"Let the second son of Seven Macaw also be defeated. That is our will. For his actions on Earth—exalting his own glory and power—are not right."
—Popol Vuh

According to Maya creation myths, the gods first made people from gold. But these golden humans quickly became arrogant and forgot their creators. So the gods destroyed them with water and thunder.

Next, they made people from wood. But these beings also turned away from their origins. As punishment, the gods again sent floods and storms, turning them into monkeys—creatures resembling humans, but without reason.

Finally, the gods used maize—the sacred grain of Mesoamerica—to create true humans: the Maya. Ground from corn and shaped by divine hands, they were made to live, cultivate the earth, and honor the gods. Thus, maize is not just food—it is life, identity, and origin.