Hun Hunahpu

Hun Hunahpu

According to the Popol Vuh, Hun-Hunahpu 'One-Hunahpu' (a calendrical name) is the father of the Maya hero twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque. As their shared calendrical day name suggests, Hun-Hunahpu is first and foremost the father of Hunahpu. He is also stated to be the father of the twins' half-brothers, the patrons of the artisans and writers, Hun-Chowen and Hun-Batz (see Howler Monkey Gods). Hun-Hunahpu 'One-Hunahpu' is paired with his brother, Vucub-Hunahpu 'Seven-Hunahpu'. The brothers were tricked in the Dark House by the lords of the Underworld (Xibalba) and sacrificed. Hun-Hunahpu's head was suspended in a trophy tree and changed to a calabash. Its spittle (i.e., the juice of the calabash) impregnated a daughter of one of the lords of Xibalba, Xquic. She fled the underworld and conceived the Twins. After defeating the lords of the Underworld, the Twins recovered the remains of their father and father's brother, but could not resuscitate them.