CHAPTER IV.

THE HERO-GODS OF THE MAYAS.

Civilization of the Mayas—­Whence it Originated—­Duplicate Traditions

Sec.1. The Culture Hero Itzamna.

Itzamna as Ruler, Priest and Teacher—­As Chief God and Creator of the World—­Las Casas’ Supposed Christ Myth—­The Four Bacabs—­Itzamna as Lord of the Winds and Rains—­The Symbol of the Cross—­As Lord of the Light and Day—­Derivation of his Various Names.

Sec.2. The Culture Hero Kukulcan.

Kukulcan as Connected with the Calendar—­Meaning of the Name—­The Myth of the Four Brothers—­Kukulcan’s Happy Rule and Miraculous Disappearance—­Relation to Quetzalcoatl—­Aztec and Maya Mythology—­Kukulcan a Maya Divinity—­The Expected Return of the Hero-god—­The Maya Prophecies—­Their Explanation.

CHAPTER V.

THE QQICHUA HERO-GOD VIRACOCHA.

Viracocha as the First Cause—­His name Illa Ticci—­Qquichua Prayers—­Other Names and Titles of Viracocha—­His Worship a True Monotheism—­The Myth of the Four Brothers—­Myth of the Twin Brothers.

Viracocha as Tunapa, He who Perfects—­Various Incidents in His Life—­Relation to Manco Capac—­He Disappears in the West.

Viracocha Rises from Lake Titicaca and Journeys to the West—­Derivation of His Name—­He was Represented as White and Bearded—­The Myth of Con and Pachacamac—­Contice Viracocha—­Prophecies of the Peruvian Seers The White Men Called Viracochas—­Similarities to Aztec Myths.

CHAPTER VI.

THE EXTENSION AND INFLUENCE OP THE TYPICAL HERO-MYTH.

The Typical Myth found in many parts of the Continent—­Difficulties in Tracing it—­Religious Evolution in America Similar to that in the Old World—­Failure of Christianity in the Red Race.

The Culture Myth of the Tarascos of Mechoacan—­That of the Kiches of Guatemala.—­The Votan Myth of the Tzendals of Chiapas—­A Fragment of a Mixe Myth—­The Hero-God of the Muyscas of New Granada—­Of the Tupi-Guaranay Stem of Paraguay and Brazil—­Myths of the Dene of British America.

Sun Worship in America—­Germs of Progress in American Religions—­Relation of Religion and Morality—­The Light-God A Moral and Beneficent Creation—­His Worship was Elevating—­Moral Condition of Native Societies before the Conquest—­Progress in the Definition of the Idea of God in Peru, Mexico and Yucatan—­Erroneous Statements about the Morals of the Natives—­Evolution of their Ethical Principles.

INDEX.

AMERICAN HERO-MYTHS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

SOME KIND OF RELIGION FOUND AMONG ALL MEN—­CLASSIFICATIONS OF
RELIGIONS—­THE PURPOSE OF RELIGIONS—­RELIGIONS OF RITE AND OF CREED—­THE
MYTH GROWS IN THE FIRST OF THESE—­INTENT AND MEANING OF THE MYTH.