Popol Vuh And The Creation Story

In the Mayan account of Popol Vuh, audiences are given a narration of creation. Compared to the creation account found in Genesis 1-3, Popol Vuh is lengthy and detailed. From a Christian standpoint, the simplicity of the Judeo Christian gospel is refreshing, as well as uplifting. While Mayan culture contains five elements to the creation account, the Christian account given in Genesis contains only two: creation, and fall. While Mayan culture views human beings as perfect (a danger), Christianity views humans as fallen and depraved, but still worthy of love and existence. There are many parallels between the account of Popul Vuh and the book of Genesis which include the elements of earthly creation, a fall by temptation, and human creation The actual account of biblical creation of the earth is noted in Genesis 1. The Bible tells its readers that the world was created in six days, and on the seventh day, God rested from his work because it was good. Within those six days, God created light and dark, sky, land, the galaxy, the sea and flying creatures, and finally land animals and man. In Popol Vuh, the Maker is a supreme god like being who is noted to be the “mother-father of life, of humankind, giver of breath, [and] giver of heart” (cite). The narrative of Popol Vuh, begins with a sense of familiarity as its first sentence reads “This is the beginning of the Ancient Word, here in this place called Quiché” (cite). The idea of beginnings and blank slates is also apparent in