Popol Vuh

Co Caib, Co Acutec, and Co Ahau, the three sons of Balam Quitze, Balam Acab, and Mahucutah marry women from the nations. Remembering their fathers’ request to head to Tulan Zuyva, they declare, “We go to the East from where our fathers came” (242). The three sons depart first, leaving behind the others, and promising to return once they complete their fathers’ last request.

When Co Caib, Co Acutec, and Co Ahau arrive at Tulan Zuyva, they encounter the lord, Nacxit. The powerful lord Nacxit offers them places in office as a way of officializing their lordship. The sons become officers for Ah Pop, the first highest office, and the Ah Pop of the Reception House, the second highest office. As tokens of their lordship, Nacxit gifts them the following: Canopy and throne, Bone flute and drum, Shining Black Powder and Yellow Stone, Puma Paws and Jaguar Paws, Head and Hooves of the Deer, Arm Band and Snailshell Rattle, Tobacco Gourd and Food Bowl, Macaw Feathers and Snowy Egret Feathers. Nacxit also gifts the sons the writings and paintings that legitimize their lordship. The sons bring these gifts home to the rest of their clan to prove their authority.

When Co Caib, Co Acutec, and Co Ahau return to Hacavitz with news of their lordship, their people, which include the newly allied Rabinals, the Cakchiquels, and Ah Tziquinahas, rejoice in their authority. By this time, the wives of Balam Quitze, Balam Acab, and Mahucutah have died.

The news of the three sons’ lordship empowers the people to leave Hacavitz in search of new homes upon other mountains. They come to a new citadel that they call Chi Quix, which consists of four mountains called Chi Chac, Humetaha, Culba, and Cavinal. In Chi Quix, they give birth to more children.

As time passes, the people explore the mountains near the citadel, suffering many afflictions, until, at long last, they arrive atChi Izmachi.

The fourth generation of lords preside over Chi Izmachi. They make buildings with lime plaster and whitewash. There, Co Nache, Beleheb Queh, and Lord Magistrate rule while Lord Co Tuha serve as the officer of Ah Pop, and Iztayul, the officer of Ah Pop of the Reception House. During this time, there are two houses on Chi Izmachi who live together harmoniously and with a sense of community for one another. However, they are not completely unified, which makes them vulnerable to the Ilocab, who sense their weakness. The Ilocab desire that there be only one lord ruling over everyone, and so conspire to have Lord Iztayul murder Lord Co Tuha. The Ilocab invade the citadel but are soon captured and sacrificed to the gods. The remaining survivors become servants as punishment for their betrayal. After this attempt at warfare, the lords of Chi Izmachi fortify their defenses. The lords of Chi Izmachi, who preside over the Cavec Quiché, ally with the Nihaibs and the Ahau. Together, they each form different lineages of the Quiché people. They continue to live in community with one another until they move again to form another citadel elsewhere.

The three lineages of Quichés, which are comprised of the Cavecs, Nihaibs, and the Ahau, forge another citadel called Cumarcah. They build many homes for the people and houses for the gods at the highest point of the citadel. As their numbers grow, they begin to envy one another. Mainly, they fight over rising dowry prices set over marriage of their daughters to other families. The contention is so deep that they split into twenty-four houses and nine lineages.