Popol Vuh

The fox, coyote, parakeet, and raven direct Xpiyacoc and Xmucane, the Framer and the Shaper, and Sovereign and Quetzal Serpent to the places called Paxil and Cayal, where yellow and white maize grows. The creator deities collect the yellow and white maize from these lands and grind them up nine times. They add water to this ground maize and shape the flesh of the first four humans. The maize becomes their flesh while water becomes their blood.

The first four humans are men named Balam Quitze, Balam Acab, Mahucutah, and Iqui Balam.

The first four men are lonely, as they have no other direct kin. However, their creation pleases the creator deities as they can speak, move, and perceive the world around them. They are declared to be “excellent and chosen people” (185). They are also endowed with great sight and knowledge, as they can look up at the sky and see much of it. By looking, they come to an understanding of the world. They learn by sight, taking in their surroundings and making interpretations based off of what they see.

The Framer and the Shaper ask the first four men if they understand their existence. The four men express gratitude, stating, “We have seen the great and the small, all that exists in the sky and on the earth” (187). They thank their creators for giving them such powerful sight and understanding of the world. However, the Framer and the Shaper are wary that the men know too much. If the men know too much, they pose a danger to the creator deities.

The creator deities express concern that the first four men possess knowledge of the world and existence in such a way that rivals their godly vision. They resolve to undo them just a little bit so that they are still intact but possess less knowledge than they do.

Heart of Sky blurs the eyes of the four men so that they do not see as well as they originally did. Their knowledge of the world is lessened.

The creator deities fashion four beautiful wives for the four men. Balam Quitze’s wife is named Cahapaluna. Balam Acab’s wife is named Chomiha. Mahucutah’s wife is Tzununiha. Iqui Balam’s wife is Caquixaha. The men create many progenies with their wives. Their progenies spread to the East, where they take on new names: Sovereign, Ballplayer, Masker, and Sun Lord. Balam Quitze and Balam Acab each become the father of nine houses while Mahucutah becomes the father of four houses. The East is also where the Tamub, the Ilocab, and their thirteen, allied nations originate. The Tamub and Ilocab, their allied nations, and the descendants of the first people of the world live in the East for a long time in darkness. They live mostly unprotected and waiting for the dark to end, in order to sow the earth. There has yet to be wood or stone for the people to build shelter and to guard themselves. As such, they pray often to the creator deities to take pity on them and extend the morning light. Finally, the first four men declare that they will all go “look for one who may protect us” (196). They seek to speak directly to someone who can help them. They decide to head towards a citadel named Tulan Zuyva at Seven Caves and Seven Canyons where they hear someone might be able to help them.