can lead the unwary into the sin of pride and count for little unless governed by a kind heart (inner beauty) capable of compassion for those less fortunate than oneself. Symbolism Death The theme of death is continuous with all of the different versions of the myth of the Xtabay. The fear of death in the myth relies on the capability of the dead to cause harm to the living and the belief that the dead have hostile intentions. The heart and love In La Xtabay, the symbolism of the human heart is often repeated throughout the myth, as both Xkeban's and Utz-colel's personalities are described based on the type of "heart" they possessed. Xkeban had a warm heart whereas Utz-colel had a cold heart. Even in death, when Utz-colel wanted to experience life again, she was unable to overcome her envy and loveless heart. The ceiba tree The ceiba tree is a sacred tree of the Mayan people since the belief was that a virtuous person could become a ceiba tree after death. The ceiba tree is considered to be an embodiment of the Axis mundi, connecting heaven, earth and underworld. Xtabay subverts the traditional meaning of the ceiba tree since she hides behind it to lure her victims to their doom. It said in the legend that the ceiba roots are where all the men the Xtabay has taken from earth go and that not a single one has ever returned from them. It has been suggested that Christian colonialists corrupted the original legend by altering the meaning of the ceiba tree from a sacred tree into a place of danger. Long black hair The Xtabay is known for her long black hair falling past her shoulders that she combs with the spines of the tzacam cactus. Mayan culture places great importance on keeping hair long and healthy, however, humid weather and long work days make this difficult, so the hair of working women is usually kept drawn back from the face. Xtabay's hair contrasts the typical hairstyle of Mayan women but represents the culture's ideal of beauty. Sexuality Utz-colel was known for her purity because she abstained from sexual relations. In Mayan culture, women are encouraged to be modest and abstain from sexual intercourse until marriage. Women symbolize purity and are taught not to talk to men by themselves. If a Mayan woman does not follow these