POPOL VUH

Maya document, an invaluable source of knowledge of ancient Mayan mythology and culture. Written in Quich (a Guatemalan Mayan language) with Spanish letters by a Mayan author or authors between 1554 and 1558, it chronicles the creation of man, the actions of the gods, the origin and history of the Quich people, and the chronology of their kings down to 1550. The original book was discovered at the beginning of the 18th century by Francisco Jimnez (or Ximnez), parish priest of Chichicastenango in highland Guatemala. He both copied the original Quich text (now lost) and translated it into Spanish. His work is now in the Newberry Library, Chicago.