Then there were the Men of Mud

Let us come together, and try again,” said the gods. “This time let us create creatures that will venerate us, praise us, and adore us. Let them be beings that are obedient, and respectful. Let them invoke our names here on earth!” Instantly, the gods created the Men of Mud. But the gods were not happy with them because they had no strength and could not move well. Their faces fell to one side, and their sight was blurred. They could not speak and had no minds. When it rained they quickly dissolved and fell apart. They could not multiply, nor could they revere the gods. The gods quickly destroyed them and said “Let us try again. Let us create a being that can worship us and adore us. Let it be done now!

Then there were the Men of Wood

After the disappointing creation of the Men of Mud, Huracan, Tepeu/Gucumatz, as well as Xpiyacoc (Double Grandfather) and Xmucane (Double Grandmother), gathered to create the next generation of men, the Men of Wood. “Come master of emeralds, the worker of jewels, carver of amber, and silver. Throw your grains of corn and red bean. Make your magic!” And instantly the Men of Wood were made. But like the Men of Mud, they were equally flawed. They had no expression, no blood, no substance, no mind, and could not pay tribute to the gods. Immediately they were destroyed, shattered to pieces, and killed.

Then there were the Men of Red Bean or Tzite

Again, the gods convened and with their sorcery created a third generation of men, Men of Red Bean or Tzite. And like the previous generations of men, they could not speak with their Creator, nor could they think, as they had no mind. The gods were not happy so they made a heavy black resin fall from the sky and called Camazotz, the Bat of Death, to cut off their heads, and break and crumble their bones. All this because they had not revered their mother, their father, nor the Heart of Heaven, Huracan. This was their punishment. 

The Men of Red Bean or Tzite, and Men of Wood are Destroyed

The gods were not happy with neither the men made of mud, nor with the men of wood, nor with the men of red bean. They had no brains, no minds, to give respect to the gods. So, the gods sent pots and pans, and small dogs to tear them to pieces. With anger and vengeance, the dogs said: “You hit us, and ate us. Now we will kill you. This is what you deserve for not venerating the gods, for not saying their names! And this is what you get for abusing us, for hitting us with sticks and stones, for not giving us water or food! We will tear you apart with our sharp teeth. We will burn you with hot pans and pots. We will make you howl and cry! We will make you say ay, yai, yai, yaiiii! This is what you deserve!”

The Men of Red Bean or Tzite, and the Men of Wood are Turned into Monkeys

After having been beaten by the pots and pans, and bitten by the small dogs, the Men of Red Bean and Men of Wood were turned into monkeys. They wailed, “This is our lot for not revering and respecting the gods. We will live as monkeys forever.” Into the forests and jungles they fled where they live today, the direct descendants of Men of Red Bean and Men of Wood. 

Then there was Vucub Caquix!

There was still no moon, sun, nor stars. There was only darkness. The gods had not yet created the heavens nor the celestial bodies that inhabit them. So it was truly magical, as if crafted from sorcery, that a creature named Vucub Caquix or Seven Macaw was created. He proclaimed to all, “Because there is no moon, no sun, no stars above, I will shine with blinding light. Legions of men, millions, will follow me. I will shimmer and sparkle for my eyes are made of diamonds and my teeth of pearl. I am dripping with rare jade, and I will make you lust for material things far beyond your means. You will leave your family for me and become vain just like me. For I am the moon, the sun, and the stars above! I am Vucub Caquix!”