Image: The Katun Wheel from the Chilam Balam of Chumayel
Chapter XVIII A Series of Katun Prophecies
Katun 4 Ahau
The katun is established at Uuc-yab-nal in Katun 4 Ahau. At the mouth of the well, Uuc-yab-nal, it is established ... It shall dawn in the south. The face of <the lord of the katun> is covered; his face is dead. There is mourning for water; there is mourning for bread. His mat and his throne shall face the west. Blood-vomit is the charge <of the katun>. At that time his loin-cloth and his mantle shall be white. Unattainable shall be the bread of the katun. The quetzal shall come; the green bird shall come. The kax tree shall come; the bird shall come. The tapir shall come. The tribute shall be hidden at the mouth of the well.
Katun 2 Ahau
The katun is established at Maylu, Zaci, Mayapan in Katun 2 Ahau. The katun <stone> is on its own base. The rope shall descend; the poison of the serpent shall descend, pestilence <and> three piles of skulls. The men are of little use. Then the burden was bound on Buluc-chabtan. <Then there came up> a dry wind. The ramon is the bread of <Katun> 2 Ahau. It shall be half famine and half abundance. This is the charge of Katun 2 Ahau.
Katun 13 Ahau
The Katun is established at Kinchil Coba, Maya Cuzamil, in Katun 13 Ahau. Itzamna, Itzam-tzab, is his face during its reign. The ramon shall be eaten. Three years shall be locust years, ten generations <of locusts>. The fan shall be displayed; the bouquet shall be displayed, borne by Yaxaal Chac in the heavens. Unattainable is the bread of the katun in 13 Ahau. The sun shall be eclipsed. Double is the charge of the katun: men without offspring, chiefs without successors. For five days the sun shall be eclipsed, then it shall be seen <again>. This is the charge of Katun 13 Ahau.
Chapter XXII A Book of Katun Prophecies
Katun 4 Ahau
Katun 4 Ahau is the eleventh katun according to the count. The katun is established at Chichen Itzá. The settlement of the Itzá shall take place <there>. The quetzal shall come, the green bird shall come. Ah Kantenal shall come. Blood-vomit shall come. Kukulcan shall come with them for the second time. <It is> the word of God. The Itzá shall come.
Katun 2 Ahau
Katun 2 Ahau is the twelfth katun. At Maya [uaz] Cuzamil the katun is established. For half <the katun> there will be bread; for half <the katun> there will be water. <It is> the word of God. For half of it there will be a temple for the rulers. <It is> the end of the word of God.
Katun 13 Ahau
The judgment.
It is Katun 13 Ahau according to the count. The katun is established at Kinchil Coba, the thirteenth katun. The bouquet of the rulers of the world shall be displayed. There is the universal judgment of our Lord God. Blood shall descend from the tree and stone. Heaven and earth shall burn. It is the word of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is the holy judgment, the holy judgment of our Lord God. There shall be no strength in heaven and earth. Great cities shall enter into Christianity, any settlements of people whatever, the great towns, whatever their names are as well as the little towns, all over our land of Maya Cuzamil Mayapan. <It shall be> for our two-day men, because of lewdness . . . the sons of malevolence. At the end of our blindness and shame our sons shall be regenerated from carnal sin. There is no lucky day for us. It is the cause of death from bad blood, when the moon rises, when the moon sets, the entire moon, <this was> its power; <it was> all blood. So it was with the good planets <which were> looked upon as good. It is the end of the word of God. The waters of baptism shall come over them, the Holy Spirit. They receive the holy oil without compulsion; it comes from God. There are too many Christians who go to those who deny the holy faith, . . . <to> the Itzá and the balams. There is then an end to our losing...
Chapter XXIV Prophecies of a New Religion
Katun 4 Ahau
The prophecy of Nahau Pech the great priest. At that time when the sun shall stand high <in the heavens>, lord, when the ruler has had compassion, in the fourth katun it shall come to pass, the tidings of God are truly brought. They ask perchance what I recommend, lord. You see your guests upon the road, oh Itzá! It is the fathers of the land who will arrive. <This prophecy> comes from the mouth of Nahau Pech, the priest in the time of Katun 4 Ahau at the end of the
katun, lord. The food of the ant<-like> men shall be destroyed. They shall be at the end of their food <-supply> because of the boboch <which takes their> food, the great hawk <which takes their> food, the ant, the cowbird, the grackle, the blackbird, the mouse.
Katun 13 Ahau
The prophecy of Chilam Balam, the singer, of Cabal-chen, Mani. On <the day> 13 Ahau the katun will end in the time of the Itzá, in the time of Tancah <Mayapan>, lord. There is the sign of Hunab-ku on high. The raised wooden standard shall come. It shall be displayed to the world, that the world may be enlightened, lord.
There has been a
