Parallels Between the Mayan Popol Vuh and the Bible

abstract

The Popol Vuh, often referred to as the Mayan Bible, offers a captivating intersection of Mayan
heritage and correlates back to present-day Catholic elements. This ancient text provided insight
into pre-Columbian Mayan culture that is often ignored and not talked about. This encouraged
me and sparked my interest into exploring the parallels between this text and others. I wrote a
paper about the parallels between these two documents that shaped religion drastically and did
this through the focus on Patricia Amlin's 1989 film, "Popol Vuh: The Creation Myth of the
Maya,". Through direct and subtle references, I drew parallels to both biblical narratives and
unveiled drastic similarities between various biblical characters, stories and timelines.

Emily Tamyo

Emily Tamayo, a second-generation Latina is a student at CSUN pursuing a Business Management major in Human Resources and a minor in Business Law. She's deeply devoted to her faith and its teachings. She finds her purpose in volunteering as a catechist for young children aged 6-9 since 2020. Raised in catholic faith, Emily was inspired to blend Mayan and Catholic beliefs in her paper and embody their commonalities and differences.

The presence of Mayan and Catholic elements within the Popol Vuh invites a fascinating exploration into the interrelation between these two cultures. The Popol Vuh is a glimpse into the pre-Columbian Mayan world, encompassing its history, literature, and culture, often referred to as the Mayan Bible. This book's connection to Catholicism becomes perceivable through various direct and indirect references and parallels drawn between the Popol Vuh’s characters and narratives found in the Bible.

Moreover, a distinct Catholic deity finds a special and prominent place within this Mayan text. Patricia Amlin’s 1989 short film “ Popol Vuh: The Creation Myth of the Maya” highlights the central Mayan narrative of the Hero Twins’ unconventional birth and ultimate victory over the lords, inviting viewers to uncover parallels between this ancient tale and biblical narratives.

To begin with, the Popol Vuh was first implemented in society around the time when Christianity was introduced to the Americas around the 1500s. This recent introduction “strongly impacted the native texts” (Agestesblog, 17). In other words, its stories had a significant influence and possibly impacted how the Popol Vuh was generated.
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One similarity between the Popol Vuh and the Bible, introduced at the outset of both texts, is their shared depiction of creation, the world, and society. This commonality draws back to the origin of the world and the establishment of its first rulers. For example, Popol Vuhs’s version of the creation resembles the Genesis chapter in the Bible's Old Testament. Genesis explains how God, a divine entity, created the earth in six days. 1:Timothy 2:13-15 of the bible states, “For Adam was first formed from the dust on the ground…” Put differently, God created the first ever man out of earth's grounds and named him Adam. Similarly, in Patricia Amlin’s 1989 short film “Popol Vuh: The Creation, “The first humans were made of earth and mud. All life and humanity were created by the Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth.” (4:01 - 4:15 minutes) In other words, a parallel theme emerges, as the first humans are described as being created from the earth's mud.

Another similarity between the Popol Vuh and the Catholic bible is their depiction of the world’s savior figures. In the Bible, Jesus is recognized as the world's savior, as stated in 1:John 4:14: “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.” In simpler terms, Jesus, much like the Hero twins in the Popol Vuh, is the world's savior and later faces rigorous trials, notably in the wilderness. Jesus is the son of God, who was conceived through a holy power referred to as the Holy Spirit. His mother, Mary, a virgin, was chosen by God to carry his child because of her purity.

Later on in Jesus' adulthood, he is led by a spirit to endure 40 days in a desert where Satan is waiting for him. Here, Satan will relentlessly tempt Jesus, seeking to undermine his divine mission. In these trials, the Devil attempts to sway Jesus away from his allegiance to his father, God.

Furthermore, as stated in Mayan scripture, The Hero Twins also inherit the concepts of duality because they, too, face trials of temptation. Much like Jesus, The Hero Twins were also immaculately conceived when their mother, Xquic, had a conversation with their father, Hun, whose head had just been severed. Hun’s skull lay on a tree, and this conversation sparked the conception of the hero twins onto their virgin mother.

One trial, as mentioned and depicted in Patricia Amlin’s 1989 short film, involved crossing a river filled with spikes and blood. In an act of courage and determination to complete these tests, they accept a grim invitation from the underworld to prove their capability and leadership. This dual narrative of being tried is shared by both Jesus in the Bible and the Hero Twins in the Popol Vuh. Their role as saviors is showcased in both religious contexts.

Another notable illustration where Catholicism’s presence can be seen in this ancient text is when the Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, kill Seven Macaw. The Mayan narrative portrays Seven Macaw as a highly prideful and vibrantly plumage God. “The hero twins claim to have slayed and killed Seven Macaw because of his pride and evil in his self-magnification” (Amlin, 1989).

Whether intentional or by coincidence, a parallel can be drawn between the character of Seven Macaw and the Devil (Satan) in the Bible. Both of these characters are punished and face retribution for thinking and acting as if they are better than the respective figures of these labeled world saviors. “In the Bible, Satan is ejected from Heaven due to his belief that he would be better as ‘ruler’ than God was. Seven Macaw is placed in a similar position in that the twin hero gods feel he has insulted their power with his pride and ‘self-magnification,’ so, therefore, he must be destroyed” (Agestesblog, 17).

In other words, Satan is punished for believing he is better than all, including his superiors. In a sense, seven Macar finds himself in a comparable predicament, where his self-pride is seen to be like the Devil, and both figures get punished for thinking so.

In conclusion, the Popol Vuh: The Creation Myth of the Maya, highlights the central Mayan narrative of the Hero Twins’ unconventional birth and their ultimate victory over the lords, thus inviting viewers to uncover parallels between this ancient tale and biblical narratives.

They offer a compelling insight into the dynamic interplay between Mayan and Catholic influences. This includes the start of creation, worlds labeled saviors, and the world's enemies. While these similarities may be coincidental, they help readers gain a richer understanding of the complex relationship between indigenous beliefs and the broader tapestry of world religions.


Works Cited

Agestesblog. “The Presence of God in Popol Vuh.” WLIT by Anna Grace, 2 May 2017, agestesblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/02/the-presence-of-god-in-popol-vuh/.

Amlin, Patricia, director. Popol Vuh: The Creation Myth of the Maya . 1989, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHSOGryN-DA. Accessed 19 Oct. 2023.

Holy Bible. American Standard Version, Bible Domain Publishing, 2013.