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Xibalba

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The Underworld of the Mayans

Xibalba translates as "place of fear". This is the Mayan underworld, populated by spirits of the dead or a race of humanoid beings who worship death. According to the Maya mythological narrative, the Popol Vuh, this place is ruled by twelve Lords whose domains are all forms of mortal suffering, including disease, pain, starvation, fear, loss, and last but not least, death itself.

The entrance to Xibalba is through a watery cave. Traditionally this is believed to be somewhere near either Cobán in Guatemala or one of the many cave systems in Belize. The native Quiché people saw this doorway as the dark spot in the Milky Way.

Recently archaeologists discovered a place they think may be the ancient Xibalba.


The Mayan Underworld is a huge, complex city made up of houses in which people are tested, homes of the Lords, lavish gardens and even a ballcourt. It is a maze of challenges and tricks. On the road to Xibalba, there are rivers of scorpions, blood and pus to navigate and then a crossroads that offers bewildering choices. If these obstacles are successfully met, the Lords amuse themselves by humiliating and torturing the travelers before they pass along to further terrors and tests in at least six different "houses", each one designed either to kill or induce great suffering. It is not known if anyone actually passes all the tests or if all who enter Xibalba are doomed to wander forever in the underworld.

The Popol Vuh tells that the death-gods of Xibalba was once worshipped by humans. Human sacrifices appeased them. Generations later, these Lords are tricked into accepting fake sacrifices by a pair of Maya Hero Twins. After that, the offerings gradually diminish completely. This legend of the fall of Xibalba is likely to be a story made up by the Quicheans to demonize the earlier Mayan beliefs and discourage the practice of human sacrifice while allowing the legend of Xibalba to continue.

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Builders:
Moonbeam MorningStar, text
Topiltzin Tupac, design
Bryce Yupanqui, masthead

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