Chilam Balam

Chilam (~ "prophet" ) Balam (~ 'Jaguar' ) is the parent name of a series of texts that were written between the 16th and 18th century in Yucatán in the Yucatecan Maya language. You are unrelated collections of indigenous traditions, as well as translations and adaptations of texts from the Spanish and Christian tradition. The books consist in a considerable part of chronological and prophetic sections. They therefore form an important source about the culture and history of the Maya.

The best known Chilam Balam books, the former named after their places of origin or storage, are those of:

  • Chan Cah ( 128 pages), preserved in the library of the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.
  • Chumayel (107 pages), preserved in the Princeton University Library, Princeton, New Jersey. Particularly important are the prophecies and chronicles.
  • Ixil (88 pages ), preserved in the library of the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City. The book contains many texts on medical issues.
  • Kaua (282 pages), preserved in the Princeton University Library, Princeton, New Jersey.
  • Maní (as contained in the written copy of Juan Pío Pérez Pérez Codex ), preserved in the library of the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.
  • Nah (64 pages), preserved in the Princeton University Library, Princeton, New Jersey.
  • Tusik (58 pages), current repository unknown, there are copies and photographic reproductions.
  • Tizimín (54 pages), preserved in the library of the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.

Pictures of Chilam Balam

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