The Sovereign Plumed Serpent and Maker form the earth and attempt at making something to praise them. They unsuccessfully attempt at making trees and animals to praise them. Then they unsuccessfully make man out of mud and then wood.

At this point, the story digresses into the adventures of the twin gods Xbalanque and Hunahpu and their deeds. At first the twins bring down Seven Macaw and his sons for their "self-magnification". Seven Macaw glories in his bright and colorful appearance. The twins see evil in his boasting, and attempt to take away his glory by shooting him with a blowgun. The twins succeed in only breaking Seven Macaw's jaw. The twins then plot with doctors who then take away "the jewels and gems that had made him arrogant" (Popol Vuh 94). Twins then bring down the pride of Seven Macaw's two sons, Zipacna and Earthquake.

After defeating Seven Macaw, the twins, to avenge the death of their father, accept a challenge to a Mayan ball game and a series of trials from the gods of the underworld.

HUNAHPU AND XBALANQUE

After the adventures of Xbalanque and Hunahapu, the gods finally succeed in making man out of corn. These men are reliant upon the gods and give thanks to them. They sacrifice animals and people as a "way of giving thanks before [their] gods (Popol Vuh 181)."

MAYAN WARFARE

The tribes grow in size and eventually all the tribes decide to combine against the Quiché tribe. Through their genius, the Quiché tribe defeats all the other tribes combined. The Quiché increase in their greatness and the Popol Vuh ends by giving a genealogy of their rulers.

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FOOTNOTES

Popol Vuh the Definitive Edition of the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life and the Glories of Gods and Kings. Translated and Edited by Dennis Tedlock. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1985.