The underworld was known as Xibalba (pronounced as she
- bal- ba). It was the place of awu and a world of magic. As we will see,
it plays an important role in the story of creation and in the ritual life
of the Maya. The portal to the underworld is the Mayan ballcourt, which
we will explore later. Another portal to the underworld was the Mayan three-legged
pot. The Maya believed the world was centered on three stones that marked
the first hearth in the costellation Orion. We will see the significance
of this hearth in the story of the Popol Vuh - one of the creation stories
of the ancient Maya. In this myth, we will also explore the significance
of the place called Xibalba.
Click the image to the right to watch a movie that
explains how the Maya saw the underworld.