
After the Spanish conquistadores conquered the Maya peoples, they published one more work in Maya. It was called The Chilam Balam of Chumayel and consisted of a series of prophetic books looking pessimistically into the future. The poet Christopher Sawyer-Lauçanno in The Destruction of the Jaguar wrote a poetic retelling of these prophecies. Below is the prophecy of Ah Kauil Chel:
What has been written will be fulfilled. Though you may not comprehend it though you may not understand it he will come who knows how the ages unfold like the stone steps on the palace of the governor. For now the priests, the prophets will interpret what is to be fulfilled, shall herald with sorrow the destruction of the jaguar.
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