Comparison and Contrast between Gilgamesh and Hunahpu

Hunahpu and Xbalanque are the two twins in the Popol Vuh. On the other hand, Enkidu and Gilgamesh are the characters in the Epic of Gilgamesh story. This paper will be comparing and contrasting the epic heroes with two twins in the Popol Vuh.

            Enkidu and Gilgamesh in Popol Vuh were just like how Gilgamesh and Enkidu were in the epic of Gilgamesh story. On the other hand, the variation between these heroes is that even though Enkidu and Gilgamesh had god-like powers, they never utilize it to assist other people as a result of their selfish satisfaction. Xbalanque and Hunahpu had a journey to the underworld to overcome of deep to ensure that the humans are at peace. Xbalanque and Hunahpu had little fear on death as compared to Gilgamesh and Enkidu who were mostly embraced by sacrificing themselves to be reincarnated to comeback to overcome the creatures in the underworld (Rocca, et al. 18).

            Both the heroes were similar in that they all had god-like powers to an extent where they can almost defeat gods who provided those powers. Xbalanque, as well as Hunahpu, pleased their gods to the extent that gods never wanted human beings to offer sacrifices anymore since what the two twins were doing were satisfying them. These made them receive more powers to overcome the creatures in the underworld and ensure that their people live in a peaceful world. In contrast to this, Enkidu and Gilgamesh usually seemed to be in trouble with the gods (Kovacs, 23). They usually abused the powers they were given to them and thus making gods angry. The gods, therefore, required more sacrifices from the people.

Works Cited

Kovacs, M. G. The epic of Gilgamesh. Stanford University Press, 2017.

Rocca, M., et al. Popol Vuh. 2016.