In a once-in-a-lifetime discovery, anthropologist Robert M. Carmack in 1973 found the K'iche' manuscript Chonay had used for his 1834 translation in a strong box maintained by the Yax family in Totonicapan. Carmack and James L. Mondloch authored a scholarly edition of the work in K'iche' and Spanish that was published by UNAM in 1983.
Titulo de Totonicapan 1983 Edition |
- El Titulo de Totonicapan, translated by Robert M. Carmack & James L. Mondloch, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, 1983
- Popol Vuh, translated by Dennis Tedlock, Simon & Schuster, 1985, 1996
- Rabinal Achi, translated by Dennis Tedlock, Oxford University Press, 2003
- Kaqchikel Chronicles, translated by Judith M. Maxwell & Robert M. Hill II, University of Texas Press, 2006
- Popol Vuh, translated by Allen J. Christenson, University of Oklahoma Press, 2007
These four post-classic Quichean documents share many names, places, ideas, and narrative motifs. Their content is corroborated by artwork from many Mesoamerican sites. They also have a great deal in common with the pre-classic and early classic Mesoamerican codex called the Book of Mormon. That should not surprise us since the best current Book of Mormon scholarship places the land of Nephi in what would later become Kaqchikel, Quiche, and Rabinal territory in highland Guatemala. Furthermore, the Book of Mormon explicitly says the Lamanites kept records Mosiah 24:6, Helaman 3:15.The blog article "Kaqchikel Chronicles" analyzes 117 correspondences between that text and the Book of Mormon. The blog article "Rabinal Achi" analyzes an additional 91 correspondences between that text and the Book of Mormon, in addition to corroborating 20 of the Kaqchikel parallels. One additional important correspondence (#209) is documented in the blog article entitled "Quichean Directionality." The blog article "Quichean Distance Measurement" expands on correspondences previously identified. A correspondence with the letter "k" means it is found in Kaqchikel Chronicles, while "r" means Rabinal Achi and "t" refers to Titulo de Totonicapan.
1 k r t. Titulo de Totonicapan was written in K'iche' using Latin script, then translated into Spanish (1834), French (1885) and English (1953) (pp.; 9-10).
3 k t. Titulo de Totonicapan focuses on the Cawek lineage (p. 12). Other lineages had their own records (p. 261).
7 k t. Titulo mentions chic'wal abaj meaning precious stones that were part of Quiche regalia brought from the east (pp. 220, 236). They have been interpreted as crystals, diamonds, or emeralds.
23 k r t. The Title has many instances of semantic parallelism (p. 31).
28 k r t. The authors of Titulo enjoined their posterity to remember their linage history (p. 187).
34 k r t. The Quiche god K'ucumats was a plumed serpent (p. 232).
38 k t. The Quiche recognized seven founding clans (p. 234)
39 k t. The post-contact Quiche self-identified as descendants of Israel (pp. 172-173. 176).
43 k r t. The Quiche surrounded their settlements with defensive walls (pp. 187, 236).
44 k t. The Quiche thought they had originally come from across the ocean (p. 173).
47 k t. The Quiche brought writings with them from Tulan (p. 213).
48 k r t. Titulo uses the term "elder and younger brothers" to refer to other peoples (p. 198).
63 k t. The K'iche' term for cotton body armor was Xak' pot (p. 216).
65 k r t. Titulo de Totonicapan mentions slavery (p. 187).
68 k r t. The Title begins many sentences with the words "In truth" or "Certainly" (pp. 176, 212).
92 k t. The Title mentions multiple thrones in the Quiche capital (p. 17).
100 k r t. Honey was a valued commodity among the Quiche (p. 191).
111 k t. The Quiche used traps to hunt animals (p. 236).
114 k, t. Among the Quiche, benches and chairs were symbols of power and authority (p. 197)
123 r t. The Quiche used the phrase "heaven, earth" to invoke deity (p. 190).
135 r t. Titulo de Totonicapan documents spying prior to military conquest (p. 188).
137 r t. Military personnel underwent a nose piercing ceremony with an object inserted that granted them authority (pp. 17, 196).
139 r t. The Title issues the injunctive "Listen" to its readers (p. 171).
149 r t. The Quiche revered a deity they called "four corners and four sides" (p. 233).
185 r t. Quiche lords fasted for the benefit of their constituents (p. 228).
186 r t. Titulo de Totonicapan almost certainly originated as a glyphic text (p. 213).
191 r t. Titulo speaks of hunger and famine (p. 235).
201 r t. Titulo de Totonicapan documents burnt offerings as devotional acts among the Quiche (p. 191).
--
210 t. When Chonay translated Titulo de Totonicapan from K'iche' into Spanish in 1834, he omitted the first seven folios because they followed the Bible so closely. We now know the author(s) of the 1554 Totonicapan document were copying freely from Domingo de Vico's 1553 Theologia Indorum written in K'iche' as a Dominican missionary tract (p. 13). Vico's book included translations of biblical passages and Catholic traditions such as stories of Santa Ana and San Joaquin (parents of the Virgin Mary). The Book of Mormon also has many significant intertextual dependencies with both the Old and New Testaments. See the blog article entitled "English in the Book of Mormon" for notes from a March, 2015 conference at BYU that explored some of the quotations, allusions and echoes shared between the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
211 t. Titulo de Totonicapan is the most important of a group of at least seven works written in K'iche' using Latin script in the colonial era in and around Totonicapan. Others include:
212 t. The last page of the Titulo de Totonicapan contains a number of signatures (p. 12). Mormon signed his name at the end of the small plates of Nephi Words of Mormon 1:1. Moroni2 signed his name at the end of the plates of Mormon Moroni 10:1.
213 t. Old Testament stories reproduced in the first seven folios of the Title end with the Babylonian captivity (p. 10). The brass plates of Laban included Old Testament writings up to the time immediately preceding the exile. The Babylonian captivity was a matter of prophecy among the Nephites 1 Nephi 7:13, 2 Nephi 1:4, 2 Nephi 25:10 until Mosiah1 discovered the Mulekites and it became part of the historical record Omni 1:15, Helaman 8:21.
214 t. The Title is a compound document redacted from multiple sources (p. 13). Ditto the Book of Mormon Words of Mormon 1:3, Mormon 2:17-18, Ether 1:2.
215 t. In their use of the biblical materials from Theologia Indorum, the Quiche authors of Titulo de Totonicapan quoted some passages outright, paraphrased others, and changed others to conform to their native cultural traditions (p. 13). The Book of Mormon quotes many biblical passages outright such as the Isaiah chapters and paraphrases others such as Nephi's glosses on Isaiah in 1 Nephi 22 and 2 Nephi 25. The Book of Mormon also describes a process of interpreting biblical passages in light of readers' or hearers' cultural traditions. The Book of Mormon term for this cultural accommodation is "liken" 1 Nephi 19:23, 2 Nephi 11:2, 8.
216 t. The Title was written by multiple authors, one of whom was a Quiche prince baptized Diego Reynoso (p. 15). Book of Mormon authors included Nephi1 1 Nephi 1:1, Zeniff Mosiah 9:1, Mormon Words of Mormon 1:9, and Moroni2 Mormon 8:1.
217 t. The authors of the Titulo de Totonicapan as well as the authors of almost all other Quiche titles placed particular importance on the biblical account of the exodus and Israel's 40 year sojourn in the desert (p. 20). The exodus motif is so important in the Book of Mormon that several monographs have been written describing it. See George S. Tate, "The Typology of the Exodus Pattern in the Book of Mormon" in Literature of Belief: Sacred Scripture and Religious Experience, Neal E. Lambert editor, (Provo: Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1981). See also S. Kent Brown, "The Exodus Pattern in the Book of Mormon" in BYU Studies 30:3 (Summer, 1990). See also Bruce J. Boehm, "Wanderers in the Promised Land: A Study of the Exodus Motif in the Book of Mormon and Holy Bible" in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 3/1 (1994).
218 t. Another biblical theme very important to Quiche writers was the genealogical descent from Adam to Jacob (p. 20). Lehi, too, placed high importance on Adam, Jacob and genealogy 1 Nephi
5:11-14.
219 t. Achij, the Quiche military, participated in colonization programs in provinces of the kingdom (pp. 21, 198, 226). We see this pattern in the Book of Mormon as well. The military and settlers worked together to colonize new territory Alma 27:22-24, Alma 50:7-9.
220 t. Tohil, patron god of the Quiche, was conceived as anthropomorphic with a body, hands and vital organs (p. 22). The God of the Book of Mormon is also a corporeal being 3 Nephi 11:14, Ether 3:6.
221 t. Quiche rituals described in Titulo de Totonicapan included (p. 22):
1 k r t. Titulo de Totonicapan was written in K'iche' using Latin script, then translated into Spanish (1834), French (1885) and English (1953) (pp.; 9-10).
3 k t. Titulo de Totonicapan focuses on the Cawek lineage (p. 12). Other lineages had their own records (p. 261).
7 k t. Titulo mentions chic'wal abaj meaning precious stones that were part of Quiche regalia brought from the east (pp. 220, 236). They have been interpreted as crystals, diamonds, or emeralds.
23 k r t. The Title has many instances of semantic parallelism (p. 31).
28 k r t. The authors of Titulo enjoined their posterity to remember their linage history (p. 187).
34 k r t. The Quiche god K'ucumats was a plumed serpent (p. 232).
38 k t. The Quiche recognized seven founding clans (p. 234)
39 k t. The post-contact Quiche self-identified as descendants of Israel (pp. 172-173. 176).
43 k r t. The Quiche surrounded their settlements with defensive walls (pp. 187, 236).
44 k t. The Quiche thought they had originally come from across the ocean (p. 173).
47 k t. The Quiche brought writings with them from Tulan (p. 213).
48 k r t. Titulo uses the term "elder and younger brothers" to refer to other peoples (p. 198).
63 k t. The K'iche' term for cotton body armor was Xak' pot (p. 216).
65 k r t. Titulo de Totonicapan mentions slavery (p. 187).
68 k r t. The Title begins many sentences with the words "In truth" or "Certainly" (pp. 176, 212).
92 k t. The Title mentions multiple thrones in the Quiche capital (p. 17).
100 k r t. Honey was a valued commodity among the Quiche (p. 191).
111 k t. The Quiche used traps to hunt animals (p. 236).
114 k, t. Among the Quiche, benches and chairs were symbols of power and authority (p. 197)
123 r t. The Quiche used the phrase "heaven, earth" to invoke deity (p. 190).
135 r t. Titulo de Totonicapan documents spying prior to military conquest (p. 188).
137 r t. Military personnel underwent a nose piercing ceremony with an object inserted that granted them authority (pp. 17, 196).
139 r t. The Title issues the injunctive "Listen" to its readers (p. 171).
149 r t. The Quiche revered a deity they called "four corners and four sides" (p. 233).
185 r t. Quiche lords fasted for the benefit of their constituents (p. 228).
186 r t. Titulo de Totonicapan almost certainly originated as a glyphic text (p. 213).
191 r t. Titulo speaks of hunger and famine (p. 235).
201 r t. Titulo de Totonicapan documents burnt offerings as devotional acts among the Quiche (p. 191).
--
210 t. When Chonay translated Titulo de Totonicapan from K'iche' into Spanish in 1834, he omitted the first seven folios because they followed the Bible so closely. We now know the author(s) of the 1554 Totonicapan document were copying freely from Domingo de Vico's 1553 Theologia Indorum written in K'iche' as a Dominican missionary tract (p. 13). Vico's book included translations of biblical passages and Catholic traditions such as stories of Santa Ana and San Joaquin (parents of the Virgin Mary). The Book of Mormon also has many significant intertextual dependencies with both the Old and New Testaments. See the blog article entitled "English in the Book of Mormon" for notes from a March, 2015 conference at BYU that explored some of the quotations, allusions and echoes shared between the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
211 t. Titulo de Totonicapan is the most important of a group of at least seven works written in K'iche' using Latin script in the colonial era in and around Totonicapan. Others include:
- Titulo de Tamub II written in 1567, dealing with the Tamub lineage
- Titulo de Caciques written in 1544, published in 1925
- Titulo de C'oyoi published in 1979, dealing with the Cawek lineage in the Quetzaltenango area
- Titulo de Yax, dealing with the Yax lineage in the Totonicapan area
- Titulo de Chuachituj published in 1973 dealing with the area northeast of Totonicapan
- Titulo de Paxtoca published in 1973 dealing with the area southwest of Totonicapan
- Titulo de Santa Clara published in 1957
212 t. The last page of the Titulo de Totonicapan contains a number of signatures (p. 12). Mormon signed his name at the end of the small plates of Nephi Words of Mormon 1:1. Moroni2 signed his name at the end of the plates of Mormon Moroni 10:1.
213 t. Old Testament stories reproduced in the first seven folios of the Title end with the Babylonian captivity (p. 10). The brass plates of Laban included Old Testament writings up to the time immediately preceding the exile. The Babylonian captivity was a matter of prophecy among the Nephites 1 Nephi 7:13, 2 Nephi 1:4, 2 Nephi 25:10 until Mosiah1 discovered the Mulekites and it became part of the historical record Omni 1:15, Helaman 8:21.
214 t. The Title is a compound document redacted from multiple sources (p. 13). Ditto the Book of Mormon Words of Mormon 1:3, Mormon 2:17-18, Ether 1:2.
215 t. In their use of the biblical materials from Theologia Indorum, the Quiche authors of Titulo de Totonicapan quoted some passages outright, paraphrased others, and changed others to conform to their native cultural traditions (p. 13). The Book of Mormon quotes many biblical passages outright such as the Isaiah chapters and paraphrases others such as Nephi's glosses on Isaiah in 1 Nephi 22 and 2 Nephi 25. The Book of Mormon also describes a process of interpreting biblical passages in light of readers' or hearers' cultural traditions. The Book of Mormon term for this cultural accommodation is "liken" 1 Nephi 19:23, 2 Nephi 11:2, 8.
216 t. The Title was written by multiple authors, one of whom was a Quiche prince baptized Diego Reynoso (p. 15). Book of Mormon authors included Nephi1 1 Nephi 1:1, Zeniff Mosiah 9:1, Mormon Words of Mormon 1:9, and Moroni2 Mormon 8:1.
217 t. The authors of the Titulo de Totonicapan as well as the authors of almost all other Quiche titles placed particular importance on the biblical account of the exodus and Israel's 40 year sojourn in the desert (p. 20). The exodus motif is so important in the Book of Mormon that several monographs have been written describing it. See George S. Tate, "The Typology of the Exodus Pattern in the Book of Mormon" in Literature of Belief: Sacred Scripture and Religious Experience, Neal E. Lambert editor, (Provo: Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1981). See also S. Kent Brown, "The Exodus Pattern in the Book of Mormon" in BYU Studies 30:3 (Summer, 1990). See also Bruce J. Boehm, "Wanderers in the Promised Land: A Study of the Exodus Motif in the Book of Mormon and Holy Bible" in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 3/1 (1994).
218 t. Another biblical theme very important to Quiche writers was the genealogical descent from Adam to Jacob (p. 20). Lehi, too, placed high importance on Adam, Jacob and genealogy 1 Nephi
5:11-14.
219 t. Achij, the Quiche military, participated in colonization programs in provinces of the kingdom (pp. 21, 198, 226). We see this pattern in the Book of Mormon as well. The military and settlers worked together to colonize new territory Alma 27:22-24, Alma 50:7-9.
220 t. Tohil, patron god of the Quiche, was conceived as anthropomorphic with a body, hands and vital organs (p. 22). The God of the Book of Mormon is also a corporeal being 3 Nephi 11:14, Ether 3:6.
221 t. Quiche rituals described in Titulo de Totonicapan included (p. 22):
- plant sacrifices
- animal sacrifices
- human sacrifices
- burnt offerings of copal incense
- fasting
- self sacrifice
- ordeals
- prayers
- dances
- songs
- investiture of authority
- funeral rites
- founding of new settlements
- emissary journeys to exchange gifts
- emissary journeys to pay tribute
- plant sacrifices Mosiah 2:3 describes sacrifices according to the law of Moses which included vegetable offerings Leviticus 2:14-16, Leviticus 23:13-15
- animal sacrifices Mosiah 2:3, Alma 34:10
- human sacrifices Alma 34:10, Mormon 4:14
- burnt offerings 1 Nephi 5:9, Mosiah 2:3 explicitly says the Nephites made burnt offerings according to the law of Moses which included incense Exodus 30:7-8
- fasting Mosiah 27:22, Alma 8:26
- self sacrifice Omni 1:26, 3 Nephi 9:20 (Alma 34:11 alludes to the common Mesoamerican practice of blood letting)
- ordeals Helaman 9:17-19
- prayers Enos 1:4, Alma 34:19-27
- dances Mosiah 20:1, Ether 8:10
- songs Mosiah 20:1, Alma 26:8
- investiture of authority Jacob 1:9, Mosiah 6:3
- funeral rites 1 Nephi 16:34-35, Alma 19:5, Helaman 9:10
- founding of new settlements Alma 50:13, Alma 50:14
- emissary journeys to exchange gifts 1 Nephi 3:24
- emissary journeys to pay tribute Mosiah 22:10
223 t. Quiche lineage groups made inter-clan alliances (p. 24). Tribes in the Book of Mormon had alliances and agreements among themselves 3 Nephi 7:14.
224 t. C'amal be is the K'iche' term for clan leader (p. 24). The Book of Mormon term is "chief" or "leader" 3 Nephi 7:3.
225 t. Titulo de Totonicapan is heterogeneous consisting of five different kinds of prose (p. 28):
- historical narration relating history and the actions of gods and culture heroes
- formal prayers petitioning deity
- final counsel to loved ones prior to a prolonged absence
- ordinary conversation between mortals
- archaic historical language
- historical narration including actions of God Alma 50:1-16, Ether 3:6
- formal prayers 2 Nephi 4:30-34
- final counsel 2 Nephi 1:14
- ordinary conversation Alma 44:1-11
- archaic historical language Mosiah 12:20-24
227 t. The Quiche conceived of nine levels of angels (p. 168). The Book of Mormon speaks of numberless concourses of angels 1 Nephi 1:8.
228 t. The first seven folios of Titulo de Totonicapan copy passages freely from Domingo Vico's 1553 Theologia Indorum. See correspondence number 210 t above. Vico, a Dominican priest and gifted linguist, borrowed Quiche concepts, words, names, and phrases as he penned his theological treatise aimed at proselytizing the Maya to Catholicism. Theologia Indorum is clearly based on the Bible and Catholic tradition. It is also clearly influenced by Mayan religious terminology and Quichean mythical-historical narratives. The authors of the Titulo de Totonicapan quote from Vico's K'iche' text but they also paraphrase, embellish, and deviate from it just as the Book of Mormon paraphrases, embellishes and deviates from the Bible. Things get very interesting when Quiche deviations from the Bible are attested in the Book of Mormon text.
Genesis 3:1-6 says the serpent spoke with Eve. In Genesis 3:13 Eve says the serpent beguiled her. Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:3 says Eve was the one beguiled by the serpent. The K'iche' variant of this story says the serpent spoke with both Adam and Eve, both of whom were deceived by the devil who tempted Eve after transforming himself into an angel with the tail of a serpent (p. 170). Jacob's account in 2 Nephi 9:9 is similar to the Totonicapan version. In the Nephite text both Adam and Eve were beguiled by the devil who transformed himself almost but not quite into an angel of light. Abinadi repeated the Nephite tradition that both Adam and Eve were beguiled by the devil in his guise as a serpent Mosiah 16:3. Serpents who can transform are a very Mesoamerican idea. Helaman2 taught that Satan enticed both of our first parents Helaman 6:26. Moroni2 in his translation of Jaredite records repeated the Nephite tradition that the father of lies beguiled both Adam and Eve Ether 8:25. So, is there a common Urtext from which Jacob, Abinadi, Moroni2, and the Totonicapan authors all derive their story of Adam, Eve, and the serpent? Perhaps. If our geographic model is correct, Jacob and Abinadi were both preaching in or around Kaminaljuyu which is a mere 93 air kilometers ESE of Totonicapan.
The story of Moses parting the Red Sea in Exodus 14 is another example of Quichean biblical deviation showing up in the Book of Mormon. The Bible says God instructed Moses to lift up his rod and stretch forth his hand over the sea Exodus 14:16. Five verses later we learn that Moses lifted up his hand and a divine wind was the active agent that parted the waters Exodus 14:21. This imagery of Moses' hand over the sea is an allusion to the power of God described in Abraham 2:7. Every graphic one is likely to encounter of Moses parting the waters shows the prophet with his hands in the air. This is a promotional poster for Cecile B. DeMille's 1956 epic starring Charlton Heston.
Portrayal of Moses (Charlton Heston) Parting the Red Sea |
229 t. The K'iche' phrase kachuch, kakajaw meaning "our mother, our father" refers to the ancestral founders of a linage. The related term chuch, kajaw "mother, father" is a ritually androgynous spiritual leader of a linage responsible for mediating between the world of the living and the dead. Father Vico in his Theologia Indorum adopted the words kachuch, kakajaw to mean Adam and Eve, but the term also had additional ancestral referents among the Quiche (pp. 206-207). The Book of Mormon employs a similar term in the same way. Among the Nephites, "first parents" referred not only to Adam and Eve 1 Nephi 5:11, 2 Nephi 2:15, 2 Nephi 9:9, Helaman 6:26; but also to Nephi1 and his brother, Jacob, and their wives Jacob 4:3; Jared and his brother and their wives Omni 1:22; as well as Lehi1 and his son, Nephi1 Helaman 5:6.
230 t. Among the 12 sons of Jacob, the authors of Titulo de Totonicapan singled out Joseph for special mention (pp. 171, 173). Joseph was the tribal connection through whom both the Nephites and Lamanites in the Book of Mormon descended 1 Nephi 5:14, Jacob 2:25, 3 Nephi 15:12.
231 t. Domingo de Vico's 1553 Theologia Indorum consists of nearly 700 manuscript pages divided into two parts. The first part, containing 105 numbered chapters, describes God and narrates biblical histories, doctrines, stories and miracles from the creation through the birth of Christ. The second part, containing 110 numbered chapters, begins with the parents of Mary, mother of Jesus, and ends with the final judgment. The authors of Titulo de Totonicapan were highly selective in the citations they chose to include in their text. They were interested in the creation, genealogies, the exodus with its attendant Israelite peregrinations, and the diaspora at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians. The summary below of Theologia content in Titulo comes from Garry Sparks' article "Fill in the Middle Ground: Intertextuality and Inter-Religious Dialogue in 16th Century Guatemala" in Journal of Interreligious Dialogue, Issue 5, Part 2 (Winter, 2011). Sparks' 2011 University of Chicago Divinity School dissertation analyzed Vico's Theologia Indorum as an amalgam of Maya and Christian beliefs:
- seven days of creation and the earthly paradise
- nine levels of angels
- creation of first humans
- creation of Eve out of Adam and the two trees
- Cain, Abel, Seth and their descendants
- flood and the children of Noah
- tower of Babel
- Jacob and his sons
- Joseph and the entrance into Egypt
- Moses in Egypt
- Moses and Aaron confront the pharaoh
- crossing the river (Red Sea)
- journey in the wilderness
- defeat of Amalech (Amalek)
- arrival of children of Jacob
- death of Moses in Moab
- Jericho defeated and Joseph (Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim) as ruler
- Joseph's death
- Samuel and Saul
- David
- Solomon
- listing of prophets (Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, Isaiah, Jonah)
- arrival of Babylon and Assyria
- diaspora by Babylon and Assyria
- creation 1 Nephi 17:36, Jacob 4:9; garden of Eden 2 Nephi 2:19, Alma 42:2
- angels 1 Nephi 1:18, Alma 18:30
- first humans Alma 22:12, Mormon 9:12
- Eve 1 Nephi 5:11; two trees 2 Nephi 2:15
- Cain, Abel, and other descendants of Adam and Eve 2 Nephi 9:9, Helaman 6:27
- flood of Noah Alma 10:22, 3 Nephi 22:9, Ether 6:7
- tower of Babel Omni 1:22, Mosiah 28:17, Helaman 6:28
- Jacob (Israel) and sons 1 Nephi 12:9, 1 Nephi 20:1, 3 Nephi 24:6,
- Joseph and Egypt 1 Nephi 5:14, Alma 10:3, Ether 13:7
- Moses in Egypt 2 Nephi 3:10, 2 Nephi 25:20
- Moses and pharaoh 1 Nephi 4:2, 1 Nephi 17:27
- crossing the Red Sea 1 Nephi 17:26, Helaman 8:11
- journey in the wilderness 2 Nephi 25;20, Mosiah 7:19, Alma 33:19
- defeat of peoples in Canaan 1 Nephi 17:32-35
- Israelite arrival in their land of promise 1 Nephi 17:42
- Moses' death Alma 45:19
- Joseph's eminence among tribes of Israel 1 Nephi 5:14, 3 Nephi 5:21
- Jacob or Joseph's death Ether 13:7
- Samuel 3 Nephi 20:24; Saul 2 Nephi 20:29
- David 2 Nephi 17:13, 2 Nephi 19:7
- Solomon 2 Nephi 5:16, 3 Nephi 13:29
- Elijah 3 Nephi 25:5, Isaiah 2 Nephi 6:5, 2 Nephi 25:1
- Babylon 1 Nephi 1:13, Omni 1:15; Assyria 2 Nephi 17:20, 2 Nephi 18:7
- scattering of Israel 1 Nephi 21;1, 3 Nephi 5:24
232 t. The temporal sweep of the biblical themes the Totonicapan authors included in their Titulo extended from the creation of the world to the Babylonian exile. This is precisely the time period covered by the brass plates of Laban 1 Nephi 5:11-12 supplemented with the history of Mulek and his Jewish emigrants to the Americas Omni 1:15, Helaman 8:21.
233 t. The Quiche authors of Titulo were fascinated by Moses. They mention him 22 times between folios 5 recto and 6 recto. The only Old Testament prophet mentioned more frequently is Adam. The Nephite authors of the Book of Mormon were equally impressed with Moses. They mention him 27 times in their various writings and an additional 36 times in connection with the lesser law he brought down from Sinai. The only Old Testament prophet mentioned more frequently in Nephite scripture is Jacob who changed his name to Israel.
234 t. The Quiche believed that anciently, before they migrated to their present home, they spoke the same language (p. 175). The Book of Mormon describes a group of people who spoke a common tongue before they emigrated to the Americas Ether 1:35-37.
235 t. The Quiche believed that anciently they had unity among themselves (p. 175). The Book of Mormon describes a time when all peoples in Mesoamerica were united 4 Nephi 1:15-17.
236 t. The Quiche believed that anciently they migrated to their present home from the place where the sun rises (p. 175). An azimuth plotted from Utatlan, Quiche, Guatemala to Jerusalem, point of departure for both Mulekites and Lehites, falls at 46.92 degrees or ENE, clearly within the eastern quadrant on the Quiche horizon.
237 t. The Quiche believed their ancestors brought tree and shrub cuttings with them on their migration to their new home (p. 176). The Book of Mormon describes two groups who brought botanical material with them to plant in their new homes 1 Nephi 8:1, 1 Nephi 18:24, Ether 2:3.
233 t. The Quiche authors of Titulo were fascinated by Moses. They mention him 22 times between folios 5 recto and 6 recto. The only Old Testament prophet mentioned more frequently is Adam. The Nephite authors of the Book of Mormon were equally impressed with Moses. They mention him 27 times in their various writings and an additional 36 times in connection with the lesser law he brought down from Sinai. The only Old Testament prophet mentioned more frequently in Nephite scripture is Jacob who changed his name to Israel.
234 t. The Quiche believed that anciently, before they migrated to their present home, they spoke the same language (p. 175). The Book of Mormon describes a group of people who spoke a common tongue before they emigrated to the Americas Ether 1:35-37.
235 t. The Quiche believed that anciently they had unity among themselves (p. 175). The Book of Mormon describes a time when all peoples in Mesoamerica were united 4 Nephi 1:15-17.
236 t. The Quiche believed that anciently they migrated to their present home from the place where the sun rises (p. 175). An azimuth plotted from Utatlan, Quiche, Guatemala to Jerusalem, point of departure for both Mulekites and Lehites, falls at 46.92 degrees or ENE, clearly within the eastern quadrant on the Quiche horizon.
46.92 Degree Eastward Vector from Utatlan to Jerusalem |
238 t. The Quiche remembered a time, during their migrations, when they had neither food nor drink (p. 176). Hunger and thirst while traveling are mentioned several times in the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 16:35, Mosiah 7:16, Alma 17:5, Alma 37:42.
239 t. The Quiche had a custom of publicly announcing the future date of a battle (p. 178). A similar custom existed among the Nephites and Lamanites Mormon 3:4, Mormon 6:2-3.
240 t. Titulo de Totonicapan documents an instance where foreigners were bound and carried before the king (p. 193). The Book of Mormon records this custom among the Nephites Mosiah 7:7-8, and the Lamanites Alma 17:20. See Jack Welch's excellent book The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormoin for a discussion of the practice of suspects being bound and carried before a civil authority.
241 t. Offensive and defensive armaments used by Quiche warriors included slings, spears, arrows and shields (p. 193). All are attested in the Book of Mormon Alma 17:7, Alma 49:24.
242 t. The Quiche used metal shields (p. 196). King Limhi's explorers found breastplates of copper and brass Mosiah 8:10.
243 t. The Quiche built structures using stones joined with mortar (p. 204). The Nephites built with stone Alma 48:8.
244 t. Titulo de Totonicapan talks of a place called Panpaxil (p. 212). Carmack thinks it was a place of many waters and rivers along the Gulf Coast. Most serious Book of Mormon geographers place the land of Cumorah along the Gulf Coast. Cumorah was explicitly a land of many waters, rivers and fountains Mormon 6:4.
245 t. Titulo de Totonicapan talks of writing from a cave (p. 213). The prophet Ether engraved his record while hiding in the cavity of a rock Ether 13:13-14. Mormon retrieved the Nephite archives hidden in Hill Shim Mormon 4:23.
246 t. Titulo de Totonicapan originated as a glyphic codex which is no longer extant (p, 213). The Book of Mormon originated as Mormon's glyphic codex Mormon 9:32, which is no longer extant.
247 t. The post-contact Quiche called their previous religious beliefs "lies" (p. 213). Alma2 prophesied ca. 82 BC that the Lamanites at some future time would be brought to believe in the word of God and would know of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers Alma 9:17.
248 t. Titulo de Totonicapan mentions a small lake in Nimsoy Carchaq (p. 217). Carchaq is the modern town of San Pedro Carcha, Alta Verapaz, that figures prominently in Quichean literature. Carmack suggests the small lake may be Lake Peten Itza in northern Peten. This seems highly unlikely for two reasons: a) Lake Peten Itza is 168 air kilometers from San Pedro Carcha while San Pedro Carcha is only 105 air kilometers from Utatlan and 128 air kilometers from Totonicapan; and b) Lake Peten Itza is not small in a Guatemalan context. With a surface area of 99 square kilometers, it is the third largest lake in the country next to Izabal (589 square kilometers) and Atitlan (130 square kilometers). A better fit to the text is Laguneta Chichoj on the outskirts of San Cristobal Verapaz, Alta Verapaz. Laguneta Chichoj has a surface area of 500,000 square meters or .5 square kilometers. It is 21 air kilometers SW of San Pedro Carcha.
If Laguneta Chichoj is indeed the small lake in Nimsoy Carchaq, it is right in the travel corridor we propose between the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla.
249 t. Titulo describes an office called ajq' uix, ajcaj which means sacrificer. This was a person who was simultaneously a political leader and a priest (p. 219). Alma2 served as both chief judge and high priest of the Nephite nation for nine years Mosiah 29:42. Alma 4:17-18.
250 t. The Quiche erected statues or idols they called uc'abawil to represent their gods (p. 220). Idols among the Lamanites are attested in the Book of Mormon Alma 17:15, Mormon 4:14.
251 t. In Quichean literature, camasots' is the bat of death, a vampire from the underworld Xibalba (p. 221). In Book of Mormon imagery, the bat is associated with caves or holes in the ground 2 Nephi 12:20 citing Isaiah 2:20. Some biblical translations, for example, render the phrase in Isaiah 2:20 "the caves where rodents and bats live" or "the caves of the moles and of the bats."
252 t. Quiche warriors carried body parts from vanquished victims as tokens of battlefield success (pp. 221-222). Nephites mutilated the bodies of vanquished victims as tokens of battlefield bravery Moroni 9:10.
253 t. The Quiche and their enemies employed sorcery to cast spells upon each other using "words of death" (p. 223). The Book of Mormon associates sorcery, witchcraft and magic arts with evil Alma 1:32 and the power of Satan Mormon 1:19, Mormon 2:10.
254 t. The Quiche had a unit of repetitive time measure they called uk'u tak k'ij which means "every seven days." Nobles bathed themselves every seven days (p. 223). The biblical concept of a seven day week is attested in the Book of Mormon Mosiah 18:25, Alma 31:12.
255 t. In the Quichean vigesimal or base 20 numeral system, 400 and 8,000 are important numbers because they are multiples of 20 (pp. 225-225). The numbers 20 Alma 50:1, 3 Nephi 4:15; 400 Alma 45:10, Helaman 13:5, Mormon 8:6; and 8,000 Helaman 5:19 appear in the Book of Mormon text as well.
256 t. Among the Quiche, babies born "marked" were reasons for sadness (p. 226). Among the Nephites, babies born with the mark of the Lamanites were considered cursed Alma 3:6-9.
257 t. Quiche military leaders sometimes served simultaneously as judges (p. 226). The Book of Mormon describes chief judges leading military campaigns Alma 2:16, Alma 62:7-8.
258 t. The Quiche had an office among the nobility called atsij winak which means spokesman or speaker for the people (p. 228). The Book of Mormon describes important officials called spokesmen 2 Nephi 3:17-18.
259 t. Titulo de Totonicapan says the heroic founders of the Quiche nation did not die, they just disappeared (p. 234). The Book of Mormon records instances of mortals who disappeared Alma 45:18-19 and who became translated beings 4 Nephi 1:14.
260 t. Several Quiche settlements were divided roughly in half along lineage lines (pp. 234, 240). Zarahemla was divided roughly in half between the Nephites and the Mulekites Mosiah 25:4.
261 t. One of the founders of the Quiche nation, Iqui Balam, died without issue so Ts'utuja' and his family were adopted into the polity. In the Book of Mormon, many people were adopted into other groups. For example, the Zoramites became Lamanites Alma 43:4, many Nephites became Lamanites Helaman 3:16, and some Lamanites became Nephites 3 Nephi 2:14.
262 t. Titulo de Totonicapan describes Q'uechelajil winak people who (pp. 237 - 238):
264 t. The Quiche never conquered the Ak'aab of Cawinal. The Ak'aab recognized the Quiche as their superiors and the two groups joined (p. 239). The Nephites never conquered the people of Zarahemla. The Mulekites recognized Nephite superiority and the two groups joined Omni 1:14-19.
265 t. Once the Quiche reached their final destination and founded their penultimate ancient capital Chiismachi near modern Santa Cruz del Quiche, they had nearly continuous warfare with their neighbors (p. 242). Moroni2 describes the Lamanites engaged in nearly continuous warfare Mormon 8:8.
266 t. Titulo de Totonicapan mentions children being sacrificed (p. 243). The Book of Mormon mentions children being sacrificed Mormon 4:14-15, 21.
267 t. Titulo describes medicinal plants (p. 243). The Book of Mormon describes medicinal plants Alma 46:40.
268 t. The Quiche marked borders between settlements with symbols that denoted either a state of war or a condition of peace between the polities (p. 245). Military and para-military actions are associated with borders between polities in the Book of Mormon. See the blog article entitled "Borders."
269 t. Food was paid as tribute to the Quiche (p. 245). Food was paid as tribute to the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon Mosiah 22:7.
270 t. The Quiche built with cement (p. 248). The Nephites built with cement Helaman 3:7-11.
271 t. Titulo de Totonicapan mentions capital punishment by stoning (p. 249). Ditto the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 1:20, 2 Nephi 26:3, Alma 33:17, Helaman 13:24, 3 Nephi 7:19.
272 t. Gems and metals were considered valuables among the Quiche (p. 251). A common Book of Mormon phrase describing valuables is gold, silver, and precious things 1 Nephi 3:22, Jarom 1:8, Mosiah 11:9. Alma 15:16.
273 t. Jades, metals, fabric, and clothing were among the valuables that adorned the Quiche god Tojil (p. 253). The Book of Mormon lists precious things in association with metals, fabrics, and wearing apparel 1 Nephi 13:7-8, Alma 1:29, Alma 4:6, Ether 9:17.
274 t. The Quiche had the notion that the left hand side was inferior to the right (p. 256). The same idea is expressed in the Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:10-12.
275 t. The extant copy of Titulo de Totonicapan was written in different hands by multiple scribes (p. 256). The original manuscript of the Book of Mormon was written in different hands by multiple scribes who included Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer and Emma Smith.
276 t. The Titulo de Totonicapan as well as other Quichean documents shows a great deal of phrase standardization in formal discourse (p. 257). The Book of Mormon has such a strong tendency to use the same word constructs over and over to express standardized meanings in similar contexts that Royal Skousen coined a term for this textual consistency. He calls it "systematic phraseology." See the article "The Systematic Text of the Book of Mormon" in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies Volume 11, Issue 2, Provo: Maxwell Institute, 2002.
277 t. The Quiche remembered a time when inequality entered into society, causing many commoners to become proud and arrogant (p. 258). The pride cycle, driven by the unequal distribution of material goods, is well-known in the Book of Mormon Alma 4:12, Helaman 3:36, Helaman 7:26, 3 Nephi 6:10.
278 t. Titulo de Totonicapan uses K'iche' terms that describe relative proximity between an object and an author or speaker. The degrees of proximity are very close, within eyesight, and beyond view (p. 269). The Book of Mormon uses the terms near, by, not far, and far to express relative distances. See the blog articles "Things Near and Far" and "By and By."
279 t. The authors of Titulo de Totonicapan make editorial promises that they will explain certain points later in their text (p. 272). Mormon and the authors he cites make editorial promises frequently in the Book of Mormon text Mosiah 23:23, Alma 57:8. 3 Nephi 7:1, 3 Nephi 10:18.
280 t. Titulo de Totonicapan, following Quichean literature in general, makes frequent use of quotations within narrative prose (p. 275). The Book of Mormon makes frequent use of quotations in many different literary genres, including narrative prose Alma 9:13, Alma 10:1, Alma 30:49-50, Helaman 11:3-5.
239 t. The Quiche had a custom of publicly announcing the future date of a battle (p. 178). A similar custom existed among the Nephites and Lamanites Mormon 3:4, Mormon 6:2-3.
240 t. Titulo de Totonicapan documents an instance where foreigners were bound and carried before the king (p. 193). The Book of Mormon records this custom among the Nephites Mosiah 7:7-8, and the Lamanites Alma 17:20. See Jack Welch's excellent book The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormoin for a discussion of the practice of suspects being bound and carried before a civil authority.
241 t. Offensive and defensive armaments used by Quiche warriors included slings, spears, arrows and shields (p. 193). All are attested in the Book of Mormon Alma 17:7, Alma 49:24.
242 t. The Quiche used metal shields (p. 196). King Limhi's explorers found breastplates of copper and brass Mosiah 8:10.
243 t. The Quiche built structures using stones joined with mortar (p. 204). The Nephites built with stone Alma 48:8.
244 t. Titulo de Totonicapan talks of a place called Panpaxil (p. 212). Carmack thinks it was a place of many waters and rivers along the Gulf Coast. Most serious Book of Mormon geographers place the land of Cumorah along the Gulf Coast. Cumorah was explicitly a land of many waters, rivers and fountains Mormon 6:4.
Likely Cumorah on Well-Watered Gulf Coast |
246 t. Titulo de Totonicapan originated as a glyphic codex which is no longer extant (p, 213). The Book of Mormon originated as Mormon's glyphic codex Mormon 9:32, which is no longer extant.
247 t. The post-contact Quiche called their previous religious beliefs "lies" (p. 213). Alma2 prophesied ca. 82 BC that the Lamanites at some future time would be brought to believe in the word of God and would know of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers Alma 9:17.
248 t. Titulo de Totonicapan mentions a small lake in Nimsoy Carchaq (p. 217). Carchaq is the modern town of San Pedro Carcha, Alta Verapaz, that figures prominently in Quichean literature. Carmack suggests the small lake may be Lake Peten Itza in northern Peten. This seems highly unlikely for two reasons: a) Lake Peten Itza is 168 air kilometers from San Pedro Carcha while San Pedro Carcha is only 105 air kilometers from Utatlan and 128 air kilometers from Totonicapan; and b) Lake Peten Itza is not small in a Guatemalan context. With a surface area of 99 square kilometers, it is the third largest lake in the country next to Izabal (589 square kilometers) and Atitlan (130 square kilometers). A better fit to the text is Laguneta Chichoj on the outskirts of San Cristobal Verapaz, Alta Verapaz. Laguneta Chichoj has a surface area of 500,000 square meters or .5 square kilometers. It is 21 air kilometers SW of San Pedro Carcha.
Laguneta Chichoj in Proposed Book of Mormon Context |
249 t. Titulo describes an office called ajq' uix, ajcaj which means sacrificer. This was a person who was simultaneously a political leader and a priest (p. 219). Alma2 served as both chief judge and high priest of the Nephite nation for nine years Mosiah 29:42. Alma 4:17-18.
250 t. The Quiche erected statues or idols they called uc'abawil to represent their gods (p. 220). Idols among the Lamanites are attested in the Book of Mormon Alma 17:15, Mormon 4:14.
251 t. In Quichean literature, camasots' is the bat of death, a vampire from the underworld Xibalba (p. 221). In Book of Mormon imagery, the bat is associated with caves or holes in the ground 2 Nephi 12:20 citing Isaiah 2:20. Some biblical translations, for example, render the phrase in Isaiah 2:20 "the caves where rodents and bats live" or "the caves of the moles and of the bats."
252 t. Quiche warriors carried body parts from vanquished victims as tokens of battlefield success (pp. 221-222). Nephites mutilated the bodies of vanquished victims as tokens of battlefield bravery Moroni 9:10.
253 t. The Quiche and their enemies employed sorcery to cast spells upon each other using "words of death" (p. 223). The Book of Mormon associates sorcery, witchcraft and magic arts with evil Alma 1:32 and the power of Satan Mormon 1:19, Mormon 2:10.
254 t. The Quiche had a unit of repetitive time measure they called uk'u tak k'ij which means "every seven days." Nobles bathed themselves every seven days (p. 223). The biblical concept of a seven day week is attested in the Book of Mormon Mosiah 18:25, Alma 31:12.
255 t. In the Quichean vigesimal or base 20 numeral system, 400 and 8,000 are important numbers because they are multiples of 20 (pp. 225-225). The numbers 20 Alma 50:1, 3 Nephi 4:15; 400 Alma 45:10, Helaman 13:5, Mormon 8:6; and 8,000 Helaman 5:19 appear in the Book of Mormon text as well.
256 t. Among the Quiche, babies born "marked" were reasons for sadness (p. 226). Among the Nephites, babies born with the mark of the Lamanites were considered cursed Alma 3:6-9.
257 t. Quiche military leaders sometimes served simultaneously as judges (p. 226). The Book of Mormon describes chief judges leading military campaigns Alma 2:16, Alma 62:7-8.
258 t. The Quiche had an office among the nobility called atsij winak which means spokesman or speaker for the people (p. 228). The Book of Mormon describes important officials called spokesmen 2 Nephi 3:17-18.
259 t. Titulo de Totonicapan says the heroic founders of the Quiche nation did not die, they just disappeared (p. 234). The Book of Mormon records instances of mortals who disappeared Alma 45:18-19 and who became translated beings 4 Nephi 1:14.
260 t. Several Quiche settlements were divided roughly in half along lineage lines (pp. 234, 240). Zarahemla was divided roughly in half between the Nephites and the Mulekites Mosiah 25:4.
261 t. One of the founders of the Quiche nation, Iqui Balam, died without issue so Ts'utuja' and his family were adopted into the polity. In the Book of Mormon, many people were adopted into other groups. For example, the Zoramites became Lamanites Alma 43:4, many Nephites became Lamanites Helaman 3:16, and some Lamanites became Nephites 3 Nephi 2:14.
262 t. Titulo de Totonicapan describes Q'uechelajil winak people who (pp. 237 - 238):
- were not governed by Quiche civil authority
- lived in the mountains
- hunted game for subsistence
- wore animal skins for clothing
- threatened war against the Quiche
- were not governed by Nephite or Lamanite civil authority 3 Nephi 3:10
- lived in the mountains Helaman 11:31
- hunted game for subsistence 3 Nephi 4:19-20
- wore animal skins for clothing 3 Nephi 4:7
- threatened war against the Nephites 3 Nephi 3:8
264 t. The Quiche never conquered the Ak'aab of Cawinal. The Ak'aab recognized the Quiche as their superiors and the two groups joined (p. 239). The Nephites never conquered the people of Zarahemla. The Mulekites recognized Nephite superiority and the two groups joined Omni 1:14-19.
265 t. Once the Quiche reached their final destination and founded their penultimate ancient capital Chiismachi near modern Santa Cruz del Quiche, they had nearly continuous warfare with their neighbors (p. 242). Moroni2 describes the Lamanites engaged in nearly continuous warfare Mormon 8:8.
266 t. Titulo de Totonicapan mentions children being sacrificed (p. 243). The Book of Mormon mentions children being sacrificed Mormon 4:14-15, 21.
267 t. Titulo describes medicinal plants (p. 243). The Book of Mormon describes medicinal plants Alma 46:40.
268 t. The Quiche marked borders between settlements with symbols that denoted either a state of war or a condition of peace between the polities (p. 245). Military and para-military actions are associated with borders between polities in the Book of Mormon. See the blog article entitled "Borders."
269 t. Food was paid as tribute to the Quiche (p. 245). Food was paid as tribute to the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon Mosiah 22:7.
270 t. The Quiche built with cement (p. 248). The Nephites built with cement Helaman 3:7-11.
271 t. Titulo de Totonicapan mentions capital punishment by stoning (p. 249). Ditto the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 1:20, 2 Nephi 26:3, Alma 33:17, Helaman 13:24, 3 Nephi 7:19.
272 t. Gems and metals were considered valuables among the Quiche (p. 251). A common Book of Mormon phrase describing valuables is gold, silver, and precious things 1 Nephi 3:22, Jarom 1:8, Mosiah 11:9. Alma 15:16.
273 t. Jades, metals, fabric, and clothing were among the valuables that adorned the Quiche god Tojil (p. 253). The Book of Mormon lists precious things in association with metals, fabrics, and wearing apparel 1 Nephi 13:7-8, Alma 1:29, Alma 4:6, Ether 9:17.
274 t. The Quiche had the notion that the left hand side was inferior to the right (p. 256). The same idea is expressed in the Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:10-12.
275 t. The extant copy of Titulo de Totonicapan was written in different hands by multiple scribes (p. 256). The original manuscript of the Book of Mormon was written in different hands by multiple scribes who included Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer and Emma Smith.
276 t. The Titulo de Totonicapan as well as other Quichean documents shows a great deal of phrase standardization in formal discourse (p. 257). The Book of Mormon has such a strong tendency to use the same word constructs over and over to express standardized meanings in similar contexts that Royal Skousen coined a term for this textual consistency. He calls it "systematic phraseology." See the article "The Systematic Text of the Book of Mormon" in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies Volume 11, Issue 2, Provo: Maxwell Institute, 2002.
277 t. The Quiche remembered a time when inequality entered into society, causing many commoners to become proud and arrogant (p. 258). The pride cycle, driven by the unequal distribution of material goods, is well-known in the Book of Mormon Alma 4:12, Helaman 3:36, Helaman 7:26, 3 Nephi 6:10.
278 t. Titulo de Totonicapan uses K'iche' terms that describe relative proximity between an object and an author or speaker. The degrees of proximity are very close, within eyesight, and beyond view (p. 269). The Book of Mormon uses the terms near, by, not far, and far to express relative distances. See the blog articles "Things Near and Far" and "By and By."
279 t. The authors of Titulo de Totonicapan make editorial promises that they will explain certain points later in their text (p. 272). Mormon and the authors he cites make editorial promises frequently in the Book of Mormon text Mosiah 23:23, Alma 57:8. 3 Nephi 7:1, 3 Nephi 10:18.
280 t. Titulo de Totonicapan, following Quichean literature in general, makes frequent use of quotations within narrative prose (p. 275). The Book of Mormon makes frequent use of quotations in many different literary genres, including narrative prose Alma 9:13, Alma 10:1, Alma 30:49-50, Helaman 11:3-5.