Who are the Mayan Hero Twins?
Hunahpu and Xbalanque
The Hero Twins are famous Mayan semi-gods called Hunahpu and Xbalanque, whose story is narrated in the Popol Vuh (“The Book of Council”).
What is the story of the Hero Twins?
The Hero Twins were made rulers of the Earth by the gods of the sky. One twin was turned into the Moon and the other into the Sun. Mayans also believe that the Hero Twins brought their father back to life and turned him into the Maize god.
Who were the twins helpers on the journey to Xibalba?
Hunahpú and Xbalanqúe performed a series of tricks, during which they appeared to die in a stone oven and then transform themselves into traveling actors. When the lords of Xibalba asked the twins to perform for them, the two brothers refused at first.
What were the Hero Twins doing that annoyed the gods of the underworld?
Just like their father and uncle, the Hero Twins were great ballplayers. They were also loud and annoyed the gods of the underworld. Soon the Lords of Death summoned them to come play a game of ball in the underworld.
How did the Twins finally defeat Xibalba?
The twins obliged by killing and offering the lords as a sacrifice, but did not bring them back from the dead. The twins then shocked the Xibalbans by revealing their identities as Hunahpu and Xbalanque, sons of One Hunahpu whom they had slain years ago along with their uncle Seven Hunahpu.
What does the ballgame played by Hunahpu and Xbalanque represent?
The players must get the ball up high into the ring by only using their hips, elbows and knees. The ball was quite heavy causing a great deal of pain to the players. This is why the game symbolizes the relationship between life and death. The ball courts themselves symbolize the entrance to the underworld.
How is Seven Macaw destroyed?
Zipacna is the builder of mountains and is referred to as “the maker of the earth”, and Earthquake has the power to move mountains and bring down the sky. The twins defeat Seven Macaw by following him to the tree where he feeds. As he is eating, Hunahpu shoots him with his blowgun, breaking his jaw.
Why did the Hero Twins go to Xibalba?
When the Death Lords heard of their great feats, they called the Twins to Xibalba again. The Death Lords commanded the boys to kill and bring back to life a dog, a human and finally one of the Twins. The Death Lords got excited and asked the boys to do them too.
How did the Twins defeat Xibalba?
What houses do the Hero Twins enter?
The twins lost the game and had to find the flowers for the lords of Xibalba. That night they entered the Razor House, but were not cut by the razors, again passing another test of the lords of the underworld.
What was the purpose of the Mayan ball game?
The gods needed human blood and hearts to keep the sun and moon in orbit. Some ball games were played to resolve bitter disputes between rival cities or as a proxy for war. The Maya also saw the game as a battle between the gods of death and the gods of life or between good and evil.
What event does the Maya ball game reenact?
The Maya were reenacting the mythic ball game played between the Hero Twins (gods of life/fertility) and the gods of the Underworld (death). In Maya mythology, the Hero Twins played the game to save their father (First Father/the Maize god), and the Hero Twins were victorious over the Lords of the Underworld.
What is the story of the Maya Hero Twins?
Their story is told in one of the few surviving Maya texts called the Popol Vuh. Here is an outline of the story of the Maya Hero Twins: The story of the Hero Twins begins with two twin boys. Their names are One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu. These two boys loved to play the Maya ball game.
What is the Mayan ball game?
Maya Hero Twins. Throughout the myth tale, the Twins play the ball game against the Death Lords. The Maya ball game could be played just for fun, but it also held deep religious meaning for the Maya, who saw it as the eternal battle of good versus evil.
Who gave birth to the Hero Twins in Xibalba?
Xquic gave birth to the Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque. The Hero Twins also became great ball players, but they were noisy and angered the Lords of Xibalba, who called them to the Underworld for a ball game. First the Twins had to successfully pass many magical tests, which the twins did because they knew the story of their father and uncle.
How did the Hero Twins get their names?
The Hero Twins are Born. Despite being dead, according to the myth, One Hunahpu had a child with one of the Maya goddesses. This goddess had twins who were to become known as the Hero Twins. Their names were Hunahpu and Xbalanque.