The name of this deity translates roughly to "snake" in Kaqchikel, but it is clear from the K'iche' text that the lord takes the form of a bat, the animal associated with the Kaqchikel lineage that, according to the K'iche' authors of the Popol Wuj, stole fire from Tojil. Professor Alan J. Christenson (2007: 204fn567), citing Dennis Tedlock (1996: 300n196), suggests that the name of the deity may provide evidence of historic language contact among highland and lowland Maya pueblos.
Sipakna is killed when the Hero Twins trick him into being crushed by a mountain (Meawan). Christensen (page 96, note 168) suggests that a toponym associated with Sipakna still exists. "This is a long hill in the center of the Rabinal valley roughly the shape of a crocodile. It is still called Sipak and the people of Rabinal associate it with a crocodile (Akkeren 2000, 60)." Since Meawan is also near Rabinal, it is not impossible that Sipak represents Sipakna's actual body underneath the layer of stone that crushed him.
Two bird deities, Pujuyu' and Xpurpuweq, guard the floral garden of Jun Kame' and Wuqub' Kame'. Their names are also onomatopeic representations of the sounds that the birds make. Mayanist Allen J. Christenson (2007: 157n383) cites Dennis Tedlock (1996: 274n123), who interprets the names and sounds "as the call of the whippoorwill." He adds, "Interestingly enough, the Quiché version of the call is phonetically very similar to the English name for the bird as well as to its song."
Jun Kame' (One Death) is one of the principal lords of Xib'alb'a along with Wuqub' Kame' (Seven Death). Anthropologist Dennis Tedlock (1996: 251) explains that the name of Jun Kame' is a reference to the day number one and day name Kame on the K'iche' calendar. For more information, see the entry on "Jun Kame' and Wuqub' Kame'" in "temas relacionados," to the right.
Lady Blood, or Ixkik’, is the daughter of Kuchuma Kik’ (“Gathered Blood”), a Lord of Xib'alb'a. She escapes from Xib'alb'a after being impregnated by the skull of Jun Junajpu. Her encounters during her escape, and her role in the birth of the Hero Twins, Junajpu a Xb’alamq'e, portrays a powerful female figure in the Popol Wuj in face of the Lords’ desire to sacrifice her.
Xulu and Pak'am are seers or visonaries (ilol) summoned by the Hero Twins in Xib'alb'a. According to Mayanist scholar Allen J. Christenson (2007: 166n408), "The Colonial period Varea dictionary lists Xulu (Descended) as '[spirit] familiars appearing alongside rivers.' Basseta lists ah xulu as 'a diviner,' consistent with the statement in the Popol Vuh that he is a visionary seer.
Xikiripat es uno de los Rajawal Xib'alb'a (Señores de Xib'alb'a). Tìpicamente se nombra en una orden particular: después de la invocación de Jun Kame y Wuqub' Kame y antes de su par, la deidad Kuchuma Kik', quien llega a ser el padre de la diosa Ixkik', la madre de los gemelos Junajpu e Xb'alamq'e. Cabe notar que el sabio k'iche' Sam Colop (2008: 101n154) no explica el significado de su nombre, sino más bien afirma que al nombrar las deidades "es una manera de derrotar al otro.
Translators of the Popol Wuj do not agree on how to interpret the role of this aged figure, who is sometimes called "nimac" or "zaquínímac" (Ximénez 4r, 7r), for the masculine element ("el viejo"), and "nima sis" or "zaquíníma zíz" for the feminine ("la vieja"). Here we gloss two major interpretations by translators Sam Colop and Alan J. Christenson.
Wuqub' Kame' (Seven Death) is one of the principal lords of Xib'alb'a along with Jun Kame' (One Death). Anthropologist Dennis Tedlock (1996: 251) explains that the name of Wuqub' Kame' is a reference to the day number seven and day name Kame' on the K'iche' calendar. For more information, see the entry on "Jun Kame and Wuqub' Kame" in Temas Relacionados, to the right.
Nik'ajqaj Taq'aj es la deidad que recibió Iq'i B'alam cuando el cuarto fundador del pueblo K'iche' llegó de Tulán con sus compañeros B'alam Ki'tze', B'alam Aq'ab', and Majuk'utaj. Cada fundador recibe una deidad particular: Tojil es de B'alam Ki'tze, Awilix es de B'alam Aq'ab', Jaqawitz es de Maujk'tuaj y Nik'aqaj Taq'aj es de Iq'i B'alam. El lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop (2008: 142n228) indica que el nombre Nik'ajqaj Taq'aj "literalmente significa 'en medio del valle.'"