Sisimito II--Xibalba

by Henry W. Anderson

  Huehuetlotl: The God of Fire.

  Hukte’ Ahaw: Some sources indicate that he is Vucub Hunahpú (Seven-Hunahpú), and the Sports God. Vucub Hunahpú is uncle of the Hero Twins.

  Hunab Ku: This Yucatec Maya word meaning ‘The Only God’ is used more in colonial times and particularly in doctrinal texts to refer to the Christian God.

  Itzamná, also known as God D, is one of the most important Maya gods. He was considered the creator of the world and the other deities and is connected with the Sacred World Tree, Yaxché. One of the manifestations of Itzamná is the Bird of Heaven, a bird often portrayed standing on top of the World Tree.

  Ix Chel or Ixchel is the 16th-century name of the aged Jaguar Goddess of Midwifery and Medicine in ancient Maya culture. Ix Chel is also referred to as the Mother of Deities and is Goddess of the Moon and Water. She is also the Goddess of Making Children and the Goddess of Medicine.

  Ixazaluoh: The Goddess of Water and Weaving.

  Ixbenil Son is a Maya sacred song.

  Kinich Ahau is the 16th-century Yucatec name of the Maya Sun God, also designated as God G. He is also known as Ah Kinchel.

  Kinich Kakmo is a solar deity represented by a macaw parrot.

  Kisin is the ‘evil earthquake spirit’ in Maya Mythology.

  Kukulkan (Plumed Serpent or Feathered Serpent) is the name of a Maya snake deity. He was also regarded by some sources as the god with special responsibility for the Nobility. Kukulkan is closely related to the god Q’uq’umatz of the Ke’kchi Maya and to Quetzalcoatl of the Aztecs. Although heavily Mexicanized, Kukulkan has his origins among the Maya of the Classic Period, when he was known as Waxaklahun Ubah Kan, the War Serpent.

  Lahun Chan is Venus. For the Maya, the important celestial bodies are deities, the sun, the moon, and Venus being the most important. Venus, sometimes the Sun’s (Kinich Ahau) brother, has a plethora of named aspects. Most are malevolent and dangerous, particularly when the planet first rises as the Morning Star.

  Manik is the Maya God of Sacrifice, of Sacrificial Victims, and of Purifying Suffering.

  Mayahuel is the Goddess of the maguey (agave) plant. It was thought that the aguamiel (Spanish - literally, agua: water, and miel: honey) collecting in the center of the plant was her blood.

  Nacon is the God of War. It is also the name for a military officer.

  Naum is the god who created the human mind and consciousness.

  Nohochacyum is the creator-destroyer deity.

  Oxlahuntikú: The 13 Heavens of Yaxché. A total of 122 deities lived in Yaxché.

  Tohil (also spelt Tojil) is the patron god of the Ke’kchi Maya in the Late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica. His principal function was that of a fire deity and he was also both a Sun God and the God of Rain. He was also associated with mountains and he was a God of War, Sacrifice, and Sustenance.

  Tzitzimimeh: The leader of the Tzitzimimeh was the Goddess Itzpapalotl who was the ruler of Tamoanchan, the paradise where the Tzitzimimeh resided. Some sources state that the name Sisimita, the female gender of the Sisimito, comes from the Nahuatl word Tzitzimitl, so a Sisimita may be a Tzitzimitl. They were powerful and dangerous female deities, especially in periods of cosmic instability. They were also regarded as Gods of the Stars, protectresses of the feminine, and progenitresses of mankind.

  Tzultacah is the Ke’kchi deity who protects them from wild animals. He has taken Sisimito (Mahanamatz) into the few remaining densely jungled areas in Belize. Thus, Sisimito is rarely seen today. This deity may also be Tzuultaq’a, God of the Hill.

  Tzuultaq’a is God of the Hill. This god may also be Tzultacah, the Ke’kchi deity who protects them from wild animals.

  U K’ux Kaj, Heart of Sky, is also referred to as Huracan (Spanish), and Hunraqan (Maya) meaning ‘one legged’. He is the Ke’kchi God of Wind, Storm, Fire, and one of the creator deities who participated in all three attempts at creating humanity. He also caused the Great Flood after the second generation of humans angered the gods. He supposedly lived in the windy mists above the floodwaters and repeatedly invoked “earth” until land came up from the seas.

  Votan is a legendary ancestral deity. The name comes from Chiapas, Mexico.

  Vucub-Caquix, Seven Macaw, is described as a powerful bird pretending to be the sun and moon of the twilight world in between the former creation and the present one. This false sun-moon bird was shot out of his tree with a blowgun by Hunahpú, one of the Hero Twins, but still managed to sever the hero’s arm. Finally, however, Vucub-Caquix was deprived of his power.

  Yaluk is one of four Mopan ‘Grandfathers’ of the earth and Chief Lightning God.

  Yum Kaax, Lord of the Forest, is the God of Wild Vegetation and God of the Hunt. He is guardian of the jungle’s animals that are important to hunters. Ah Tabai is also God of the Hunt.

  DEATH GODS AND DEMON LORDS OF XIBALBA

  Baläm Nimalaj T’uyulibal: The Jaguar Throne on which Hun-Came sits.

  DEATH GODS

  Hun-Came (One Death) - Ruler of Xibalba.

  Vucub-Came (Seven Death). Second to Hun-Came.

  DEMON LORDS

  These gods had domain over various forms of human suffering: to cause sickness, starvation, fear, destitution, pain, and ultimately death. These Lords worked in pairs.

  Ahalmez (Sweepings Demon) and Ahaltocob (Stabbing Demon). They hid in unswept areas of people’s houses and stabbed them to death.

  Ahalpuh (Pus Demon) and Ahalgana (Jaundice Demon). They caused people’s bodies to swell up.

  Chamiabac (Bone Staff) and Chamiaholom (Skull Staff). They turned dead bodies into skeletons.

  Xic (Wing) and Patan (Packstrap). They caused people to die coughing up blood while walking on a road.

  Xiquiripat (Flying Scab) and Cuchumaquic (Gathered Blood). They sickened people’s blood.

  The remaining residents of Xibalba are thought to have fallen under the dominion of one of these Lords who went about the Surface World, U Wach Ulew, to carry out their listed duties.

  KRIOL, MAYA (Ke’kchi, Mopan, Yucatec), AND SPANISH WORDS

  IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

  AS USED IN THE SISIMITO SERIES;

  A’kl (Ke’kchi Maya), Cecropia peltata L. is also known as ‘trumpet tree’ (English), guaruma, warumo (Spanish), cho-otz (Mopan Maya), po-hór (Ke’kchi Maya). The dried, powdered, leaves are used by chicleros and bushmasters as a smoking tobacco.

  Áak is Maya for ‘turtle’.

  Áayin is Maya for ‘crocodile’.

  Abix is Maya for ‘corn plant’ or ‘cornfield’.

  Achalal is the Maya noun for ‘older brother’ of male parent. It may also just refer to ‘brother’ or ‘family member’. Chaq’ is the Maya noun for younger brother or sister of the same sex.

  Achaq is Maya for ‘excrement (human, animal)’ or ‘buttocks’.

  Achi’l is Maya for ‘companion, friend, regidor (assistant to mayor on council)’. Here it is used to refer to a ‘bat-man or orderly to an officer’.

  Ah-chu’uy is the Bat Falcon, Falco rufigularis, also known as Halcon Enano or E’pi’. It is a small but powerful bird of prey.

  Ah-cox is the Crested Guan: Penelope purpurascens, also known as Pava Cojolita.

  Ah-k’in is a town priest.

  Ah-k’inob: This was the priest with the responsibility of conducting public and private rituals within individual towns throughout the province. They preached and published the festival days, determined the appropriate steps in case of need, made sacrifices, and administered the acts connected to life cycle rituals.

  Ah-nakom is the name given to priests carrying out human sacrifice. Their status was relatively low.

  Ah’-cuab is Ke’kchi for ‘musician’. The Mopan word is pash.

  Ahau Can Mai is used for ‘High Priest of a Kingdom’.

  Ahau is a royal title and the highest ranking political office held at any given Maya City.

  ¡Ai yai yai! ¡Hijueputa! (Spani
sh) An interjection plus the vulgar form of ‘son-of-a-bitch’.

  Ajaw is Maya for ‘king’. It can also be used for, ‘ruler, leader, lord, boss’.

  Ajawal refers to the king of a vassal state.

  Ajawibal Xma’ K’aaba’ is Maya for ‘Kingdom With No Name’.

  Ajawinel is Maya for ‘king’. Here it refers to the king of a large independent state or kingdom. Ajawal refers to the king of a vassal state.

  Ajch’o’j is Maya for ‘soldier’. Nabe Ajch’o’j is ‘First Warrior’.

  Ajchaq’e is Maya for ‘owner, master’.

  Ajk’ay is Maya noun for ‘seller’ or ‘vendor’.

  Ajwoyotz’ is the Mopan word for the kinkajou, Potos flavus. It is also called ‘night walker’.

  Ak’, pronounced ahk’, is Maya for ‘clitoris’.

  Ala is Maya for ‘boy’.

  Alaj Chak is Maya for ‘Little Red’.

  Alaj is Maya for ‘little’.

  Alaxel is Maya for ‘prince’.

  Alcalde is Spanish for ‘Mayor’.

  Alixel is Maya for ‘princess’.

  Amate (Mopan), Ficus maxima Mill, is the Fig tree. It is also known as higuero (Spanish).

  Anäb is Ke’kchi for ‘sister of a male’.

  Aq’abil is Maya for ‘dawn’ or ‘at dawn’.

  Aqaj is Ke’kchi for ‘wasp’.

  Aquacate is Spanish for ‘avocado’.

  Atz’am is Maya for ‘salt’.

  Ba’at is Maya for ‘axe’ or ‘hatchet’. This hatchet, also used as a weapon, was a wooden ax hardened by fire and edged with flint or obsidian blades.

  Bacabs are the four gods of the cardinal points of the compass. Connected with the worship of these Bacabs were four stones, the Red (East), White (North), Black (West), and Yellow (South) acantuns or stone stela. Those stones were anointed with the blood of the worshipers.

  Bad-siknis is Kriol for ‘gonorrhea’.

  Bajibal-tuunich is Maya for ‘hammerstone’. Bajibal is a Maya noun for ‘hammer’ and tuunich for ‘stone’.

  Bakra is Kriol for ‘a white skinned person’.

  Baktun is the Maya unit for a period of 144.000 days or 400 tuns (years).

  Baläm is the general Maya word used for the ‘jaguar’ in the Sisimito Series. The scientific name is Panthera onca, but it is also known as chakmo’ol and koh. The yellow jaguar is Ek Baläm, the black jaguar is Ix Balanque, and the white jaguar is Majahuta Baläm.

  Baläm Nimalaj T’uyulibal is Maya for ‘Jaguar Throne’.

  Baläm Qajaw is Ke’kchi for ‘Jaguar God’.

  Balche’ is a milky white beverage with a sour odor and disagreeable taste. When drunk in large quantities it can produce drunkenness.

  Baluk is Maya for ‘brother-in-law of a male’.

  Banobal is Ke’kchi for ‘workshop’.

  Batab is the name given to a local chief or chieftain charged with general administration and judicial oversite. Some sources also refer to the Batab as a ‘war chief’.

  Bate‘ is Maya for ‘spear’.

  Bati is Kriol for ‘buttocks’.

  Batlaas is the Kriol name for a small blood-sucking black fly.

  Batz is Maya for the Black Howler monkey, Alouatta pigra. The animal’s main vocals consist of loud, deep guttural growls or howls.

  Becan (Ke’kchi and Mopan) is a bark candle boat made from the dry base of a cohune leaf.

  Bering grong is Kriol for ‘graveyard’.

  Beriyin is the Kriol word for ‘funeral’.

  Beya’ is Ke’kchi for ‘valley’.

  Beyxan teen is Maya for ‘Me too’.

  Bill-bird is the Belizean nickname for the toucan. Piitor is a Maya name; the Mopan also call it Pän.

  Bocatora Clapansaya and Thunder-and-Lightening Snake are the Belizean names for Spilotes pullatus mexicanus. Other names are Monkey Snake, Spotted Rat Snake, and Black and Yellow Rat Snake. The Spanish name is Culebra Mico.

  Bollos: Corn and cassava bollos are an indigenous food of the Caribbean coast of Colombia and Panama, but eaten throughout Central America. The ‘bun’ is boiled in banana leaves, or the thick waxy waha leaves, Heliconia rostrata.

  Bolouyuuk-ikilab-ixchquow-chalaam is the vine that is used to poison fish. The poisoned fish is not harmful to man.

  Bombali is Kriol for ‘good friend’.

  Bu’ul is Maya for ‘bean’.

  Bukut (Mopan) is Cassia grandis L. Other names are ‘stinking toe’ (English), carque (Spanish).

  Bui is an ancient war game played with grains of corn. There is a dice version called Haxbil-Bul. It is a game of chance.

  Bwai is Kriol for ‘boy’.

  Cahal Pech is Maya for “Place of the Ticks”.

  Calaloo (Kriol), is Amaranthus dubius Mart. Ex Thell. Other names are amaranth, pig weed (English), quelite (Spanish).

  Caldo is a clear chicken soup which may include some vegetables.

  Camazotz are bat-like monsters.

  Ch’ajch’oj Chiyul is Maya for ‘Sacred Waterfall’.

  Ch’ajch’oj Jul is Maya for ‘Sacred Cave’.

  Ch’ajch’oj Tz’ono’ot is Maya for ‘Sacred Cenote’. Tz’ono’ot is Maya for

  ‘sinkhole’ or ‘cenote’.

  Ch’aw-baq is Ke’kchi for ‘bone flute’.

  Ch’ayom-puag is Maya for ‘medallion’.

  Ch’ench’kil is Maya for ‘buttocks’.

  Ch’ich’-rech-par is Maya for the “smell of a skunk’. Par is Maya for ‘skunk’.

  Ch’o’ is Maya for ‘rat’ or ‘mouse’.

  Ch’om is the Maya name of the Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, also known as John Crow, and carronero comim.

  Ch’om-tuxe’rix is Maya for the ‘lobster claw’ plant, the common name for heliconia, Heliconia Spp.

  Ch’u’j-tz’i’ is Maya for ‘rabid dog’. Ch’u’j means ‘rabid’ and tz’i’ means ‘dog’.

  Ch’ukcua is a sweet tortilla made on special occasions and served with coffee or cocoa sweetened to taste.

  Ch’um-q’aq’ is Maya for ‘firefly’. The Kriol word is ‘peeniwali’.

  Cha-cá (Mopan) is Bursera simaruba (L) Sarg.. Other names are ‘gumbo-limbo, birch bark (English), broton, indio desnudo (Spanish).

  Chacalpec (Mopan) is Salvia coccinea Juss. Ex Murr. Other names are phosforo (Spanish), pasmo and cha-te-pec (Mopan).

  Chachalaca is the Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula. The Belizean name is Cockrico. Other names are Chachalaca Vetula, Bach or Ixbach. It gets its name from its call: cha-cha-lac! cha-cha-lac!

  Chachi’ is Ke’kchi for a specific fish. It is also known as Tuba (Kriol) and Aj-che’j in Mopan.

  Chak is Maya for ‘Red’.

  Chakik’at is Maya for ‘hurricane’.

  Chakuj tutuchci means ‘to work the stiff penis’ or ‘to have sex’.

  Chakuj tutuchci nima-q’ij is ‘Working the stiff penis holiday’.

  Chan-koxol is Maya for ‘mosquito’.

  Chaparral is a dense growth of shrubs or small trees.

  Chaq’ is Maya for ‘younger brother’ of the same sex. It may also refer to ‘younger sister’ of the same sex.

  Chaq’ab is Maya for ‘night’.

  Chay-abaj is Ke’kchi for ‘obsidian’. Some sources state chay alone for obsidian and abaj for stone or pebble.

  Chay is Maya for ‘obsidian’.

  Che-sibik is Mopan for ‘vanilla’.

  Chelas: Spanish speaking Belizeans often refer to ‘beers’ as chelas.

  Chicha is the traditional drink used when the Maya elders do a ceremony for the sun when summer begins.

  Chichiatl is Nahuatl for ‘chicha’, a traditional drink made from corn and often used when Maya elders do a ceremony for the sun when summer begins.

  Chichu’ Ajawinel is Maya for ‘queen’.

  Chicleros are men who collect chicle.

  Ch’iich’ is Maya for ‘bird’.
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  Chikoop is Maya for ‘vampire bat’.

  Chilan or Chilam is a priest that gives oracles. Mind-altering substances may have been used.

  Chio-Chio is Maya for ‘song of a bird’.

  Chirimia (sometimes chirisuya in Peru) is a Spanish term for a type of oboe. The chirimia is a member of the ‘shawm’ family of double-reed instruments, introduced to Central and South America in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by the Spanish clergy.

  Cho is Maya for ‘lake or pond’. In the Sisimito Series it refers to a water reservoir.

  Chojim-wa is Maya for ‘corn cake’.

  Chokoh is Maya for ‘warm or hot’, referring to weather.

  Cho-otz is Mopan Maya for the ‘trumpet tree’, Ceropia pelata L. It is also known as a’kl and po-hór in Ke’kchi Maya, guaramo and warumo in Spanish.

  Choq’ is Maya for ‘quartz crystal’.

  Choq’ Ja is Maya for ‘Crystal House’. Here it refers to the ‘Crystal Room’ in the Caves of Naj Tunich.

  Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit is a head priest or shaman of an entire town. There are usually two.

  Chukwa’ is Maya for ‘chocolate’. Here it is used to refer to an alcoholic drink made using the sweet cacao beans pulp mixed with peppers, special herbs, honey, and flowers. It is both inhaled and drank, is used by kings, and for special ceremonies.

  Chultun (plural: chultunob’ or chultuns): This is a bottle-shaped underground storage chamber built by the pre-Columbian Maya in southern Mesoamerica. While many were constructed to collect water, not all may have served that purpose.

  Chun is Ke’kchi for “lime or limestone’.

  Chúumuk Pa-raqa- ja is Maya for ‘center corridor’. Here it refers to the ‘Principal Passage’ in the Caves of Naj Tunich.

  Contribo (Spanish) is Aristolochia tribolata L. Other names are ‘duck flower’ (English), and flor de pato (Spanish).