Ajpop

El lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop (2008: 186n304), citando el libro de Adrián Recinos (1953: 220) rastrea la traducción del título Ajpop como "jefe," "señor" o "rey". Los traductores anglófonos coinciden con esta interpretación, pues suelen traducir el alto oficio político como "él del petate" o "guardián del petate", ya que el petate es donde los líderes mayas se sentían en las reuniones comunitarias y la toma de decisión (Christenson 2007: n691; van Akkeren 2003).

Anthropologist Allen J. Christenson (2007: note 691) translates Aj Pop as "He of the Mat," the highest political office "within the ruling Nima Quiché lineage." He goes on to note that "The office belonged to the line founded by Co Caib, son of Balam Quitze of the Cavecs. The ancient lords of the Maya sat on mat thrones, and these became symbolic of lordship and authority itself. The mat represented the power not only of the ruler, but also of his subjects. In this sense, the interlaced reeds of the mat represented the members of the community, linked in a common purpose. Thus Ximénez translated popol as 'community.' This office might then be translated 'he of the community' or 'master of the community.' Coto lists various offices, all of which held the title of ah pop: 'constable, chief, counselor, dignitary, and lord.' None of these European titles, however, is equivalent with the Maya concept of the office. 'He of the Mat' is misleading without extensive elaboration of the meaning of 'mat.' I have chosen therefore to leave the title untranslated." Ruud van Akkeren (2003) translates the office similarly as "Keeper of the Mat," observing the political importance of mats woven by women in the decision-making process of the community.