One Monkey and One Artisan Character Analysis

One Monkey and One Artisan are the sons of One Hunahpu and Egret Woman. These two dedicate their lives to becoming great artists, writers, and musicians. Both brothers are also very skilled at a traditional Mesoamerican ball game, and they spend much of their time playing with their father and their uncle, Seven Hunahpu. When the boys' father and uncle descend to Xibalba, they charge One Monkey and One Artisan with entertaining and caring for Xmucane. When Blood Moon gives birth to their younger brothers, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, the older brothers are jealous and incensed, even though the boys are aware that their brothers will be very important heroes. They attempt to orchestrate their baby brothers' deaths, but fail to do so and are finally tricked into becoming monkeys. Though this fate isn't construed entirely positively, One Monkey and One Artisan's monkey forms become the patron gods of artisans, writers, and musicians.