J. ERIC S. THOMPSON MAYA CREATION MYTHS STUDIOS DE CULTURAL MAYA
Vol. V M6xico, 1965 U. N. A. M. MAYA CREATION MYTHS By J. Eric
S. THOMPSON Assemblage of the many fragments of creation myths
recorded within the Maya area can be of value not only for the
insight they allow into pagan thought but also because of the
in- formation they can supply on relations both between Maya
highlands and lowlands and also between each of those areas and
other parts of Mexico. The material is widely scattered and in
some cases difficult of access, and clearly what has been
recovered represents but a small fragment of the lore on the
subject current in Middle American when Cort6s stepped ashore on
Good Friday of 1519. Chance has largely decided what should or
should not be preserved. It is a sad thought that perhaps only
one European was sufficiently interested to collect and set down
in detail such legends as the lowland Maya told their families
in their homes or recited to strangers around the campfires of
some group of itine