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This is our collection of links to Maya myths and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Native American myths section by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same legend are often told by American Indians from different tribes, especially if those tribes are kinfolk or neighbors to each other. In particular, though these legends come from the Maya tribes, the traditional stories of other Mesoamerican tribes like the Aztec and Zapotec are often similar.
Q'uq'umatz/Kukulkan
(also spelled Ququmatz, Qucumatz, Gucumatz, Kucumatz, K'uk'ulkan, K'uk'ul-chon, and other
ways): The feathered serpent god, closely related to Quetzalcoatl
of the Aztecs. He was most important to the Quiche Maya people, who considered him the
creator of humankind. Among other Mayan cultures, he was more often seen as a messenger
between gods and men, and was sometimes known as the Vision Serpent. Q'uq'umatz is the deity's
name in the K'iche Mayan language, while K'uk'ulkan is his name in the Yucatec Mayan language.
(There are many different Mayan languages and most of them are no more closely related to each
other than English and French, so names can vary widely from one Mayan group to the next.)
Chaac (also spelled Chac or Choc):
The Maya god of rain, one of the most important deities in the Mayan pantheon.
Chaac was often described as having four divine aspects
or incarnations, connected to the four cardinal directions and colored green, red, white, and black respectively.
In some Maya traditions there were also many demigods, also known as Chaacob, who served the great god
Chaac and often appeared to humans as dwarves or giants.
Itzamna: Mayan creator god
and culture hero, credited with creating the Maya people and teaching them the arts of writing and religion.
He is associated with the sun.
Ixchel: Maya goddess of childbirth
and medicine. She is associated with the moon and was said to be the wife of Itzamna in some Mayan myths.
Alux (plural Aluxo'ob
of Aluxob): These are magical little people of Yucatec and northern Guatemalan Maya folklore.
They are generally benevolent nature sprites but can be dangerous if they are not treated with the
proper respect. Pronounced ah-loosh.
Rabbit (often referred to as Uncle Rabbit
or Mayor Rabbit):
Rabbit is the most important trickster animal in Maya folktales. He is very clever and frequently outwits
other animals or people, but is also sometimes too clever for his own good and gets himself into all manner of
trouble. Like modern cartoon animals,
Rabbit often dies in Maya stories and spontaneously comes back to life.
Sisemite (also spelled Sisemité, Sisimiti, and
other ways): A shaggy, Bigfoot-like creature of the wilderness. His name, pronounced see-see-mee-tay, is a Maya
corruption of the Nahuatl word tzitzimitl, which means "diviner." Sisimite is usually described as a tall, powerful
humanoid in Mayan stories. He may abduct women, but may also cure them or grant them magical powers. Sisimite never
speaks in Maya legends, communicating only by loud howling screams.
The Myths of Mexico and Peru:Maya Myths:Maya Creation Myth 
Creation Story of the Maya:Mayan Folktales:Mayan Rabbit Stories:The Possum and the Jaguar The Jaguar and the Little Skunk: The Jaguar and the Deer:Coyote and the Hen:Gift to the Hummingbird:How The King Of Birds Was Chosen:An Illustrated Dictionary of the Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico:Popol Vuh:The Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Tales from Mexico:The Deetkatoo:
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