Xik

Xik and Patan are two of the deities who cause travelers to perish on their journeys: sudden death (rax kamik/muerte súbida), as the Popol Wuj calls the condition. According to Mayanist scholar Allen J. Christenson (2007: 237n671), "Aj patan (he/she of the pack strap) is a servant, or more specifically a bearer. Patan is both the pack strap worn by men around the forehead to carry loads, as well as metaphorically any task or errand. In a larger sense, the term may be used to describe someone who is subsidiary such as a vassal or tribute payer." Christenson does not break Xik down etymologically, but he translates the deity's name as "Lord Ring" (Aj Xik') in his literal poetic translation (2003: line 1873). Christenson adds a glottal marker at the end of Xik', whereas Sam Colop (2008, below), does not. Ximénez only writes the name as "xic," using the Spanish "c" to represent both "k" and "k,'" as the sounds are written today.

Las deidades Xik y Patan causan la muerte de los viajadores, lo que el Popol Wuj llama una muerte súbida (rax kamik). Según apunta el lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop (2008: 64n84), xik, lo que Ximénez escribe como "xic," quiere decir "gavilán" y "mecapal." Añade, "La palabra patan también puede significar 'oficio' o 'mecapal.' El texto k'iche' sugiere aquí el segundo significado, no sólo porque el mecapal oprime la frente de quien lleva una carga, sino porque en el mismo texto existe un paralelismo entre patan como 'mecapal' y kitelela'on derivado de telej 'cargar.'"