Gucumatz

K’iche’ creator Qucumatz, associated with primordial waters in the Popol Vuh. Distinct from the later ruler Cucumatz.

Names and tradition associations

• Quetzalcoatl Aztec/Mexica · resolvedChristenson, Popol Vuh (2007 electronic edition), pp. 50–51 note 20: Qucumatz and Quetzalcoatl comparison (secondary)
• Cucumatz (ruler) Maya · resolvedPopol Vuh, The Glory of the Lords of Cumarcah, Christenson 2007, pp. 256–257; creator/ruler distinction: p. 250 note 733 (primary)
• Q'uq'umatz Maya · same recordPopol Vuh, opening creation, Christenson 2007 electronic edition, pp. 55–59 (primary)
• Nacxit (Popol Vuh lord) Maya · resolvedPopol Vuh, The Sons Receive Authority to Rule, Christenson 2007 electronic edition, pp. 240–243 and note 688 (primary)
• Gagavitz (Annals transformation) Maya · resolvedAnnals of the Cakchiquels, Brinton 1885 translation, sections 38, 43, 46–59 (primary)

Variant accounts

• creator-ruler-distinctionThe eagle, jaguar and blood-pool transformations belong to Lord Cucumatz in the dynastic narrative, not automatically to the creator.Popol Vuh, The Glory of the Lords of Cumarcah, Christenson 2007, pp. 256–257; creator/ruler distinction: p. 250 note 733 (primary)
• source review correctionThe eagle, jaguar and pooled-blood transformations are assigned to the later ruler Cucumatz, distinguished from creator Qucumatz by Christenson note 733.Popol Vuh, opening creation, Christenson 2007 electronic edition, pp. 55–59 (primary); Popol Vuh, The Glory of the Lords of Cumarcah, Christenson 2007, pp. 256–257; creator/ruler distinction: p. 250 note 733 (primary)

Domains

• creation
• water and wind

Powers

• Bring forth land and life from the primordial sea

Epithets

• Alom, Kʼajolom kiche · epithetBearer (mother) and Begetter (father) — the creator-couple title shared by Tepeu and GucumatzPopol Vuh, creation account (A. J. Christenson trans. 2007; D. Tedlock trans. 1985) (primary)
• Tepew Qʼuqʼumatz latin · Tepew Q'uq'umatz · literarySovereign Plumed Serpent; the feathered-serpent creator in the primordial seaPopol Vuh (Christenson trans.) (primary)
• Q'uq'umatz K'iche' · Q'uq'umatz · epicQuetzal SerpentPopol Vuh (trans. Allen J. Christenson) (primary)

Relations

• ally: HuracanReciprocal of maya_huracan.ally — Heart of Sky came to Plumed Serpent in the primordial dark; their joint counsel raised the earth and planned mankind.Popol Vuh, trans. D. Tedlock (1996), Part 1 (primary)
• companion: TepeuReciprocal of maya_tepeu.companion — Sovereign and Plumed Serpent, the paired makers-modelers who frame creation in the Popol Vuh.Popol Vuh, trans. D. Tedlock (1996), Part 1 (primary)
• scholarly comparison: QuetzalcoatlChristenson note 20 compares names and feathered-serpent concepts; the K’iche’ creator retains its own narrative and family evidence.Dennis Tedlock, Popol Vuh: The Definitive Edition (1996), glossary s.v. 'Plumed Serpent' (secondary); Allen Christenson, Popol Vuh: The Sacred Book of the Maya (2003), notes on Q'uq'umatz (secondary); Christenson, Popol Vuh (2007 electronic edition), pp. 50–51 note 20: Qucumatz and Quetzalcoatl comparison (secondary)
• distinct from: Cucumatz (K’iche’ ruler)Similarly named ruler and creator remain separate records.Popol Vuh, The Glory of the Lords of Cumarcah, Christenson 2007, pp. 256–257; creator/ruler distinction: p. 250 note 733 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Popol Vuh, Part I (primary)
• K’iche’ creator Qucumatz, associated with primordial waters in the Popol Vuh. Distinct from the later ruler Cucumatz.: Popol Vuh, opening creation, Christenson 2007 electronic edition, pp. 55–59 (primary)