Iximche

The group Maya K'aqchikel It is located in the central part of the country, mostly in the departments of Chimaltenango, Sololá and Sacatepéquez. Its pre-Hispanic past is represented by the archaeological sites of Jilotepeque Viejo and Iximche', both located on hills surrounded by ravines. 

Iximche' It was the capital of the most powerful lineage of the K'aqchikels, who upon the arrival of the Spanish were already rivaling the K'iche's for dominance of the Mayan Highlands. For that reason they established an alliance with the Spanish and it was in Iximche' where the first city of Guatemala was founded, a word that is derived from the Nahuatl Quahutemallan, which means Land of Trees or Land of Eagles.

Among its most representative communities are Tecpán Guatemala, Sololá, San Martín Jilotepeque, San Juan Sacateéquez and San Juan Comalapa. The latter is characterized by the large number of painters, who represent a primitivist or "naive" style originating in the mid-20th century. In the department of Sololá is Lake Atitlán, which is one of the main natural attractions in the entire country.

Twelve towns were settled on its banks, characterized by the production of numerous crafts made of wood, tulle and other materials. The south side of the lake belongs to the group's territory Mayan Tz'utujil, which is found mostly in the towns of Santiago Atitlán, San Lucas Tolimán and San Pedro La Laguna.

In Santiago Atitlán you can see a statue known as Maximon, which represents a pre-Hispanic deity associated with the mountains and the underworld, which has been fused with several Catholic characters, especially the figure of Judas. During Holy Week, Maximón is the main actor, who is processed alongside the image of Jesus Christ, thus indicating the complementarity of Mayan and Christian identities.

You, corn; you, Tzité; your luck; you, creature; unite, unite! They told them to the corn, to the tzité, to luck, to the creature. Come to sacrifice here, Heart of Heaven; do not punish Tepeu and Gucumatz!

- Popol Vuh -