Xmucane and Xpiyacoc
Last week we posted about Jun Ajpu & Xbalamqe, characters who are representations of the sun and moon.
As we continue to present the core protagonists of the Popol Wuh, you will notice a theme of duality throughout the stories. It is important to understand that the Maya have poetic expressions of this fundamental law of the universe.
As we continue to learn about their family, expect to find the same duality in their lineage. One of the upper world, and one of the underworld (Xibalba).
This week we will explore the upper world side with their father’s side of the family.
This may start getting a bit confusing so we have started to draw a family tree. This visual map will help guide you. Once we have covered all the names from The Popol Wuh, you will be given access to download a free digital copy in full resolution!
We are first introduced to the Grandparents of Jun Ajpu and Xbalamqe in the intro (preamble) of the Popol Wuh. Shortly after the destruction of the people made of mud, the grandparents are called on for their wisdom and knowledge to help at the second attempt to create humans. The people made out of wood.
This specific passage is narrated In the video for this post .You will note the grandparents are called by many names, followed by different titles and special attributes. As mentioned in the previous post, direct translation can get a bit complex but let's give it a shot.
There is no direct translation for their names but in Sam Colop’s Spanish translation, it says Xmukane, in old Kiche, is translated to “entierro en fosa”, “burial in (earth) pit” in English. It can also be translated into Spanish as “enterrada esta tu cola”, in English as “buried is your tail”. It is no coincidence that we sometimes see Xmukane with a snake headdress, as her name evokes similar characteristics to that of a serpent.
The translation Xpiyacoc is bit more elluisvie, but it has been argued that it can somewhat be translated in spanish to “está tu caparazón” in english “your shell is”
It has been proposed that they are actually constellations. Xmucane is the constellation of scorpio (the same in Greek astronomy), and Xpiyacoc the constellation of the turtle (composed with the Greek constellation of Orion's belt).
In the Maya Paris Codex, one can find drawings of two constellations together, one of a turtle and one of a scorpion. Rud Van Akkeren in his book Xibalba y el Nacimiento, talks of Kiche women in Rabinal who use scorpions and turtles together as designs in their textiles. In this part of Guatemala Xmukane is known as “muqje”, meaning “buried tail”. Xpiayoc is known as Piyakok, which means turtle or tortoise.
While there is still a lot of debate on their symbolism, it would make sense that their names and symbolism would be directly connected to the night sky. As we will see in the rest of the Popol Wuh, most of the story has astronomical connections.
These grandparents have two twins.
Jun Jun Apu (hoon hoon ah’h poo)
Jun (hoon) = the Kiche word for the number one
Aj (ah’h) = prefix meaning “the one who” or the “one who specializes in” like a professional or master.
Pu (poo) = blowdart hunter
Wukub Ajpu
Wukub (wu koob) = the Kiche word for the number seven
Aj (ah’h) = prefix meaning “the one who” or the “one who specializes in” like a professional or master.
Pu (poo) = blowdart hunter
Seven blowdart hunter
These twins were known as great Ball players of the Meso-American Ballgame, they were the first to be challenged by the lords of Xibalba. In our next post we will be heading to XIbalba to go over what happens here. Here we will meet Jun Ajpu & Xbalamqe’s lineage from their mother..
Up next..
Ixkik and the lords of Xiblaba
..stay tuned!!
Song from Video: Kunaxik By Grupo Sotz’il