Key Info

- The Hero Twins appear in the oldest and greatest heroes in Mayan mythology. 

- After many trials, they avenge their father and uncle and get their revenge against the Lords of the Underworld when they defeat them in a ballgame and thus conquer death itself

- Destroyed Vucub Caquix and his two sons

- Turned their half-brothers into the howler monkey gods

- Their transformation into the sun and the moon signals the start of a new age

Brief Bio

Hunahpu and Xbalanque, the Hero Twins, are central figures in the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the K'iche' Maya. Born to Ixquick and the sacrificed Hun Hunahpu, one of the Maize Gods, they were raised in obscurity, facing the animosity of their older half-brothers.

Driven by the desire to avenge their father and uncle's deaths at the hands of the Lords of Xibalba, the Mayan Underworld, the Twins embarked on a perilous journey. They overcame numerous trials and tricks set by the death lords, demonstrating cunning, resilience, and supernatural abilities. Their most famous feat was tricking the Lords into sacrificing them, only to be reborn as fish and then return to life, ultimately defeating the Lords of Xibalba in a final ballgame.

Following their triumph, the Hero Twins ascended to the heavens, becoming the sun (Hunahpu) and the moon (Xbalanque). They are revered as symbols of triumph over death, the cyclical nature of life, and the power of cleverness and perseverance against overwhelming odds. They are also closely associated with the ballgame, which held significant ritual and cosmological importance in Mayan culture.