“Unluckily, the accounts of Spanish authors concerning Maya mythology do not agree with the representations of the gods delineated [described precisely]
in the codices. That the three codices have a mythology in common is certain.
Again, great difficulty is found in comparing the deities of the codices with
those represented by the carved and stucco bas-reliefs of the Maya region.
It will thus be seen that very considerable difficulties beset the student in
this mythological sphere. So few data have yet been collected regarding
the Maya mythology that to dogmatize [represent as absolute truth] upon
any subject connected with it would indeed be rash [impulsive]. But much
has been accomplished in the past few decades, and evidence is slowly but
surely accumulating from which sound conclusions can be drawn.”
Lewis Spence, The Myths of Mexico and Peru, 1913
explain how spence's argument affects understanding Mayan history