Xibalba

This article is about the underworld in Maya mythology. For the American hardcore band, see Xibalba (band). For the cave system in Central America, see Xibalba (cave).
Vessel depicting the action of aggressive wayob and sacrificers

Xibalba (Mayan pronunciation: [ʃiɓalˈɓa]), roughly translated as "place of fright",[1] is the name of the underworld (in K'iche': Mitnal) in Maya mythology, ruled by the Maya death gods and their helpers. In 16th-century Verapaz, the entrance to Xibalba was traditionally held to be a cave in the vicinity of Cobán, Guatemala.[2] Cave systems in nearby Belize have also been referred to as the entrance to Xibalba.[3] In some Maya areas, the Milky Way is viewed as the road to Xibalba.[4][5][6]

  1. ^ Hooker, Richard. "Native American Creation Stories". Washington State University. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017.
  2. ^ Patterson, Don (2007). Journey to Xibalba : A Life in Archaeology. Albuquerque: NM: University of New Mexico Press. p. 75. ISBN 9780826342928.
  3. ^ Walker, Amélie A. (June 2000). "My Trip to Xibalba and Back". Archaeological Institute of America.
  4. ^ Mizrach, Steve. "The Mayan Sacbe System Analyzed as an Information Web". Florida International University. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017.
  5. ^ Milbrath, Susan (1999). Star Gods of the Maya: Astronomy in Art, Folklore, and Calendars (1st ed.). University of Texas Press. p. 98. ISBN 0292752253.
  6. ^ McLeod, Alexus (2016). Astronomy in the Ancient World: Early and Modern Views on Celestial Events. Historical & Cultural Astronomy. Springer. p. 29. Bibcode:2016aaw..book.....M. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-23600-1. ISBN 978-3-319-23600-1.