[Aztlan] MA: Snakes and Cancun

[Jules Siegel]

Hube Smith wrote:

> I am rambling here, but I don't think the "Nest of Vipers" appellation can be credited wholeheartedly--too much interesting uncertainty. 

I don't think that there's much argument that kan refers to a serpent, 
but does cun mean nest? Although contemporary Mayas agree that kun means 
nest, this translation does not appear in the standard Cordomex 
dictionary of the Mayan language. I've been told that modern Maya 
contains many Spanish words. The Spanish word for den or animal's nest 
is cuna. It also means cradle.

So what does the cun in Cancun really mean? We have some choices:

kun
k'un
cu-en.

As I pointed out earlier, my knowledge of Maya is too minimal to be 
called knowledge. Perhaps some of the experts on the list can help us 
out here.


--
JULES SIEGEL Apdo. 1764, 77501-Cancun, Q. Roo, Mexico
http://www.cafecancun.com/bookarts

Newsroom-l, news and issues for journalists
http://www.newsroom-l.net/