Popol Vuh. The Book of the K'iche' People

“Popol Vuh” is one of the most significant literary works of the ancient Maya culture. It is a sacred book of the K'iche' people that includes myths, legends, and historical chronicles passed down from generation to generation for centuries. It describes the Maya cosmology, the history of the creation of the world, the origin of gods and humans, as well as mythological tales about ancient heroes and their feats. The edition is complemented by another literary monument of pre-Columbian America, “Rabinal Achi,” a dramatic text that gives insight into the living theater of the Maya peoples, where important themes of power, honor, and fate were revealed through performance. The book has been translated into Russian by R. V. Kinzhalov, an historian, ethnographer, and specialist in the culture of ancient tribes of America and the East.