Apocalypse Now?

Apocalypse Now?Teacher workshop June 5, 2012Vanderbilt University

Map Maya Language Migration2

Map Maya Languages3

Family tree for Maya Languages4

Language-Colonial

writingconquestcollapse321Family tree for Maya Languages7Olmec1200-1000 BCEarly Pre-Classic1800-900 BCMiddle Pre-Classic900-300 BCLate Pre-Classic300 BC- AD 250Early ClassicAD 250 - 600Late Classic600- 900Post Classic900 - 1500Colonial1500-1800Olmec1200-1000 BCEarly Pre-Classic1800-900 BCMiddle Pre-Classic900-300 BCLate Pre-Classic300 BC- AD 250Early ClassicAD 250 - 600Late Classic600- 900Post Classic900 - 1500Colonial1500-1800Olmec1200-1000 BCEarly Pre-Classic1800-900 BCMiddle Pre-Classic900-300 BCLate Pre-Classic300 BC- AD 250Early ClassicAD 250 - 600Late Classic600- 900Post Classic900 - 1500Colonial1500-1800

Classic Maya Writing-Maya glyphs

Yucatecan Writing traditionKichean Writing TraditionColonial Period

Diego de Landas alphabetThey count by fives up to twenty, by twenties to a hundred and by hundreds to four hundred; then by 400's up to 8000. This count is much used in merchandising the cacao. They have other very long counts, extended to infinity, counting twenty times 8000, or 160,000; then they multiply this 160,000 again by twenty, and so on until they reach an uncountable figure. They do all their counting on the ground or a flat surface.Diego de Landa, 1566 (transl. William gates, 1937)

Maya Codices

Chilam Balam de Ixil

Chilam Balam

Libros de Chilam Balam

From : Bricker and Miram 2002: 120 ; Book of Chilam Balam of Kaua, pg 16

From : Bricker and Miram 2002: figure 65 ; Book of Chilam Balam of Kaua, pg 112King, Maiden Theodora and Wise Man

Kichean Writing TraditionFrom the Anales de los Kaqchikeles

127. Chupam ca voo huna, vae ok ixtiquer yauabil, yxnucahol, nabey xyabix ohb, ratzam xyavabix chica quic, qana chuluh, kitzih tixibin chi camic xico oher. Haok xcam ahauh Vakaki Ahmak, xe ca hala chic ma tipe nima qekum, nima aqa pa qui vi ka tata ka mama pa ka vi ca, yxnucahol, ok xyabix chac. [171]

127. In the course of the fifth year the pestilence began, O my children. First there was a cough, then the blood was corrupted, and the urine became yellow. The number of deaths at this time was truly terrible. The Chief Vakaki Ahmak died, and we ourselves were plunged in great darkness and great grief, our fathers and ancestors having contracted the plague, O my children.Anales Titulo or Primordial Titles

Text genre found in all colonial Mesoamerica

Outlines the land and territory of certain groups

Recounts the history of settlement in that area

It is a mytho-historical text

Often used in court cases over land disputes between the indigenous population and Spanish settlers

Popol Wuj

Hunahpu/Xbalanque: Hun Batz/Hun ChowenARE' chik xchiqatzijoj kalaxik Junajpu, Xb'alanke.

ARE' k'ut kalaxik, wa'e xchiqab'ij

Ta xuriq uq'ij kalaxik, ta xalan puch ri q'apoj, Xkik' ub'i'.

Ma k'u xuwachij ati't, ta xe'alaxik.Lib'aj chi xeyake'ik, e kaib' chi kalaxik, Junajpu, Xb'alanke ki b'i'.

Now this is where we shall speak of the birth of Hunahpu and Xbalanque.And this is their birth; we shall tell of it here.Then it came to the day of their birth, and the maiden named Blood Woman gave birth.

The grandmother was not present when they were born;they were born suddenly. Two of them were born, named Hunahpu and Xbalanque.

Seven Macaw and the Hero Twins, Izapa Stela 2 Drawing by F. Kent Reilly

Seven Macaw and the Hero Twins, Izapa Stela 2 Drawing by F. Kent Reilly

Kerr 1226

K1523

K1523

K1523

K1523Popol Wuj

Creation of the world and mankind

Defeat of the Wuqub Kaqix

Hero Twins defeat the Lords of the Underworld

Myth-history of the origins of the Kiche PeoplePopol Wuj Movie

Creation of the world and mankind

Defeat of the Wuqub Kaqix

Hero Twins defeat the Lords of the Underworld

Myth-history of the origins of the Kiche PeoplePrincipal characters:

Creators: Heart of sky- heart of earth/ Ukux kaj Ukux Ulew: Shaper - Former/Tzaqol- Bitol

Adversaries:Seven Macaw/ Wuqub KaqixLords of the Underworld/ Xibalba

Brothers/Twins:Little Blood/IxkikOne Hunter - Seven Hunter/Jun Junajpu Wuqub JunajpuOne Howler Monkey - One Spider Monkey/Jun Batz Jun ChowenHunter Jaguar Deer/ Jun Ajpu Xbalanke