Popol Vuh

by

Dennis Tedlock

Xmucane is one of the oldest deities in Mayan theology. She's known as the grandmother and the midwife, and is sometimes referred to as "plate shaper, bowl shaper." Xmucane is the mother of One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu, and raises One Hunahpu's children, One Monkey and One Artisan. Though she's very wise, she's also exceptionally cautious: when Blood Moon arrives on Xmucane's doorstep claiming to be pregnant with twins by One Hunahpu, Xmucane refuses to believe Blood Moon's story until Blood Moon manages to pass a test and Xmucane finds evidence in corn that Blood Moon is telling the truth. Xmucane is also an essential parental figure to Hunahpu and Xbalanque, though she joins her other grandsons in neglecting them until One Monkey and One Artisan become monkeys. After this, she takes her role more seriously. When Hunahpu and Xbalanque descend to Xibalba to avenge their father and uncle, they plant corn in the middle of Xmucane's hut, which is supposed to let her know if the twins are still alive depending on whether the corn grows or dies. Later, when Sovereign Plumed Serpent approaches Xmucane about creating humans again, she personally grinds the maize with which to make them nine times.

Xmucane Quotes in Popol Vuh

The Popol Vuh quotes below are all either spoken by Xmucane or refer to Xmucane. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Origins, Customs, and the Mayan Culture Theme Icon
).
Part One Quotes

So this is why monkeys look like people: they are a sign of a previous human work, human design—mere manikins, mere woodcarvings.

Related Characters: Xmucane, Sovereign Plumed Serpent, Xpiyacoc, Hurricane
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
Part Three Quotes

But Hunahpu and Xbalanque aren't turning red with anger; rather, they just let it go, even though they know their proper place, which they see as clear as day.

Related Characters: Hunahpu, Xbalanque, Xmucane, One Monkey and One Artisan, Blood Moon
Page Number: 105
Explanation and Analysis:

"Our elder brothers will be remembered. So be it: they have lived here and they have been named; they are to be called One Monkey and One Artisan."

Related Characters: Hunahpu (speaker), Xbalanque (speaker), Xmucane, One Monkey and One Artisan
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:

And this was when their grandmother burned something, she burned copal before the ears of green corn as a memorial to them. There was happiness in their grandmother's heart the second time the corn plants sprouted. Then the ears were deified by their grandmother, and she gave them names...

Related Characters: Hunahpu, Xbalanque, Xmucane
Related Symbols: Corn
Page Number: 139
Explanation and Analysis:
Part Four Quotes

It was staples alone that made up their flesh.

Related Characters: Xmucane, Sovereign Plumed Serpent, Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Not Right Now, Dark Jaguar
Related Symbols: Corn
Page Number: 146
Explanation and Analysis:

"What should we do with them now? Their vision should at least reach nearby, they should see at least a small part of the face of the earth, but what they're saying isn't good. Aren't they merely 'works' and 'designs' in their very names? Yet they'll become as great as gods, unless they procreate, proliferate at the sowing, the dawning, unless they increase."

Related Characters: Xmucane (speaker), Sovereign Plumed Serpent (speaker), Hurricane (speaker), Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Not Right Now, Dark Jaguar
Page Number: 148
Explanation and Analysis:

They were blinded as the face of a mirror is breathed upon. Their vision flickered. Now it was only from close up that they could see what was there with any clarity.

And such was the loss of the means of understanding, along with the means of knowing everything, by the four humans.

Related Characters: Xmucane, Sovereign Plumed Serpent, Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Not Right Now, Dark Jaguar, Hurricane
Page Number: 148
Explanation and Analysis:
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Popol Vuh PDF

Xmucane Quotes in Popol Vuh

The Popol Vuh quotes below are all either spoken by Xmucane or refer to Xmucane. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Origins, Customs, and the Mayan Culture Theme Icon
).
Part One Quotes

So this is why monkeys look like people: they are a sign of a previous human work, human design—mere manikins, mere woodcarvings.

Related Characters: Xmucane, Sovereign Plumed Serpent, Xpiyacoc, Hurricane
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
Part Three Quotes

But Hunahpu and Xbalanque aren't turning red with anger; rather, they just let it go, even though they know their proper place, which they see as clear as day.

Related Characters: Hunahpu, Xbalanque, Xmucane, One Monkey and One Artisan, Blood Moon
Page Number: 105
Explanation and Analysis:

"Our elder brothers will be remembered. So be it: they have lived here and they have been named; they are to be called One Monkey and One Artisan."

Related Characters: Hunahpu (speaker), Xbalanque (speaker), Xmucane, One Monkey and One Artisan
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:

And this was when their grandmother burned something, she burned copal before the ears of green corn as a memorial to them. There was happiness in their grandmother's heart the second time the corn plants sprouted. Then the ears were deified by their grandmother, and she gave them names...

Related Characters: Hunahpu, Xbalanque, Xmucane
Related Symbols: Corn
Page Number: 139
Explanation and Analysis:
Part Four Quotes

It was staples alone that made up their flesh.

Related Characters: Xmucane, Sovereign Plumed Serpent, Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Not Right Now, Dark Jaguar
Related Symbols: Corn
Page Number: 146
Explanation and Analysis:

"What should we do with them now? Their vision should at least reach nearby, they should see at least a small part of the face of the earth, but what they're saying isn't good. Aren't they merely 'works' and 'designs' in their very names? Yet they'll become as great as gods, unless they procreate, proliferate at the sowing, the dawning, unless they increase."

Related Characters: Xmucane (speaker), Sovereign Plumed Serpent (speaker), Hurricane (speaker), Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Not Right Now, Dark Jaguar
Page Number: 148
Explanation and Analysis:

They were blinded as the face of a mirror is breathed upon. Their vision flickered. Now it was only from close up that they could see what was there with any clarity.

And such was the loss of the means of understanding, along with the means of knowing everything, by the four humans.

Related Characters: Xmucane, Sovereign Plumed Serpent, Jaguar Quitze, Jaguar Night, Not Right Now, Dark Jaguar, Hurricane
Page Number: 148
Explanation and Analysis: