In Zuni mythology, what are the twin war gods called?

In Zuni mythology, the twin war gods are called Ahayuta. They are also written as Ahayu’da or Ahayu:da, reflecting different systems for representing Zuni sounds. The pair are regarded as powerful protectors and are traditionally connected with the defense of the Zuni people.

According to accounts of Zuni tradition, the twins were created by Awonawilona, the Sun God, and were sent to protect the first people from enemies. Their powers are associated with lightning, warfare, and the maintenance of order. Stories about them describe heroic feats against dangerous giants and other threats.

Ahayuta is also important beyond mythology because carved representations of the twins are sacred religious objects. Zuni communities have worked for decades to recover Ahayu’da figures removed from shrines and placed in museums or private collections. These repatriation efforts helped draw national attention to the religious significance of Native cultural objects and contributed to the wider discussion surrounding the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.