Khun Khun Ahpu ( Khun Khunapu ; [hunhunaxˈpu] , calendar name “Head-Apu I”) is one of the heroes of Mayan mythology .
Content
In Popol-Vuh
Main article: Popol-Vuh
The book describes the period between two worlds, the time of magic and heroic events. The story described in Popol-Vuh refers to the birth of the first pair of twin heroes, children of previous creators. Their names are: Vukub Khun Ahpu and Khun Khun Ahpu.
When the brothers grew up, they were summoned to the underworld of Shibalbu for playing a very noisy ball. After terrible tortures, they were executed, the gods of Shibalba decapitated Khun Khun Ahpu and hung his head on a tree. The tree on which the gods of Shibalba placed the head of Hun Hunahpu was barren, but after they did this, it began to bear fruit. The inhabitants of Shibalba were forbidden to approach this tree, but the daughter of King Shibalba - Shkik (Xcic), violated the ban. Then the head of Hun Hunahpu suddenly came to life, spat in her palm, and she became pregnant. Lady Blood was driven out, where she gave birth to a new pair of legendary twin heroes, Hunahpu and Shbalanka .
The children of Hun Hunahpu and Shkik performed many feats: they defeated the evil half-brothers, killed the terrible bird Vukub-Kakish, beat the kings of the underworld in the ball [1] and were able to resurrect their father. According to the epic, Hun Hunahpu was reborn as a hitherto unknown plant - maize .
This myth is often seen as a metaphor for the agricultural cycle and annual crop revival. So when the Mayans sow maize, they send grain to the underworld, but maize "is reborn" in the form of a young sprout.
Notes
- ↑ Justin Kerr suggested that the ball game itself could symbolize the resurrection, if we consider the ball court as a split on the ground, similar to the split in the tortoise shell seen on the Resurrection Plast from which the Corn God emerges.
Literature
- Michael D. Coe, Justin Kerr . The Art of the Maya Scribe. Harry N. Abrams Inc., New York, 1998
- Myths of the peoples of the world. Encyclopedia. Ch. ed. Tokarev S.A. - M .: 1991.V. 2 - 719s.