72 pages 2 hours read

Anonymous

Popol Vuh

Nonfiction | Scripture | Adult | Published in 1554

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Key Figures

Heart of Sky (Huracan)

Heart of Sky, who is also known as Huracan, is a creator deity who consists of three other forms known as Thunderbolt Huracan, Youngest Thunderbolt, and Sudden Thunderbolt. In the Popol Vuh, he is the presiding creator deity in the creation of the world. Given his three forms, his powers are related to light, wind, and life, with thunder and lightning as testaments to his strength and capacity for creation. Although he is not mentioned in the initial listing of the creator deities until the end of “The Primordial World,” he is considered the leader of the creation process, providing the instructions while the other deities bring forth his ideas.

The creation of people who can adequately worship the deities is a stressful task for all of them, but much of the responsibility seems to bear on Heart of Sky. In their collective creation of the wooden effigies, the deities plead to Heart of Sky, “Bring it to conclusion, O Heart of Sky. Do not punish them further. Do not cause any more suffering for Sovereign and Quetzal Serpent” (71). This seems to imply that Heart of Sky plays a large role in the creation’s success, and that the consistent failures have tired the deities.