The Lords of Xibalba

Located below the surface of the earth, Xibalba is known as the habitation of death;  associated with the twelve powerful rulers known as the Lords of Xibalba. The Quiche name somewhat translates to "place of fright".  This story is one of many related in Popol Vuh, the sacred text of the Maya.

My childhood was spent in a vast valley in Oaxaca, Mexico.  I am well acquainted with the stories which are carried by mother's milk to the next generation of Zapotec... Mixtec... those of Mayan descent.  My hands have touched the stones... the idols... the hieroglyphics and the faces of these people.  And the story of the tribes is carried along in my frame.  

And whilst the story of Xibalba is part of the Mayan mythology,  it sounds a bit like the current Iranian saga.   

Eighty-five percent of Shi'a belong to a complex belief system, known as Ja'fari Shi'ism.  They are the "Twelver Shi'a".  The history is colorful enough, since  successive Imam were  assassinated by stabbings and poisonings.  It is a bloody tale repeated throughout the annals of man's history because power is the most blood-thirsty animal of all.

The august body of twelve begins with the fourth Caliph Ali ibn Ali Talib  and ends with the last infallible imam,  al Mahdi.  But yes - the Shi'a await al Mahdi, who is in occultation - probably nestled within the Isotope Kingdom beneath a mountain in Iran, is my best guess.

But the myth of how the Lords of Xibalba did their messaging is also curious.    

A louse carried the message. A toad swallowed the louse. A snake swallowed the toad.  And a falcon swallowed the snake.  The falcon flew to the Maya Hero Twins and vomited the snake, which vomited the toad, which vomited the louse, who announced,  "You are invited to a ball game!"   

Iran?  They use a chain of national animals too.  A message is delivered to Pakistan, which is delivered to Turkey, which is delivered to Switzerland.  Finally - the falcon gets the news.  All to find that a little louse is inviting us once again to the latest ball game! 

Monte Alban - which is perhaps a thirty minute drive from my childhood home - has a famous ball court.  Hands and feet could not be used to swish the ball through the circle.  And this really was not just a ball game, but about life and death.  Historians are hesitant to recount the brutality attached to the game.  But the local Zapotec will tell you  the crowds descended the stone steps of their bleachers to kill the losing team. It really was winner-take-all.

As for the continued messages vomited up to be delivered by a lowly louse, I have sold my season tickets to the ball game.  There is no scramble from the bleachers to annihilate the losers.  There is no winner take all.  The Lords of the Xibalba have done a fairly good job.  The louse, works just fine.