Popol Vuh: Sacred Book of the Quiché Maya - Mesoweb

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poetic form in sixteenth century Maya literature, particularly in the Guatemalan highlands, however, none of the known documents composed after 1580 contain passages of chiasmus. Several of these later texts might otherwise be expected to contain ancient poetic forms, since they include significant sections of Precolumbian history and culture. Among these are the Título Zapotitlan, the Título Santa Clara, the Título Chauchituj and the Título Uchabaja. By 1580, however, scribes who possessed ancient codices and were familiar with their contents were for the most part gone. Perhaps by this time the old poetic literary forms were already forgotten or had fallen into disuse (Christenson 1988). The first chiasm that I was able to identify within the Popol Vuh appears in lines 32-35: Midwife, I'yom, Patriarch, Mamom, Xpiyacoc Xpiyakok, Xmucane, their names, Xmuqane, u b'i', The name of the “Midwife” in line 32 is Xmucane, which appears in line 35. The name of the “Patriarch” in line 33 is Xpiyacoc, which appears in line 34. The descriptions and proper names of this couple thus appear in a chiastic arrangement. Edmonson, who believed that the Popol Vuh is arranged entirely in paired couplets, was confused by the order of the names Xpiyacoc and Xmucane: “It is odd that this frequent couplet places the male first, the reverse of the usual Quiché order; indeed, if the reconstructed forms are correct, they would make better sense reversed” (Edmonson 1971, 5 n. 35). Recognition of the chiasmus in this passage clears up the confusion (see also lines 538-541 for a repetition of this arrangement). Chiasms may appear within a single line or extend for several lines, as in the following ten line example which is placed at the conclusion of the account of the creation of the first humans (lines 5171-5180), and which is arranged in the form ABCDEE'D'C'B'A'. Then they were multiplied, Ta xpoq'otajik, There at its coming out sun. Chila' chi releb'al q'ij. Truly their names came to be the people: Qi u b'i' xuxik ri winaq: Sovereign, Tepew, Ballplayer, Oloman, 38
Masker, K'ojaj, Sun Lord, K'enech Ajaw, Would be called now their names people. Chuchax chik u b'i' winaq. There its coming out sun Chila' releb'al q'ij They were multiplied. Xpoq'otajik. Within the Popol Vuh, entire sections may appear in chiastic form. The account of the first creation is arranged as a single, large chiasm. Each phase of the creation is outlined in detail from primordial stillness to the formation of the face of the earth, along with its mountains and rivers. The final portion of this section then recapitulates the events of the creation in reverse order: Creation begun with a declaration of the first words concerning the creation (lines 97-117) The sky is in suspense and the earth is submerged in water (lines 118-136) The creation is to be under the direction of Its Heart Sky (lines 137-192) The creation of all things begun (lines 193-201) The creation of earth (lines 202-232) The creation of mountains (lines 233-255) The division of the waters into branches (lines 256-258) “Merely divided then existed waters,” (line 259) “Then were revealed great mountains.” (line 260) “Thus its creation earth this,” (line 261) “Then it was created by them” (line 262) “Its Heart Sky, [who first conceived the creation]” (lines 263-267) “It was set apart the sky, it was set apart also earth within water,” (lines 268-269) “Thus its conception this, when they thought, when they pondered” (lines 270-274) 12. Envelope Parallelism: The repetition of parallel elements at the beginning and end of a long stanza or section of poetry. This has the effect of tying together the introduction and conclusion of a passage to set it apart from that which precedes and follows it. Example, lines 5147-5148 initiate the envelope: These therefore their names Are' k'u ki b'i' Their wives these: Kixoqil wa': This introductory couplet is followed by four couplets listing the wives of the Quiché 39
Page 1 and 2: Mesoweb Publications POPOL VUH Sacr
Page 3 and 4: modern usage were invaluable. I pur
Page 5 and 6: aqän us (mosquito legs) who was vi
Page 7 and 8: The word he used was k'astajisaj, m
Page 9 and 10: origin, transforming the poet into
Page 11 and 12: the Indians from their former relig
Page 13 and 14: Maya such that few are literate in
Page 15 and 16: text that have been published. In t
Page 17 and 18: newcomers, led by the Cavec-Quiché
Page 19 and 20: Cavec Quiché lineage that produced
Page 21 and 22: As outlined in the text, the Quich
Page 23 and 24: Precolumbian Popol Vuh: In the prea
Page 25 and 26: Popol Vuh was based as an ilb'al, m
Page 27 and 28: missionaries. During the early deca
Page 29 and 30: History of the Popol Vuh Manuscript
Page 31 and 32: had long since eclipsed Santa Cruz
Page 33 and 34: script arranged in two columns, Qui
Page 35 and 36: properly read apart from the litera
Page 37: 7. Epithetic Parallelism: The assoc
Page 41 and 42: Merely shaped they are called. Xa b
Page 43 and 44: Come here then my work, Sa'j la rec
Page 45 and 46: Orthography: The Quiché version of
Page 47 and 48: Since the sixteenth century, a numb
Page 49 and 50: throat is closed and air forcefully
Page 51 and 52: Here we shall gather the manifestat
Page 53 and 54: These collectively are evoked and g
Page 55 and 56: Shelterer, 29 Twice Midwife and Twi
Page 57 and 58: sides, 40 as it is said, by the Fra
Page 59 and 60: Quetzal Serpent. In their essence,
Page 61 and 62: “How shall it be sown? When shall
Page 63 and 64: sky was set apart. The earth also w
Page 65 and 66: Heart of Sky and Heart of Earth, Fr
Page 67 and 68: Then was the framing, the making of
Page 69 and 70: it be sown. May it dawn so that we
Page 71 and 72: If this is to be the provider and t
Page 73 and 74: who had given them birth and given
Page 75 and 76: Thus they caused the face of the ea
Page 77 and 78: Then spoke also their griddles and
Page 79 and 80: “I am great. I dwell above the he
Page 81 and 82: 161 Yiqoxik is literally “to be s
Page 83 and 84: Zipacna was he that sustained the g
Page 85 and 86: pellet straight from his blowgun in
Page 87 and 88: “They are not, thou lord. These a
Page 89 and 90:
THE DEEDS OF ZIPACNA AND THE FOUR H
Page 91 and 92:
“How far are you into it?” he w
Page 93 and 94:
On the third day, they started in o
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“Please take pity on me. I will n
Page 97 and 98:
It was simply because of Hunahpu an
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Then the boys used a twist drill to
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and Xbalanque. But we shall tell on
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Now it was on the path leading to X
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These, then, are they whose names a
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These messengers were the owls 249
Page 109 and 110:
THE DESCENT OF ONE HUNAHPU AND SEVE
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Thus the Xibalbans laughed again. T
Page 113 and 114:
Thus there are many trials in Xibal
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Thus they restricted themselves. Al
Page 117 and 118:
“Thus may it be so, as I have don
Page 119 and 120:
man.” 283 “Who is responsible f
Page 121 and 122:
Thus she collected the sap, the sec
Page 123 and 124:
“From where have you come? Do my
Page 125 and 126:
Thus she called upon the guardians
Page 127 and 128:
Thus she went to see the maize plan
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Thus they were ignored 327 by Hunah
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“Our birds do not fall down here.
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THE FALL OF ONE BATZ AND ONE CHOUEN
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“We tried, our grandmother, and a
Page 137 and 138:
Then they gave instructions to an a
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The first of these were the puma an
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Straightaway you will go up to wher
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Immediately then they sealed it, an
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“Very well then, but I see that y
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“Tell it then,” they said to th
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Thus Hunahpu planted one, and Xbala
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“What, Skull Staff? What is it?
Page 153 and 154:
Thus they entered first into the Ho
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Thus the Xibalbans threw down their
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“Look after our flowers with all
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HUNAHPU AND XBALANQUE IN THE HOUSE
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Thus they pleaded for wisdom all th
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“Fine,” replied the Grandfather
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Thus the twins were able to retriev
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“You will then reply, ‘Certainl
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THE RESURRECTION OF HUNAHPU AND XBA
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to be prodded because they just wal
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“Now kill a person. Sacrifice him
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And then they declared their names.
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called masters of harm 441 and vexa
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then little more was said. He did n
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THESE were the names of the animals
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called Paxil and Cayala came the sw
Page 185 and 186:
THE MIRACULOUS VISION OF THE FIRST
Page 187 and 188:
to move about. We know much, for we
Page 189 and 190:
eginning. 495 Thus were the framing
Page 191 and 192:
The beginning of the Tamub and the
Page 193 and 194:
Uchabahas 517 and the Ah Chumilahas
Page 195 and 196:
of Sky, Heart of Earth. May our sig
Page 197 and 198:
THE ARRIVAL AT TULAN 546 THIS, then
Page 199 and 200:
Nicacah Tacah 554 was the name of t
Page 201 and 202:
their fire came to nought. Then Bal
Page 203 and 204:
THE NATIONS ARE DECEIVED INTO OFFER
Page 205 and 206:
Now when they came from Tulan Zuyva
Page 207 and 208:
mountain today is called Chi Pixab.
Page 209 and 210:
Mahucutah, who observed a great fas
Page 211 and 212:
came to be. Hacavitz it was called.
Page 213 and 214:
But these, the gods, were comforted
Page 215 and 216:
the Cakchiquels, the Ah Tziquinahas
Page 217 and 218:
This they sang concerning the blood
Page 219 and 220:
them. They gave thanks before them
Page 221 and 222:
They did the same before the deersk
Page 223 and 224:
“Conquer many lands. This is your
Page 225 and 226:
There was a river where they would
Page 227 and 228:
our hearts that they have come unto
Page 229 and 230:
of Tohil. Thus said Tohil, Auilix,
Page 231 and 232:
For the lords felt it was the sign
Page 233 and 234:
THE NATIONS ARE HUMILIATED 656 THUS
Page 235 and 236:
mere carved wood with the precious
Page 237 and 238:
Thus they became disoriented 668 be
Page 239 and 240:
Balam Acab of the Nihaibs also had
Page 241 and 242:
disappearance clear when they vanis
Page 243 and 244:
their lordship. Thus they received
Page 245 and 246:
THE MIGRATIONS OF THE QUICHÉS 705
Page 247 and 248:
Then they investigated the mountain
Page 249 and 250:
There were only two swollen 722 gre
Page 251 and 252:
And yet again they began to feast a
Page 253 and 254:
with one another and split apart. T
Page 255 and 256:
Councilor of the Stacks; 744 Emissa
Page 257 and 258:
Lord Emissary; 760 Great Lord Stewa
Page 259 and 260:
Cucumatz became a truly enchanted l
Page 261 and 262:
name of the other. These accomplish
Page 263 and 264:
arrows that were the means of shatt
Page 265 and 266:
Along with Ah Cabracan, 797 Chabi C
Page 267 and 268:
united. 811 The Tamub and the Iloca
Page 269 and 270:
Nihaibs. 822 Auilix was the name of
Page 271 and 272:
of Tohil, as well as before the fac
Page 273 and 274:
you place them on green roads and o
Page 275 and 276:
Nor was it merely a few of the nati
Page 277 and 278:
Tecum 851 and Tepepul were the nint
Page 279 and 280:
Tecum 860 and Tepepul 861 paid trib
Page 281 and 282:
THE GREAT HOUSES OF THE CAVEC LORDS
Page 283 and 284:
THE DYNASTY OF NIHAIB LORDS 869 THE
Page 285 and 286:
THE DYNASTY OF AHAU QUICHÉ LORDS 8
Page 287:
But this is the essence of the Quic
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Popol Vuh: Sacred Book of the Quiché Maya - Mesoweb

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