The Charm of Mexican Ancient Fables

Mexican artistic director Jorge Díaz used to have a unique selection of bedtime stories for his son, reports The Associated Press (AP).

Maya myths from Mexico include the Creation Myth in the Popol Vuh, where gods created humans from maize after failed attempts, and the Hero Twins' saga, where Hunahpu and Xbalanque defeat the lords of the underworld, Xibalba. Other stories involve the feathered serpent god Kukulkan, who was the main deity of Chichen Itza, and beliefs about lesser supernatural beings like the Way, who were spirit alter-egos.

As one of the most important pre-Spanish colonization peoples in South America, the Maya had a highly developed mythology. In Mayan mythology, the creation of the world has great similarities with the creation of the world seen by Aztec mythology. This can be explained by the geographical proximity (the 2 peoples being neighbors) but also by their origins; the Aztecs and the Maya having common ancestors.

The Maya imagined a complex pantheon of main gods like Hunab Ku or Kukulkan and secondary gods whose exact attributions we do not always manage to identify.

The many priests serving the deities were feared and venerated by the people and their influence was felt in all social classes. The Maya believed in an afterlife and depending on the actions of the deceased in his earthly life he would find himself in paradise or in the underworld after his death.

Setting aside well-known books like “Pinocchio,” they read tales closer to home. Among their favorites was the Popol Vuh, a compendium of sacred Maya myths.

“Recalling those stories is important,” said Díaz, whose grandmother told him legends from her Indigenous lineage as a child. “We have plenty of beautiful, pre-Hispanic tales. But we sometimes forget.”

The one he enjoyed with his son recounts the story of hero twins Ixbalanqué and Hunahpú.

In the Popol Vuh, the brothers embark on a perilous journey to the Maya underworld. There, they outwit death, confront its lords and ultimately rise transformed.

The myth inspired Díaz’s adaptation, “Mortal Leap into Xib’alb’a.” Blending circus arts with theater, the piece employs acrobatics and ritual to reimagine the ancestral story on stage.

“We sought to give the piece its own identity through circus, but I didn’t want the work to rely only on tricks or spectacle,” Díaz said. “The idea was for the techniques to blend with the story and the characters, creating atmospheres rather than just showcasing skills.”

The show has returned to the stage periodically since its debut in 2023. New performances were held in Mexico City in late November.

The troupe behind “Mortal Leap into Xib’alb’a” was founded 20 years ago by Díaz and fellow artist Jessica González. Initially a theater company, “Tránsito Cinco” evolved into a group devoted to circus arts.

“Fresh out of university, we searched for tools that would allow us to grow as actors,” said González, who also performs as a narrator in the Maya myth piece. “We wanted to find something that could connect theater with dance and the circus became a meeting place.”

Their current repertoire includes 16 productions. There’s not a shared theme among them. Yet Díaz and González aim to create pieces with a clear narrative thread.


Rifat Rafique Badhan is a
freelancer and a columnist.