Hunab Ku, revision of a deity in the historia de Yucatan by Diego López Cogolludo

Abstract

In several studies on the Maya religion, a particular god is mentioned: Hunab Ku. He is a creator deity that, according to historical sources, had no representation and was incorporeal. Although some researchers have questioned the authenticity, it is not yet determined whether this divinity was or not a Pre-Hispanic Maya deity. Possibly the problem is that the data on Hunab Ku are used without considering the historical context in which they were enunciated and recorded. Therefore, this article has as main objective to know, identify and analyze Hunab Ku in the History of Yucatan by Diego López Cogolludo, which is one of the main sources that gives an account of his existence, as well as checking if it is a deity of Prehispanic origin or a title of the Christian god "translated" into the Mayan language. To acknowledge why López Cogolludo spoke about Hunab Ku, it is necessary to use the hermeneutic method, advantageous for historical analysis, to understand his work within his own historiographical context, as well as the construction of the historical discourse. After considering these aspects, we can attempt to understand who Hunab ku was.