The Popol Vuh was a fascinating read in that it exposed me to the most important cultural and literary works of the Maya civilization. It was a great pleasure to delve into this foundational text that provides insights into the mythology, cosmology, and worldview of the ancient Maya people.

As the story continues, we eventually see how humans were brought to life. This linkage between agriculture and humans offers insight to the importance of land and the things it bears to a people. The text describes humans as “thick with ripened ears of yellow maize and white maize” (p 212). Maize was a staple in Mayan culture and was even considered a sacred crop that symbolizes life and fertility. If humans are to procreate it makes sense why corn was a chosen ingredient as it is intricately connected to agricultural cycles and the cycles of planting and harvesting. Consequently, the use of maize in creating humans offers a deep connection between the sustenance of life and the divine. It is not only a source of physical nourishment but is also spiritually significant. Offerings of maize were made to the gods as a form of gratitude. It was intricately woven into the fabric of Maya religious practices, symbolizing a reciprocal relationship between humans and the divine.

Another parallel I found between Abrahamic religions and the Popol Vuh was the “mistake” made by humans at the onset of their conception. Just as Eve ate the fruit with the intention of being like God, so did Balam Quitze and Balam Acab, Mahucutah and Iqui Balam claim that they “have learned everything, great and small”, a thought that provoked the gods (p 221). Both in the Abrahamic and Mayan texts, the divine is described as punishing humans. For the God of the bible it was cursing humans with lives of hardship but for the gods in Popol Vuh it was limiting their sight to only see what is nearby. Either way, there appears to be this need to keep humans in their place. 

By the end of the text, it was especially exciting to see the hero twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, successfully navigate the challenges of the underworld, defeat the Lords of Xibalba, and undergo various transformations. Again, this highlights a story of creation as Hunahpu transforms into the sun, while Xbalanque transforms into the moon. This is quite pivotal in Maya mythology as the sun and the moon are central to the Maya cosmological understanding, symbolizing not only celestial bodies but also the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life. 

It appears that the hero twins’ elevation to the celestial realm marks the establishment of order and balance in the cosmos. I would also add that their transformation and ascent represents the triumph of life over death, as they were able to overcome the challenges posed by the Lords of Xibalba and return from the underworld. The Popol Vuh concludes with the establishment of the sun and moon in the sky, which contributes to the ongoing cycles of nature and life. From this text we can ask ourselves how do the Maya demonstrate environmental stewardship in their agricultural practices as described in the Popol Vuh? What lessons can be drawn from their approach to living in harmony with nature?