columbian paper.
Glyphs questionable in authenticity.
May be a forgery, using Maya paper
that has been found in caves in
Yucatan.

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Madrid Codex
Maya Recording
Spanish destroyed Maya writing, but
also taught Maya people the Roman
alphabet.
Purpose to get the Maya to write
scriptures and prayers.
Enterprise converted into Maya effort
to preserve the content of their ancient
texts, in Roman alphabet form.
Popol Vuh
The Popol Vuh written by members of
3 ruling lineages in Quiche kingdom.
They feared knowledge of their
traditions would be lost as Spanish
were destroying all of their ancient
books, so they secretly recorded their
religious stories in Maya language.
Original included glyphs + images.
Popol Vuh scene from Vase
New Maya Books
As form of “practicing” Roman
alphabet, Maya priests wrote books
recording ancient knowledge.
Books of the Chilam Balam written in
the Yucatan by various rulers and
priests - - still being studied.
Mostly historical records and
calendars.
Popol Vuh
Dominican friar Francisco Ximenez found
manuscript in 1703, while a parish priest in
Quiche area.
Made a copy and translated it into Spanish.
Documents remained with Dominican
order until 1830, when Univ of San Carlos
in Guatemala City acquired it.
Next, French priest Charles Etienne
Brasseur de Bourbourg translated it into
French in 1861.
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 Popol Vuh
Every translation carries potential for
changes in meaning.
Most drastic changes come from
translating pictures and glyphs into
strictly alphabetic writing - - original
had illustrations and words, but
Ximenez version contained only
alphabetic prose.
Vase with Ballgame Scene
Popol Vuh
Despite possible changes, Popol Vuh
remains a vivid story that explains
Maya creation, the role of the gods,
and the dimensions of Maya
cosmology.