Wuqub' Kaqix

Wuqub' Kaqix (Siete Guacamaya/Seven Macaw), a deity who takes the form of part human, part bird, is one of the major figures of the Popol Wuj. Anthropologist Allen J. Christenson (2007: 78n150) explains that "The scarlet macaw (Ara macao) is a large species of parrot with beautiful, bright-red plumage. Seven Macaw is portrayed as a boastful individual whose ultimate downfall is ordained by Heart of Sky because of the excessive pride he had in his glorious appearance." Anthropologist Dennis Tedlock (1996: 355-356) interprets the two meanings -- spiritual and earthly -- of the name Wuqub Kak'ix as such: "Wuqub' kaqix, a god who falsely claimed to be both the sun and moon during the era of the wooden people; husband of Chimalmat and father of Zipacna and Earthquake. In his earthly role he is a scarlet macaw (Ara macao), while his celestial role is that of the seven stars of the Big Dipper. At the request of Hurricane, Hunahpu and Xbalanque bring Seven Macaw down out of his tree, opening the way for the great rain that destroys the wooden people who worshipped Seven Macaw as the sun. In the same way, the period during which the Big Dipper is in descent or below the horizon for most of the night coincides with the hurricane season in the latitudes of Mesoamerica and the Caribbean (mid-July to mid-October)."

Sam Colop (2011: nota 47, página 209) añade que el nombre de la deidad Wuqub' Kaqix literalmente es "Siete Guacamaya, siendo el numeral 7 parte del nombre", y Kak'ix, guacamaya. "A Wuqub Kak'ix se le asocia también con la 'Osa Mayor' como está traducido en el diccionario de De León (1955: 33), lo cual coincide con el número de estrellas que integran dicha constelación y cuya luz es efectivamente tenue. Recuérdese aquí que conforme al mito k'iche', el Cielo está siendo literalmente 'sembrado' de astros por los dioses." De esta forma el texto marca el contraste entre la gente de madera, o el pueblo que cree 'que Wuqub Kak'ix era la única luz que les proveía de claridad', y la gente de maíz (Colop 2011: 209n28).