The
Maya Hero Twins are the central figures of a narrative included within the colonial
K'iche' document called
Popol Vuh, and constituting the oldest Maya myth to have been preserved in its entirety. Called
Hunahpu and
Xbalanque in the
K’iche’ language, the Twins have also been identified in the art of the Classic Mayas (200-900 AD). The Twin motif recurs in many Native American mythologies; the Maya Twins in particular could be considered as mythical ancestors to the Maya ruling lineages.