Mayan

            
             The Popul Vuh is the ancient creation myth of the Mayan Quiche people written in Mayan hieroglyphics during the Early Classic period (300-600 A.D.). The Quiche people received the book after leaving the highlands the go to the Atlantic shore in a journey that is seen as a pilgrimage. They gave it the name "The Light That Came from Beside the Sea- along with the title "Council Book- being that is was used by the Quiche lords during council. Who created it the original book is not exactly stated but is speculated to be created by the gods. This book was very significant to the people since it allowed them to regain the vision that the first humans obtained from the gods (Tedlock, p.21). This "vision- was the understanding of everything and the ability to sight the four corners of the sky and earth (Tedlock, p.147). Their great abilities caused the gods to feel uneasy and strip the humans of the special sense in fear that the people would become like gods (Tedlock, p.148). Obtaining the book was the key to regaining the great knowledge that the ancestor Mayan's once had. In addition to holding the keys of their origins, the Popul Vuh allowed rulers to know even future events such as war, death, and famine (Tedlock, p.29). Another key aspect of the book is that it served as a help in navigation due to its astronomical contents. The historical importance of the Popul Vuh is that it preserved the Mayan beliefs in times of great threats and discrimination to their culture by Europeans who sought to change the Mayan culture by making it more like theirs. This book is studied due to it being in its entirety and providing important history of the Mayans that reflects many of the traditions that they hold in today's society. .
             Examining the historical accounts on the developments of the original and later version of the Popul Vuh reveals the important role that writing played in the preservation of the Mayan culture.