Mesoamerican PantheonJourney
Descent into Xibalba
The voyage of Hunahpu and Xbalanque
The Hero Twins descend into the Maya underworld of Xibalba, surviving deadly houses and ballcourt trials to avenge their father and defeat the lords of death.
The route
The map illustrates the story's route. Pins are not evidence of an exact historical itinerary; some places are disputed or mythical.
Earthly Ballcourt
The twins play ball loudly enough to disturb the lords of Xibalba, who summon them below.
Challenge from Xibalba, Farewell to grandmother
Stop by stop
Earthly Ballcourt
The twins play ball loudly enough to disturb the lords of Xibalba, who summon them below.
Events: Challenge from Xibalba; Farewell to grandmother
Crossroads of Xibalba
Four roads (red, white, yellow, black) try to deceive travelers. The twins send a mosquito ahead to learn the lords’ names.
Events: False greetings; Naming the death lords
Dark House
A house of absolute darkness where the twins keep a torch and cigar lit only by fireflies, returning them unburned at dawn.
Events: Firefly ruse; Surviving darkness
Razor House
Blades move of their own accord. The twins speak kindly to the razors and pass unharmed.
Events: Pacifying the blades
Cold House
Ice and hail fill the chamber. The twins endure until morning.
Events: Enduring frost
Jaguar House
Hungry jaguars wait. The twins throw bones to sate them and walk out at dawn.
Events: Feeding the jaguars
Bat House
Camazotz bats fill the dark. Hunahpu’s head is severed; Xbalanque replaces it with a squash until the ballgame restores him.
Events: Camazotz attack; Squash-head ruse
Ballcourt of Xibalba
The twins defeat the death lords at their own game, refuse false sacrifices, and rise as sun and moon, light over death.
Events: Final ballgame; Defeat of death lords; Apotheosis as sun and moon
About this journey
By Elizabeth Stein for Mythos Atlas. About the author. Editorial notes are grounded in the site's cited sources and can be challenged through the contact page.
Routes follow the named source; other tellings order or place the stops differently.