indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Gender Feminine
Usage Mayan Mythology
Scripts Kʼicheʼ (Classical Maya): Xbaquiyalo
Other Forms FormsIxb’aquiyalo: An alternative spelling found in some texts.
Meaning & History
The exact etymology of Xbaquiyalo is not definitively established. Some interpretations suggest connections to concepts like "Little and Gory Bone" or "Little and Gory Kernel," possibly linking her to themes of death and the underworld.Xbaquiyalo is a figure in the Popol Vuh, the sacred narrative of the Kʼicheʼ Maya people. She is the wife of Hun Hunahpu, one of the "first twins," and the mother of the Monkey Twins, Hun Batz and Hun Chouen. These twins are known as the patron deities of the arts, including music, writing, and sculpture.Xbaquiyalo's role in the narrative is brief; she dies shortly after childbirth and is not mentioned further in the text.