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Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Yopaat King of Quirigiá

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Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Yopaat King of Quirigiá

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He was a king that had ruled a rather outskirts like city, He was a ruler that was more fierce than he was reserved. His Rulership was more or less shadowed by the city of copan at the time. This caused his people to suffer in silence and be something more of a sacrifice for the city of copan so in their eyes him and his people weren't much of value. Soon after, he and his people raided copan and beheaded   Uaxaclajuun Ubʼaah Kʼawiil who was the leader of copan at the time. This caused his city to rise to greatness and bring about prosperity for his people, a golden age if you will. This victory brought Quirigiá out if the shadows although it led to the decline of copan. He was written in stone as the legendary king and someone  who had served his people well. passing away in 785 A.D, His successor "Sky Xul" created a monument for his father now know as zoomorph G in light of his accomplishments and independence of copan.

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https://ambergriscaye.com/photogallery/190405.html

https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fea2.12007

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_moon_goddess

https://www.google.com/search?q=Naachtun+stela+18&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiPvIPp-sntAhWFHTQIHX0cDIcQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Naachtun+stela+18&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1Cy6QNYlPQDYPb2A2gAcAB4AIABAIgBAJIBAJgBCaABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=7oLVX4-NM4W70PEP_biwuAg&bih=741&biw=845&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS868US871

https://ambergriscaye.com/photogallery/190405.html

Warrior Queens Among The Classic Maya

Kathryn Reese- Taylor, Peter Mathews,

Julia Guernsey, and Marlene Fritzler.

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The style of the Moon Goddess was used by woman during war, with their beaded net skirts they would trample the enemy. Often when carrying weapons they would also dress up as the Moon Goddess when holding military equipment.

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This city was located in North central Peten which was 40 km south of south east Calakmul. Archaeologists have found as many as 47 stelae and one stela 18, which shows a woman mashing a constricted Uxetun caged under her. The buildings were established in the central Yucatecan architectural style. strongly influenced by the north. Naachtum has a southern style. The Stela 18 monument was carved and thew back side is left un scribed.

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Mayan woman wore the Beaded net skirt in ceremonies. The skirt affiliated with the Maize God and the Moon Goddess. The diamond pattern on the skirt is said to be a symbol of the Maize God's resurrection. It is said that the shell hanging from the fish belt was connected to women specifically the Moon Goddess. The beaded net skirt worked to cover the woman's body. It was a long skirt that went over the knees and was loose fitting which covered most of the body. This was used by queens who presented as Moon Goddesses.

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Mayan Queens and Goddess: Queen Ix K'ab'el

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Mayan Queens and Goddess: Queen Ix K'ab'el

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Queen Ix K'ab'el was named as an Ix Kaloomte'. She was teh sister of Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk, which was the king of Kaan. Ix K'ab'el married Kinich Bahlam of Waka', They set the alliance between the two kingdoms in the seventh century.  Maya queens ruled independently and also served as warrior queens. They would take leadership roles in the military. (Warrior Queens Among the Classic Maya).

This photograph was found in https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fea2.12007

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Queens carried the Kaloomte' that was correlated with kings. it was linked to militarism in the Maya Lowlands. and was recorded in the fifth century. dates are from 682 to 709. Five queens carried the Ix Kaloomte' title. Two of those queens were portrayed standing on top prisoners of war. The two queens were Ix K' awii Ek' of Coba and Ix Chan Ajaw of Naranjo. Both queens were from Kaan kingdom ruling lineage.The Kaloomte' is also used when mentioning Ix yok'in of Tikal who is known as Ix Kaloomte' on Stela 12.  It is dated to 9.4.13.0.0.  Ix K'ab'al Xook who was named as Ix Kaloomte' two times on Yaxchilan Lintel 24, and is dated to 681.
(Maya Queen and Goddess)
This photograph was found in : https://ambergriscaye.com/photogallery/190405.html

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Mayan Kings and Their Artifacts-References

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Mayan Kings and Their Artifacts-References

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(n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2020, from http://metmuseum.org/toah/ht/06/caa.html

British Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Discovering Rosalila. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://asociacioncopan.org/discovering-rosalila/

Exhibits on the Plaza. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/maya/mmp09eng.html

The Mayan Calendar. (2019, January 26). Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://www.historyonthenet.com/the-mayan-calendar

W0994 Quirigua: Zoomorfo G. (2014, July 04). Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://uncoveredhistory.com/guatemala/quirigua/quirigua-zoomorph-g/attachment/w0994-quirigua-zoomorfo-g-3/

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Bardsley, Sandra Noble

2004      Rewriting History at Yaxchilan: Inaugural Art of Bird Jaguar IV. Originally published in Seventh Palenque Round Table, 1989, edited by merle Greene Robertson and Virginia M. Fields, pp. 1-11. Pre-Columbian Art Research Institute, San Francisco.

Josserand, J. Kathryn

2007      “The Missing Heir at Yaxchilan: Literary Analysis of a Maya Historical Puzzle”, pp. 295-313. Vol. 18, No. 3. Department of Anthropology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.

Ellis, Dusty

2018      Cultural and Historical Views of Women in Ancient Mayan Civilization through Sculpture, pp. 1-22, Midland College, Midland, Texas.

Gayle, Damien

2012      “Raiding the Tomb of The Holy Snake Lord: Researchers Uncover 7th Century Resting Place of the Maya’s Great Warrior Queen.” Daily Mail, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2212761/Raiding-tomb-Holy-Snake-Lord-Researchers-uncover-7th-Century-resting-place-Mayas-great-warrior-queen.html

2017      Lady K’abel – A “Supreme Warrior.” Ancient Maya Life, https://ancientmayalife.blogspot.com/2017/12/lady-kabel-supreme-warrior.html.
Metcalfe, Tom.

2020      “Maya Warrior Queen May Have Built the Longest ‘White Road’ In The Yucatan.” Live Science, https://www.livescience.com/maya-warrior-queen-white-road-discovered.html.

Yucatan Times

2020    "The Mayan warrior queen who built the longest "Sac-be" in the Yucatan." https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2020/03/the-mayan-warrior-queen-who-built-the-longest-sac-be-in-the-yucatan/.

"Lady Xoc" Google Arts & Culture, https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/lady-xoc/m0263q92?hl=en

2020.    “Xoc, Lady (C. 660 – C. 720).” Encyclopedia, https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/xoc-lady-c-660-c-720

Ruckle, Haley.

2014      “The First Female Ruler in Recorded Maya History: Yohl Ik’nal.” Bulb, https://www.bulbapp.com/u/the-first-female-ruler-in-recorded-maya-history-yohl-iknal.

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The only original architecture left standing by the ancient mayans, This building was left standing in pristine condition and to this day still stands. This building was created for ceremonial and religious purposes. There were artifacts discovered within the temple when it was opened that stood the test if time such as the sacrificial tool and items that they had used then. Built with exquisite stucco design and the last of it's design which makes it the only one of its kind left behind front he mayans. The building or temple was built amoung one of the tallest point withing the acropolis facing west I. which they Maya believed was the direction of the underworld. There is alot if lore that follows the walls and artifacts within the temple itself which makes it so rich in history and simply the only of it's kind.

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Yohl Ik'nal - Lady Kan Ik, First female ruler of Palenque (Photograph from Haley Ruckle 2014) 

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Yohl Ik'nal - Lady Kan Ik, First female ruler of Palenque (Photograph from Haley Ruckle 2014) 

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The very first known Maya leader was Yohl Ik’nal also very famous known as Lady Kan Ik, or Lady K’🤬 Ik’nal. Lady Kan Ik was the ruler of Palenque in 583 A.D. She ruled Palenque for a full period, which for a Mayan ruler is 21 years. She was one of the very few women to rule during the Classic period. Lady Kan Ik became a ruler after the death of K’uk’ B’alam I, who was the founder of the Palenque Dynasty. It is unknown is Lady Kan Ik was the daughter of K’uk’ B’alam, or if she was his sister. Lady Kan Ik later married the King named Janaab’ Pakal. They both had a daughter named Lady Sak Ku’uk’. Lady Kan Ik is known to also be the grandmother of one of the greatest Kings that Mayan society has had, K’inich Jannab’ Pakal. Palenque was the Mayan City that Lady Kan Ik and her family ruled over for many years. Lady Kan Ik was one of the few warrior queens in the Classic era to lead a city and to have a full royal title. Lady Kan Ik also ruled by her own will, and right as being part of the royal family. In her grandson’s tomb, she was considered to be a person of importance that she got portrayed twice. She was also sculpted on the wall of his tomb. Lady Kan Ik is considered to be a very important ruler of the Mayan people, because she was the one who first started the time where women were allowed to rule, and also because she was a member of on the greatest families to rule in ancient Maya.

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Lady Eveningstar of Yaxchilan (Photograph from Alamy Stock Photo 2010)

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Lady Eveningstar of Yaxchilan (Photograph from Alamy Stock Photo 2010)

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A foreign woman who was originally from Calakmul, named Lady Ik’Skull, eventually changed her name to Lady Evening star when she relocated to Yaxchilan. Lady Evening star was the mother of the successor Bird Jaguar IV. When Bird Jaguar IV successful accessions to the throne at the age of 43, he misinforms the city of Yaxchilan that he is the legitimate successor to the throne along with his son Chel Te. Later in life his son took the throne, taking his grandfather’s name, Shield Jaguar III. To make his claim about his legitimacy to the throne, Bird Jaguar presents his own mother to a high-ranking position. Bird Jaguar later builds monuments to show his mother Lady Evening star at the side of his father Shield Jaguar II. The monuments were a direct imitation of those of Shield Jaguar II with his first wife Lady Xok’s. Lady Evening star is known to have performed a self-sacrifice that was allowed by the deities. It is speculated that Lady Evening star may have ruled after the death of her husband Shield Jaguar II. After Bird Jaguar came to age to rightfully take the throne is when its known that Lady Evening star stopped ruling the city of Yaxchilan.

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Ix K'ab'el - Lady Snake Lord (Photograph from Shannon Palus and Tasha Eichenseher 2014)

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Ix K'ab'el - Lady Snake Lord (Photograph from Shannon Palus and Tasha Eichenseher 2014)

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Lady K’abel was famously known as the Supreme Warrior or as Lady Snake Lord. During the classic period she was one of the most powerful women of her time. She even more powerful than her husband K’inich Bahlam. Just like Lady Yohl Ik’nal, they both served a term of 20 years behind the throne. Lady K’abel received her famous known name Lady Snake Lord because she had governed the Wak kingdom for her family, which translates to snake dynasty. She also ruled with her husband K’inich Bahlam under the title of Kaloomte, which means Supreme Warrior, which is where she gets her other name. The title of Kaloomte also gave her higher authority, which was even higher than the kings. Just like Lady Evening star, she ruled for about 20 years. Many historians believe that one of the communities that Lady K’abel often battled was onced ruled by the King El Zotz and his kingdom Tikal. In one of Lady K’abel’s Stelae’s she is seen with her attendant that it is believed to have had dwarfism and was playing music. There is a theory wondering if her attendant, Pah Tuun Ahk, was a former citizen of Calakmul. The main reason behind this speculation is because it is known that El Peru-Waka does not have any monuments that display any individuals with dwarfism other than the one with Lady K’abel.

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Lady K'abal Xook, Queen of Yaxchilan (Photograph from Andrew D. Turner and Michael D. Coe 2018)

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Lady K'abal Xook, Queen of Yaxchilan (Photograph from Andrew D. Turner and Michael D. Coe 2018)

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Lady K’ab’al Xook is very well known in various names such as Lady Xoc or even Maya Queen consort of Yaxchilan. Lady K’ab’al Xook is considered to be one of the most powerful and notorious women in the Maya civilization. Lady K’ab’al Xook’s was married to Itzamnaaj B’alam II, who was also his nephew. Itzamnaaj B’alam ruled as a notorious king of Yaxchilan from 681 to 742. Many archaeologists believed that she could have been the sister of Lady Pacal. Many individuals as well aware of Lady K’ab’al Xook for embellishing Structure 23 in Yaxchilan with 3 lintels that portray her performing one of her many rituals. Many of Lady K’ab’al Xook structures you can see imagery of her performing many ritual sacrifices, which was not a common thing to see when it came to women being portrayed doing in the ancient Maya art. Because of Lady K’ab’al Xook lintels, we get a deeper understanding in how involved the warrior queens were when it came to Maya rituals and politics. One of Lady K’ab’al Xook famous lintel is where she is seen kneeling next to a standing Shield Jaguar who is dressed in a ceremonial costume. She is then seen drawing a thorn-lined rope through her mutilated tongue. She then lets it go of the rope which falls directly into the basket. And it is seen that her blood is being caught by a stingray spine. The basket with the rope is known to being burnt later to send the blood that has fallen into it to the gods.

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Lady K'awiil Ajaw (Photograph from Traci Ardren and Dominique Meyer 2020)

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Lady K'awiil Ajaw (Photograph from Traci Ardren and Dominique Meyer 2020)

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The warrior queen known as Lady K’awiil Ajaw is very well know for building a road that is approximately 60 miles long to the west just to conquer and take control over the city of Yaxuna. Lady K’awiil Ajaw could have been one of the most powerful rulers of ancient Coba. In the stone monuments carved in her memory, you can see her standing over her captives. Some archaeologists believe that after Lady K’awiil Ajaw’s took control over Coba, that her power began to decline, and believed that Chichen Itza became even more powerful in the centuries that followed. It is believed that the whole reason behind the invasion of Yazxuna, might have been to contradict the growing power that Chichen Itza was gaining. Although, Coba itself was already one of the most powerful cities in the ancient Maya, and Lady K’awiil Ajaw was also a great powerful warlike ruler. It is believed that because Coba is a very traditional classic Mayan city in the form of the dynastic family, that all its power is centered in one place only. While Chichen Itza has a more of a different economic and political model. And because tradition is especially important when it comes to royalty or rulers, it was very important that Chichen Itza did not change the traditions of the Maya culture. Although Lady K’awiil Ajaw sent individuals to build the road, it is still unknown if she order for the road to be done under her command of if she had volunteers to do the road voluntary.

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Cartwright, Mark. Palenque. 7 October 2014. Article. 11 December 2020. <https://www.ancient.eu/Palenque/>.

Guenter, Stanley. "The Tomb of K'inich Janaab Pakal: The Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque." n.d. Mesoweb Articles. 10 December 2020. <http://www.mesoweb.com/articles/guenter/TI.pdf>.

Heyworth, Robin. Tomb of the Red Queen of Palenque. 22 December 2015. Article. 11 December 2020. <https://uncoveredhistory.com/mexico/palenque/tomb-of-the-red-queen/>.

Hill, Bryan. Palenque and the Great Temple of the Inscriptions: A Site Built for a King. 22 July 2018. Article. 11 December 2020. <https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-americas/palenque-and-great-temple-inscriptions-site-built-king-003370>.

Kimbell Art. Censer Stand with the Head of the Jaguar God of the Underworld. 2013. Sculpture. 10 December 2020. <https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/censer-stand-with-the-head-of-the-jaguar-god-of-the-underworld-precolumbian/pwEk0gt2jcQ6bA>.

Tiesler, V., A. Cucina and A. Romano Pacheco. "Who was the Red Queen? Identity of the female Maya dignitary from the sarcophagus tomb of Temple XIII, Palenque, Mexico." 26 August 2003. Science Direct. Article. 11 December 2020. <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0018442X04000101#!>.

Rice, Prudence M. “RETHINKING CLASSIC LOWLAND MAYA POTTERY CENSERS.” Ancient Mesoamerica, vol. 10, no. 1, 1999, pp. 25–50., doi:10.1017/S0956536199101020.

Houston, Stephen D. “Symbolic Sweatbaths of the Maya: Architectural Meaning in the Cross Group at Palenque, Mexico.” Latin American Antiquity, vol. 7, no. 2, 1996, pp. 132–151. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/971614. Accessed 12 Dec. 2020.

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The image below was retrieved from the article “K’inich Janaab’ Pakal”, on the website Ancient History Encyclopedia and written by Joshua J. Mark. K’inich Janaab’ Pakal (or Pakal/‘Pakal the Great’/Lord Janahb Pakal of Palenque) was an important figure in Maya history. Pakal reigned Palenque from 615 CE to 683 CE and is regarded as the most influential Maya king and longest reigning king. “Born in 603 and dying eighty years later after a reign of 68 years, K’inich Janaab Pakal I was the greatest king of Palenque, a conclusion of both modern scholars and the ancient Maya of Palenque themselves. All of Pakal’s successors made copious reference to him in their own texts, two of them even taking his illustrious name as their own.”(Guenter) Pakal is known for raising Palenque to its glory and great power through his big building projects, the Temple of the Inscriptions, and the elaborately designed sarcophagus lid. Pakal was successor to his mother, Lady Sak K’uk (or Muwaan Mat/Lady Beastie) who was also reigned as Queen of Palenque from 612 CE to 615 CE. Although this may be true, Lady Sak K’uk was only Queen for a limited period because in 611 CE the reigning king, Ajen Yohl Mat (or Aj Ne’ Ohl Mat, Ac Kan, Ah Lawal Mat), died but the future king Pakal was not old enough to dawn the title. Pakal assumed the throne at 12, in 615 CE, but still continued to receive guidance from his mother until her death in 640 CE. He was also married to Lady Tz’akbu Ajaw, also known as the Red Queen. Pakal reigned over Palenque until he was 80.

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Illustration

by Wolfgang Sauber
published on 02 October 2014

Send to Google Classroom:

The jade death mask of Maya king Kinich Janaab Pacal, c. 683 CE, Palenque. (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City)

License

Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished. Original image by Wolfgang Sauber. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, published on 02 October 2014 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.

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by Wolfgang Sauber published on 02 October 2014 Send to Google Classroom: Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished. Original image by Wolfgang Sauber. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, published on 02 October 2014 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike.

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The Great King K'inich Janaab' and his great sarcophagus 

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The Great King K'inich Janaab' and his great sarcophagus 

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This ruler had the longest reign of any king in Mayan civilization. This king started his rule very young which was at the very young age of twelve years old in which his mother helped him rule until he became of age and experience. Once he had the lead, he began to expand his land through conquest having been a leader to lead by the ways of the warrior. Not only did he do amazing things such as bringing his cities from outskirt to greatness, he had also contributed amazing buildings and architecture to the world that he lived in which are the temple of inscriptions and the royal palace just to name a couple. After his death and rule of 70 years Pakal the great was entombed in a sarcophagus that was like none other. The sarcophagus came first and the temple was built around it which only begins to tell you how important this man was. The carved edges of his sarcophagus narrated the story of his life and his forebears along with his family and the rulers before his, all carved into this one man's resting place. The top of the sarcophagus itself is one of the most astonishing artworks the Maya had ever made. It depicts Pakal being reborn into another life where he ascends with the gods.

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Yax K'uk Mo' or " Radiant First Quetzal Macaw" was the first known king of Mayan civilization. Little was know about this ruler other than a few little know facts. This ruler essentially recreated the city of copan through his great political skills that he was mentioned to have. He came from another region entirely and assumed control through military action which was obtaining the snake footed k'awiil Sceptre. This ruler had reigned for 11 years both politically and militarily serving his people in any manner that he could. He was well respected and paved the way for kings of the future to take his place and treat their people the proper way. This ruler was wounded in a battle which led to his death soon after. It in for told in the hieroglyphics that he was the "Lord of the west" having been a particularly good fighter saying to have been blessed by the rain god Tlaloc which is linked to his "famous goggles" that are carved into his statue.

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The image below was retrieved from the article “The Red Queen and Her Sisters: Women of Power in Golden Kingdoms”, written by Joanne Pillsbury. The image shows the burial mask of the Red Queen that was recovered from her tomb deep within Temple XIII. “The osteological analyses identify the Red Queen as a mature female, who died at an approximate age of 50-60 years according to macroscopic and histological evidence.”(Tiesler, Cucina, Pacheco) The Red Queen, also known as Tz’akbu Ajaw, was the wife of K’inich Janaab’ Packal (Packal the Great). Pakal and Tz’akbu Ajaw married in 626AD when she was 16 and they ruled Palenque together, transforming it into one of the strongest cities of the Maya period. Tz’akbu Ajaw gave birth to three sons, Kan Bahlam II, K’an Joy Chitam II, and Tiwol Chan Mat, who would all influence Palenque in later years.(Heyworth) It is believed that Sak K’uk, Pakal’s mother, played a big role in the marriage arrangement between Pakal and Tz’akbu Ajaw due to the strong belief in blood and family ties of the Maya. The discovery of Tz’akbu Ajaw strengthened the belief that a woman’s role in the Maya was especially important. There were three women who had the most influence In Palenque: “Yohl lk Naal, the first and only Queen of Palenque; Sak K’uk, the mother of Pakal; and Tz’akbu Ajaw, Pakal’s wife of almost 50 years.”(Heyworth) It is believed that Tz’akbu Ajaw had lived a long, illustrious life but suffered from severe osteoporotic conditions in her later life. Tz’akbu Ajaw died in 672 AD.

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Doyle, James. "A Maya Game of Thrones and Artistic Innovation in Golden Kingdoms." In Now at The Met. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2018, https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/now-at-the-met/2018/golden-kingdoms-calakmul-palenque-maya-game-of-thrones.

Pillsbury, Joanne. "The Red Queen and Her Sisters: Women of Power in Golden Kingdoms." In Now at The Met. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2018, https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/now-at-the-met/2018/golden-kingdoms-red-queen-women-of-power.

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Mask of the Red Queen | Maya | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Doyle, James. "A Maya Game of Thrones and Artistic Innovation in Golden Kingdoms." In Now at The Met. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2018, https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/now-at-the-met/2018/golden-kingdoms-calakmul-palenque-maya-game-of-thrones. Pillsbury, Joanne. "The Red Queen and Her Sisters: Women of Power in Golden Kingdoms." In Now at The Met.

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The Maya had a day that was very special and particular to them, this day was called the day of "Ahau". This day was unparalleled in importance when it came to the Rulerships, on this day, a person was chosen to be become a lord or king in which their status became known to the people. On this day, they basically immortalized themselves with the ceremony that came after. This is when they were carved into a ceremonial stone know as a "Tzolkin" or a sacred round. This was a calendar that they were carved into the middle of, These calenders consisted of 13 months, each lasting a 20 day mark in which each month represented a god that they worshipped. After the calenders was finished, that person was now a human/god hybrid in their eyes and was immortalized in time from that point on.

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Palenque- Temple of the Inscriptions/Tomb of "Pakal the Great"

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Palenque- Temple of the Inscriptions/Tomb of "Pakal the Great"

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The image below was retrieved from an article called “Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque” on the Ancient History Encyclopedia website and uploaded by Jan Harenburg. The Temple of the Inscriptions is regarded as “one of the most famous structures of the ancient Maya world. It has received the attention of countless scholars for more than two centuries.”(Guenter) The Temple of the Inscriptions was specifically built for the funerary purposes of K’inich Janaab’ Pakal, who is known as the greatest King of Palenque. Pakal started the construction of the Temple of the Inscriptions during his lifetime but died before it was completed. His son and successor K’inich Kan B’alam II completed the temple in 683 AD. The Temple of the Inscriptions are not only famous for the Tomb of Pakal the Great, but it also housed large tablets covered with large hieroglyphic text. “The long hieroglyphic text that covers three large tablets placed inside between the temple’s outer and inner rooms provided the name for this building, and this text remains the longest legible Maya text yet found.”(Guenter) In addition, Alberto Ruz Lhuillier excavated the tomb between 1949 and 1952 and uncovered the massive, elaborately designed sarcophagus lid. The Temple of the Inscriptions was elaborately designed inside and out as well. The front of the temple has five entrances beside five piers that are covered in interesting images and hieroglyphic texts written in Maya script. It is believed the hieroglyphic text on the, East, Central, and West Tablets “emphasize the idea that events that happened in the past will be repeated on the same calendar date and constitute the second longest known Maya inscriptions, 617 glyphs.”(Hill) Today, profits earned from tourists who visit the Temple of the Inscriptions, support the economy and preservation efforts of modern day Palenque.

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Illustration

by Jan Harenburg
published on 02 October 2014

Send to Google Classroom:

The Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque, Mexico. The pyramid was completed c. 682 CE and used as the tomb of the Maya king Kinich Janaab Pacal (r. 615-683 CE).

License

Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished. Original image by Jan Harenburg. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, published on 02 October 2014 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution. This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered, in terms of what others can do with your works licensed under Attribution. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.

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by Jan Harenburg published on 02 October 2014 Send to Google Classroom: Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished. Original image by Jan Harenburg. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, published on 02 October 2014 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution.

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The image below was retrieved from an article called “Palenque” by the Ancient History Encyclopedia. It shows the ‘Cross Group’ Temples at Palenque—The Temples of the Sun, the Cross, and the Foliated Cross. Palenque is located at the low point in a chain of foothills of the Chiapas of modern Mexico. Palenque was considered one of the main cities that flourished between c. 600 and 750 CE, alongside Tikal and Calakmul. Palenque’s name was derived from the Spanish, which meant “fortified place”, but the original Maya name was Lakamha.(Cartwright) Each temple is believed to be dedicated to three brothers who ruled during the existence of Palenque, known as the “Palenque Triad”: “the Temple of the Cross with the deity known as ‘GI’, the Temple of the Foliated Cross with ‘GII”, and the Temple of the Sun with ‘GIII’.”(Houston, Stuart) Among these three brothers includes Pakal the Great, the maize god. Pakal reigned Palenque from 615 CE to 683 CE and is regarded as the most influential Maya king. Palenque also includes the Palace which was more than likely built by Pakal during his reign. In addition, the temples are believed to be “sweatbaths” used by the Maya to clean themselves and get warm. “Most sweatbaths are low, small, and tightly sealed, with entrances that are quite narrow. A few are semisubterranean, the better to conserve heat.”(Houston, Stephen) Palenque’s architecture can be divided into the Early, Middle, and Late Classic periods, although majority of the large buildings are traced to the middle period. The Late Classic period of architecture can be seen in the fortifications built for defense against invaders from the Gulf Coast. Palenque is believed to be the most densely populated of all Maya cities, with over 1,000 built structures for varying functions.

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The Temple of the Sun at the Maya city of Palenque, Mexico. The temple was built in the late 7th century CE as part of the complex known as the Group of the Cross by King K'an Bahlam.

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Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished. Original image by Alejandro Linares Garcia. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, published on 02 October 2014 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.

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Please help us create teaching materials on Mesopotamia (including several complete lessons with worksheets, activities, answers, essay questions, and more), which will be free to download for teachers all over the world. Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished. Original image by Alejandro Linares Garcia.

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The image below was retrieved from the webpage “Censer Stand with the Head of the Jaguar God of the Underworld, c. A.D. 690-720 on the Kimbell Art Museum website. Monumental ceramic censer stands were a part of the ceremonial and ritual paraphernalia of Palenque, one of strongest cities of the Maya period. Being such large and eloquently designed sculptures, they were mainly made to commemorate and represent gods, specifically the “Palenque Triad”. The censers consisted of “a stand and a brazier-bowl, which was placed on top and used for burning copal incense.”(Kimbell) Interestingly, there were different two different types of censers that were used by the Maya and are simply divided between image or effigy, and non-image. “Classic image censers were part of the paraphernalia of divine kingship, associated with termination rituals and a royal funerary cult. Non-image and particularly spiked censers were more associated with birth/renewal, earth, rain, and calendrical rituals involving fire drilling.”(Rice) Nevertheless, the censer featured in the image is considered to be in the Late Classic period and its dimensions are: 44 x 22 x 12 ¼ in. (111.8 x 55.9 x 31.1 cm).(Kimbell) In more detail, the censer possesses a unique design of five vertical tiered heads, each representing a different figure from Maya culture. The following description is heavily referenced to the Kimbell website: Starting from the bottom to the top, the lowest head is the Maize God with leaves and corn kernels. The next head is the “Jaguar God of the Underworld who represents the sun at night during its Underworld journey from dusk to dawn. The Jaguar God head is capped by Itzamye, the serpent-bird that was killed in the branches of the World Tree just prior to the creation of the present world… Above Itzamye is an unrecognizable head, which is capped by Itzamna, the paramount sky god of the Maya, who resided at the top of the heavens. A small jaguar is perched in Itzamna’s headdress.”(Kimbell)

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Monumental ceramic censer stands are some of the finest and largest freestanding sculptures created by Maya artists. The sophistication and craftsmanship demonstrated in this stand are indicative of Palenque, an important Maya city-state located in current-day Chiapas, Mexico, that flourished in the seventh century. Ceramic censers (incensarios) were an important component of ritual paraphernalia and ceremonial life at Palenque. They were used to represent and venerate divine beings, primarily the deities of the Palenque triad (called GI, GII, and GIII). Censers were composed of a stand and a brazier-bowl (now missing), which was placed on top and used for burning copal incense. The stands were elaborately embellished with a variety of iconographic elements, most often featuring the Jaguar God of the Underworld (GIII). For the Maya, the center of the universe was the Axis Mundi, or World Tree, which had roots growing deep in the sea under the earth and branches that rose to support the heavens. Symbolically, the tubular bodies of the censers formed cosmic trees that made the movement of deities through the cosmos possible during ritual acts.

This censer stand is sculpted with a vertical tier of five heads. The lowest head is a version of the Maize God with attached leaves containing corn kernels. He represents the Underworld, as maize grows from under the earth. Above the Maize God's head is the principal head of the Jaguar God of the Underworld who represents the sun at night during its Underworld journey from dusk to dawn. The Jaguar God head is capped by Itzamye, the serpent- bird that was killed in the branches of the World Tree just prior to the creation of the present world, according to the Maya creation epic, the Popol Vuh. Artistically, the shift from the Jaguar God of the Underworld to Itzamye symbolizes the surface of the earth and the interface between the Underworld and the celestial realm. In the headdress of Itzamye is a small figure that may be a version of the Jester God, a signifier of rulership. Above Itzamye is an unrecognizable head, which is capped by Itzamna, the paramount sky god of the Maya, who resided at the top of the heavens. A small jaguar is perched in Itzamna's headdress.

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Censer Stand with the Head of the Jaguar God of the Underworld - Precolumbian - Google Arts & Culture

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Monumental ceramic censer stands are some of the finest and largest freestanding sculptures created by Maya artists. The sophistication and craftsmanship demonstrated in this stand are indicative of Palenque, an important Maya city-state located in current-day Chiapas, Mexico, that flourished in the seventh century.

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The Snake Kingdom - Calakmul Stela 51 (Photograph from Littlejohn 2020)

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The Snake Kingdom - Calakmul Stela 51 (Photograph from Littlejohn 2020)

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Stela 51 was discovered in Calakmul in 1931 near the base of structure I and was one of the few moments that was largely intact and comprehensive. Stela 51 depicts the Calakmul King Yuknoom Took’ Kawiil who erected the monument in 731 CE, making it one of the last monuments made during his reign (Littlejohn 2020). Yuknoom Took’ Kawiil was ultimately one of the last rulers before the decline of Calakmul after defeats to Tikal in the 8th century.

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The Snake Kingdom - The Maya Frieze (Photograph from 

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The Snake Kingdom - The Maya Frieze (Photograph from 

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Found within the Holmul ruins of Guatemala were tombs that contained an almost perfectly preserved Maya frieze (a horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration) which depicted a mythological setting with a ruler sitting atop the head of a Maya mountain setting (Klimczak 2016). The Maya frieze dates back to 650-700 AD and gives further indication of the reaches of the Snake Kingdom. The Maya frieze revealed that the ruler of the city Naranjo, considered to be a vassal of the Snake Kingdom, commissioned the frieze. This new revelation truly shows the power and influence of the Snake Kingdom during its reign. The control of these very important city states such as Naranjo and Holmul were especially important for both Tikal and Calakmul (Snake Kingdom) during this time due to their proximity with Tikal. Until the founding of these tombs, it had actually been unclear which dynasties (or rulers) had control over Holmul. In a separate tome, a jade artifact containing the name of snake king Yuknoom Ti’ Chan, Holy King of Kaanul, was also found…providing further evidence of the Snake Kingdom’s rule (Klimczak 2016).

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The Snake Kingdom - La Corona Alter and the Maya "Game of Thrones" Dynasty (Photograph from Arana 2018)

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The Snake Kingdom - La Corona Alter and the Maya "Game of Thrones" Dynasty (Photograph from Arana 2018)

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This ancient alter was created out of limestone and was found at the La Corona archeological site near Mexico and Belize, therefore, title “La Corona alter”. The discovery was announced on September 12, 2018, by the National Museum of Archeology. The inscriptions on the slap provide a date equivalent to May 12, 544, approximately 1500 years ago. The writing on the slab further points to the power and reign of the Snake, or Ka’an, Kingdom. The inscriptions on the slab write about a king, Chak Took Ich’aak, and depicts him holding a double-headed serpent. The alter gives further insight on the La Corona King and his close political ties with the Snake Kingdom which further displays the strong dominance of the Snake Kingdom throughout the region. The slab outlines political strategies to expand and control the area and is even compared to the show “Game of Thrones”. Control and dominance throughout the region eventually led to more than 200 years of Snake Kingdom rule.

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The Snake Kingdom - Calakmul, Seat of the Snake Kingdom (Photograph from Littlejohn 2020)

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The Snake Kingdom - Calakmul, Seat of the Snake Kingdom (Photograph from Littlejohn 2020)

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The image below was collected from the article “Calakmul was Powerful Ancient Maya Seat of the Snake Kingdom” posted on Ancient Pages. Calakmul, a city founded in the 1930’s, was one of the most powerful city states in Maya history, along with Tikal and Palenque. Specifically, Calakmul was adopted by members of the Ka’an Dynasty, who originated from Dzibanche in today’s south eastern Mexico. The Ka’an Dynasty later became more widely known as the Snake Kingdom. Calakmul was said to have been founded around 600 - 400 BC; however, the Snake Dynasty did not rise to power until around 500 AD. During this reign, rulers referred to themselves as K’uhul Kaanal ajaw which translates to “Divine Lords of the Snake”. These rulers sought expansion and power and began establishing alliances with smaller towns and cities throughout the region, as war brewed between other powerful emerging cities such as Tikal and Palenque. However, of the two…Calakmul and Tikal essentially became each other’s archnemesis and had many victories over the other. The Snake Kingdom reportedly did have significant conflict with Palenque and can also be attributed for its decline. After a history of war and dominance throughout the region, the Snake Kingdom began to decline after its final war with Tikal and eventually collapsed around 800 AD. However, much of this great city was preserved as Calakmul was largely unaffected by the Spanish conquest leaving it a significant source of Maya culture and history.

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The Snake Kingdom - The Mask of Calakmul (Photograph from Truong 2015)

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The Snake Kingdom - The Mask of Calakmul (Photograph from Truong 2015)

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The Mask of Calakmul was found in 1984 in Tomb I of Structure VII in Calakmul and is estimated to have been made between 660 and 750 AD. The mask was made in Jade which was an extremely common source of material for jewelry and funerary masks of prominent figures in Maya culture and history. The use of jade signified divinity as it was considered the sacred stone of the Maize God. Much of the detail on the mask has deep spiritual meaning and, specifically, the shell fangs on both ears represent the serpent which also points to divine status. This contributes to the customs and beliefs of the Snake Kingdom where the rulers hold the title K’uhul Kanal Ajaw, “Divine Lords of the Serpent”. Masks similar to the Mask of Calakmul were used primarily for funerals so rulers could assume the face of the gods as they moved through the underworld and on to their rebirth.