Ajraxa Tzel

Colop (2011: nota 6, página 202) explica así el origen conceptual de la ‘bóveda azul’: “Esto viene de que ajraxa laq, ajraxa tzel, metáfora asociada a lo plano y verde de la Tierra y de la bóveda cósmica. Laq literalmente es ‘plato’ y tzel es recipiente de forma redonda. Esto quiere decir, los guías espirituales mitológicos que ofrecen ceremonias a la Tierra y al Cielo. El color azul está asociado a la bóveda del Cielo.”

Christenson (2007: note 22, page 53) explains the connection between the "Creator of Green Earth" ("los de la superficie plana" in Spanish, and "ajraxa tzel" in K'iche'), its chiasmic counterpart, "Creator of the Blue Sky" ("los de la bóveda azul" in Spanish, and "ajaraxa laq" in K'iche') as such: "These are likely titles for Xpiyacoc and Xmucane (see p. 80; lines 565-566). They literally mean 'blue/green plate' and 'blue/green bowl.' The Quiché language has only one word, räx, for both blue and green. When distinguishing between the colors, modern Quiché people are forced to say 'räx like the sky' for blue, or 'räx like a tree' for green. This same type of dichotomy appears here. The 'blue/green plate' refers to the green surface of the earth covered with vegetation, and the arch of the sky is envisioned as an inverted 'blue bowl.' The earth is specifically likened to a plate on p. 71 (lines 205-206)."