Hun Hunahpu facts for kids

Hun Hunahpu (pronounced hoon-hoo-nah-POO) is an important character in Maya mythology. His name means 'One-Hunter'. According to an ancient Maya book called the Popol Vuh, he was the father of the famous Maya Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque.

Hun Hunahpu was also the father of two other brothers, Hun-Chowen and Hun-Batz. These brothers were known as gods of art and writing. Hun Hunahpu had a brother named Vucub-Hunahpu, or 'Seven-Hunter'.

The Story of Hun Hunahpu

Hun Hunahpu and his brother Vucub-Hunahpu were tricked by the lords of the Underworld, a scary place called Xibalba. The brothers were sacrificed.

After Hun Hunahpu was sacrificed, his head was hung in a special tree. This tree was a calabash tree. His head changed into a calabash fruit. The juice from this fruit (which was like his saliva) magically made a young woman named Xquic pregnant. Xquic was the daughter of one of the Underworld lords.

Xquic escaped from the Underworld. She then gave birth to the Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque. Later, the Hero Twins went to the Underworld. They defeated the evil lords who had tricked their father. The twins found the remains of their father and their uncle, but they could not bring them back to life.

Hun Hunahpu and the Maize God

Some people believe that the Maya people of the past had a more hopeful idea about Hun Hunahpu. They thought he might have been reborn as maize (corn), which was a very important crop for the Maya.

In this idea, Hun Hunahpu is seen as the Maya maize god. There are ancient Maya artworks showing the Maize God rising from a turtle shell. This turtle shell is thought to represent the earth, like a tomb. The Hero Twins are often shown helping him rise. This suggests they are his sons helping their father be reborn. Because of this, Hun Hunahpu is sometimes called a 'maize deity' or 'first father'.

There is also a pottery scene that shows a cacao tree (chocolate tree) with a trophy head hanging from its branches. Some believe this trophy head is Hun Hunahpu's head. They think the head of the Maize God is what Hun Hunahpu's head changed into.

However, this idea that Hun Hunahpu is the Maize God needs more proof. The special name of the Maize God in Maya writing is not exactly the same as Hun Hunahpu's name. Also, in the Popol Vuh story, Hun Hunahpu's head was in a calabash tree, not a cacao tree.