Our understanding of the planet has always needed religion. Although much of the planet today does not practice any religion, it is impossible to dismiss its importance in world affairs, and it has been so since the beginning of history.
In southern Mexico and part of Central America, one of the most fascinating civilizations took place, the Mayan culture. The Mayans are known to have been great mathematicians, engineers, and builders.
Unlike the Mexica and other cultures that were expansionist and one of their main activities was war, the Mayans had more important things to worry about, however, they also had their own vision of the universe, their gods and particular beliefs.
Like many civilizations, their beliefs are not so different from those of other peoples with whom they coexisted, but without a doubt they created a vision that today seems like a great fantasy, however, when reading its header text, the Popol Vuh we can realize that it is a meaningful vision appropriate to its context.
Hunab Ku
It is the most important deity of the Mayan cemetery, the harmony of the universe and the god with which most of us can identify because it has many similarities with the gods that the monotheistic religions that we know today. It is the latter that keeps many experts skeptical, since they believe that the importance of Hunab Ku was not so great before the colony and that the conquerors increased the importance of this god to equate it with the Catholic god and thus facilitate the conversion of the Indians. Mayans to Catholicism.
Hun–Hunahpú
He is the god of fertility and the ball game. He is one of the key figures of the Popol Vuh, because due to his beheading, by the gods of Xibalbá who were annoyed by the noise that Hun-Hunahpú made when playing, his two sons: Hunahpú and Xbalanqué go down to the underworld to avenge him.
Ixquic
When Hun-Hunahpú was decapitated, he was transformed into the Jícara Tree and upon hearing this, Ixquic began to visit that tree. It was until Hun-Hunahpú spat on Ixquic’s hand that she became pregnant with the children who went to avenge her father in Xibalba and gave birth to the Mayan culture. Ixquic is considered the virgin mother goddess, the one who begins the cycle of feminine culture and for which matriarchy is essential, not only in her culture, but throughout the world.
Kukulcan
If you go to Mérida or Guatemala, when you see the sun you will notice the clouds as if they were smoke near the sun, this helped generate a vision of the feathered serpent Kukulcan, creator god of civilization and the sky that came from the sea in the Eleventh century. It is one of the most important deities, so much so that Chichen Itza, one of the most important archaeological complexes in the world, was erected in his honor.
Mayan mythology is fascinating and just like any ancient and polytheistic religion, it is difficult to understand the whole story in one sitting. You need years of study, but at the same time the foundations of such rich traditions are not difficult to understand and if you want to change your perception of the world and reality, you may as well start by turning your head back many years.