Who Were Some Famous Mayan Leaders?

Two of the oldest and most famous Mayan leaders were Itzamn and Kukulcan. Itzamn is said to have led the first Mayan migration into the Yucatan from the Far East. Kukulcan led the second migration from the west.

Itzamn is considered to be a sun god and is the Mayan's earliest deified hero and leader. Legend has it that he led the migration from beyond the ocean along a pathway that magically opened through the waters. He can be compared to Moses in Christianity and the parting of the Red Sea when he led his people out of Egypt.

Kukulcan was a priest and a teacher, and is considered to be the founder of the Mayan civilization as well as the kingdom itself. Scholars believe this second migration occurred close to the end of the second century of the Christian era. He divided the Mayan people into four different tribes, which were ruled by four royal families.

Cocum was the first family to which Kukulcan belonged. The second family was Tutul-xiu and this tribe was located in Uxmal. The Itz family was the third family and they resided in Chichen-Itz, and the fourth family was Chele, living at Izamal which was the sacred city of the Mayans.