If you believe the stories of the old people, then all this happened even before the famous steles with inscriptions appeared in Vashaktun, Quirigua, Palenque and Tikal.
Slowly moving south, the tribes looked for fertile lands with a warm climate. Left behind were the flooded shores of Xicalanco during the tides and the stuffy jungle of the lower reaches of the great Usumacinta River.
But finally, new lands opened up to the eyes of tired people. They were miraculously beautiful. The forests were full of game, and the reservoirs were full of fish. Everything around promised a happy life. I really wanted to stop here and start enjoying life.
But that was not the case: the stern gods ordered the priests to move further south.
And then blue mountains appeared in the dissipating distance of the horizon. It was volcanoes! Volcanoes bequeathed to the Indians by the gods!
But the joy that gripped everyone soon gave way to despondency: hunger set in, many began to succumb to fatigue and illness.
I had to seek advice from the gods Huracan, Kukulha, Managuac, Hunahpu, Tepeu, Gugkumatsu, Koho-lom, Ishpiakok and Ishmukana. But the gods never appeared, did not indicate where to go, and therefore people were forced to continue their difficult path.
But in the town of Pashil, the Great Grandmother and Great Grandfather - Ishmukan and Ishpiakok were already clearing the land for arable land. They had already put the cherished seven particles into a bag, from which a new plant was to be born in eight days. These seven particles were: a piece of gold - it contains color and richness; a drop of milk from the deer Kekh - so that the core of the future grain comes out; hawk claw Chic - to betray the ability to move; a drop of puma Koch's blood - to give strength; raccoon vertebra - to make the plant hardy, since raccoons live in any climate; the tip of a feather from an Indian headdress - to invest life force; finally, a piece of green jade - to give this grain the breath of eternity.
All this was wrapped by the great ancestors in snake skin to impart to the grain the property of being reborn every year. They knelt down and lowered it all into a pre-dug hole.
...And then the moment came when the wet ground parted, giving way to a small spear-shaped leaf. A drop of water fell from a distant cloud onto a small sprout. Thus maize was born!
Its green arrow quickly stretched upward, and at the right moment its sharp tip opened. And now two heavy cobs are swaying on the stem - almost like a satisfied mother with twins in her arms.
Wanting to convey the great news to everyone, the wise Ishpiakok sent four animals as messengers: the forest cat Yak, the coyote Utiha, the parrot Kel and the kite Khokh. All tribes coming towards them were to be given maize grains, which would henceforth become their main food. The legs, arms and heads of new people will be made from these same grains.
Meanwhile, Great Grandmother Ixmukane ground all the maize and prepared the mixture according to a magical recipe. Then the Great Grandfather took the mass into his own hands and began to sculpt from it the bodies of four demigods - Balam Akaba, Balam Kiche, Mahu Kutaha and Iki Balama, who became the founders of the Quiche tribe.
Having finished his work, the Great Grandfather sat the sculpted people in a row in the shade of a red-leaved tree and, inhaling the vitality of the day, sent divine breath into their faces - thereby reviving them.
Thus, the legend says, one morning immemorial the beautiful corn plant was created.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru