Volcano of Water

The local Kaqchikel people have always called the volcano Hunapú "place of flowers" or Jun Ajpu' "one hunter" (The calendar date for the sacred site; a typical method for naming sacred sites in Mayan cosmovision) in current Kaqchikel orthography.[citation needed] The Spanish conquistadors also called it Hunapú until a lahar from the volcano on September 10, 1541[4] destroyed the original capital of Guatemala (now known as Ciudad Vieja) and the city was moved to Antigua Guatemala following this disaster. Among the casualties was the governor Beatriz de la Cueva.[5] As the lahar produced a destructive flood of water, this prompted the modern name "Volcán de Agua" meaning "Volcano of Water", in contrast to the nearby "Volcán de Fuego" or "Volcano of Fire". The Kaqchikels call Volcán de Fuego Chi Gag, which translates to "where the fire is" or Chi Q'aq' in current Kaqchikel orthography. A bustling city spreads out below a towering volcano beneath a sky filled with dramatic clouds. People gather at a scenic lookout, enjoying the expansive view of the landscape. Sunlight filters through the clouds, casting a soft glow over the buildings and greenery.