Mayan Story of Creation

I'm interested in a lot of Native American cultures. I don't know why. I think my Dad was always into Cherokees, Mohawks, Lakota, Iroquois and Apaches... actually, pretty much all American Indians. I really like them, especially how they lived in such harmony with the Earth, never taking more than they need, only fighting for honour. That idea of honour is also why I like ancient Japan, but I digress. I've always liked the American Indians, probably the Inuits the most, but I am also interested in the southern cultures like the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans. This interest has inspired me to look into their myths and legends - hence this post. I hope I get it right.

The Mayans believed that there were four gods - a yellow god, a red god, a black god, and a colourless god. They sat in heaven observing the world.

One day, the yellow god suggested that they make a man, someone who could praise the gods, and enjoy the world. The other gods agreed so the yellow god took a lump of yellow clay and sculpted a man. This man was a failure. He could not stand by himself, and when the yellow god placed him in water, he dissolved.

The red god suggested making a man from wood. He carved a man from a branch, and this man seemed a success; he could stand strong, and he floated in water. But then the red god realised that the wooden man burned in fire.

The black god then suggested making a man from gold. This gold man was beautiful - he shone like the sun and reflected the gods' image. This gold man survived the tests of water and fire, and seemed to look more beautiful after these trials. But when the black god touched the gold man, he was cold. He was unable to speak, move, or feel. And he was therefore unable to worship the gods. The gods decided to leave the gold man on the Earth, as he was still beautiful to behold.

The colourless god came forward, and decided to create man from his own flesh. He cut the fingers off his left hand and let them fall to the Earth, where they seemed like ants to the gods.

These fingers became men of flesh, who could speak, and move, and feel. They worshipped the gods and made offerings to them. They filled the hearts of the four gods with joy.

One day, the men of flesh found the man of gold. When they touched him, he was cold. When they spoke to him, he was silent. After some time, the kindness of the men of flesh warmed the heart of the man of gold and he came to life, offering praise and thanks to the gods for the kindness of the men of flesh.

The words of praise from the man of gold made the gods look down on the Earth in delight. They called the man of gold "rich", and the men of flesh "poor". They ordained that the rich should look after the poor, as the rich man would be judged at his death on the basis of how he cared for the poor.

From that day, no rich man could enter heaven unless he was brought there by a poor man.

I like that.

Man of Flesh Ethan..