Popol Vuh Mythic and Heroic Sagas of the Kiches of Central America

Reprint of the 1908 edition, which was issued as no. 16 of 'Popular Studies in Mythology, Romance and Folklore.' From preface: The 'popl Vuh' is the New World's richest mythological mine. No translation of it as yet appeared in English, and no adequate translation in any European language. It has been neglected to a certain extent because of the unthinking strictures passed upon its authenticity. That other manuscripts exist in Guatamala than the one discovered by Ximenes and transcribed by Scherzer and Brasseur de bourbourg is probable. So thought Brinton, and the present writer shares his belief. .... Popol Vuh (in modern K'iche') is a corpus of mytho-historical narratives of the Post Classic K'iche' kingdom in Guatemala's western highlands. The title translates as "Book of the Community," "Book of Counsel," or more literally as "Book of the People."[1] Popol Vuh's prominent features are its creation myth, its diluvian suggestion, its epic tales of the Hero Twins Hunahpú and Xbalanqué,[2] and its genealogies. The myth begins with the exploits of anthropomorphic ancestors and concludes with a regnal genealogy, perhaps as an assertion of divine right rule.