History

The Books of Chilam Balam Author: Historias Del Mayab Publisher: Época Collection: New Talents Subject: Narrative, History Format: Paperback Pages: 231 Weight: 237 g Dimensions: 21 cm x 14 cm Code: 9789706279460 The texts that make up the Books of Chilam Balam are a very important part of indigenous American literature. They were written after the conquest, and the influence of Spanish culture is evident in them. They encompass all the cultural phases through which the Maya people of Yucatán passed, as well as providing significant accounts of their religious and mythological traditions. The mythical and prophetic writings are written in a highly symbolic language with multiple meanings, in which objects, colors, and natural beings are used metaphorically to express ideas. It is evident that this type of writing was intended not only to give the texts an esoteric character, but also to conceal their true meaning from the uninitiated. The Books of Chilam Balam are eight: Chumayel, Tizimín, Kauai, Ixil, Tekax, Nahún, and Tusik, each named after the city where it was written. The eighth is known as the Pérez Codex, a compilation of several books made by Juan Pío Pérez.