Key Info

- Mother and father of the earth who take four attempts in order to make humans

Brie Bio

In Maya mythology, specifically within the Popol Vuh, the Framer and the Shaper are two of the creator deities who played a crucial role in the creation of the world and humanity.

 

The story begins with a universe of stillness, silence, and water, with no life present. The Framer and the Shaper, along with other deities like Tepew and Quetzal Serpent (Gucumatz), resided in these primordial waters, described as being covered in green and blue feathers.

These deities, assisted by Heart of Sky (Hurakan), worked together to bring the earth into existence. They separated the sky from the earth by planting a sacred ceiba tree, which linked the underworld, earth, and upperworld. Plants and animals were also created at this time.

The deities desired beings who could worship and sustain them. They made several attempts to create humans, including beings made of mud and effigies of carved wood. However, these creations lacked understanding or the ability to truly worship the gods, and were eventually destroyed.

Finally, the Framer and the Shaper, along with other deities, created the first four perfect human beings from a paste of yellow and white maize (corn). These first humans, known as the mother-fathers, were initially very intelligent and able to see everything. However, the gods limited their understanding to prevent them from becoming too powerful.