topónimo : Tinamit K'iche'

Christenson (page 59; note 7) says: "based on tinamit, a Nahua-derived word meaning 'fortified town, citadel, or fortification wall' (Campbell, 1983, 85). Although in modern Quiché, "tinamit" simply refers to a town or city, the word is used in the Popol Vuh to specify fortified centers occupied by ruling lineages (Carmack 1981, 23). Here the citadel of the Quiché people is also called Quiché, apparently referring to the heartland region of their nation. This would include the capital city, Cumarcah [Q'umarkaj], as well as its surrounding territory."

It is worth noting that the very last line of the Popol Vuh states "xere k'u ri mi xutzinik chi konojel K'iche', Sta. Cruz u b'i'" ("but therefore this was completed now all Quiché, Sta. Cruz its name.") This turn of phrase suggests that the initial "tinamit" reference may in fact refer to Santa Cruz del Quiché, the relocated site of Q'umarkaj/Utatlán, in particular. Or, it may be one of many words whose meanings change over the course of the narrative. We present multiple viewpoints so that readers may interpret the meaning in their own ways.