What do the Yaxchilan lintels represent?
Table of Contents
Yaxchilán: a significant Maya center These lintels, commissioned by the rulers of the city, provide a lengthy dynastic record in both text and image. Lintels 24, 25 and 26, set above the three doorways of Structure 23, depict a series of rituals performed by Shield Jaguar II and his wife.
What is the importance of lintels 24 26 on structure 23 of Yaxchilan?
The three lintels on Structure 23—known as lintels 24, 25, and 26—depict different ritual moments in the life of Lady Xook. While they appear to have been carved years apart from one another, they seem to show a narrative.
What is yaxchilan made of?
Lintel 24 is the designation given by modern archaeologists to an ancient Maya limestone carving from Yaxchilan, in modern Chiapas, Mexico….Yaxchilan Lintel 24.
| Lintel 24 | |
|---|---|
| Material | Limestone |
| Created | Estimated to be 709 AD |
| Present location | British Museum, London, England |
What happened to the yaxchilan?
In 726, Yaxchilan was defeated by its rival Piedras Negras, an event described on Piedras Negras Stela 8.
Who created lintel 24?
Lady K’abal Xook, his most prominent wife, initiated three extraordinary sculptures for the front doorways of structure 23: lintels 24,25 and 26. These works mark a remarkable era of artistic and… political vigour for the city.
Why was yaxchilan built?
Brief History of Yaxchilan Yaxchilan was a large urban center and the dominant power of the Usumacinta River during the Classic Era. The location of Yaxchilan is unique. It was built on the curve of the Usumacinta River which proved a natural moat for protection.
Why was Yaxchilan built?
Who discovered Yaxchilan?
Temple 23 and its Lintels Temple 23’s lintels were rediscovered in 1886 by the British explorer Alfred Maudslay, who had the lintels cut out of the temple and sent to the British Museum where they are now located.
Who built Yaxchilan?
While the names of at least fifteen kings are recorded in the texts, the most important of these were Shield Jaguar I (647–742 ce) and Bird Jaguar IV (709–c. 770 ce), rulers responsible for building most of Yaxchilán’s temples and monuments.
Who built the yaxchilan?
ruler Bird Jaguar IV
Located in the central acropolis, Structure 33 represents the apex of Yaxchilán architecture and its Classic development. The temple was probably constructed by the ruler Bird Jaguar IV or dedicated to him by his son.
When was yaxchilan built?
8th century CE
The structure was built in honour of the mid-8th century CE Yaxchilan ruler Bird-Jaguar (ruled 752-768 CE) whose likeness appeared in stucco decorations in the centre of the building’s roof comb. In front of the building is a carved stalactite which represents a sacred cave.
When was yaxchilan created?
Yaxchilán was founded in the 5th century AD and reached its maximum splendor in the 8th century AD. Famous for its more than 130 stone monuments, among which include carved lintels and stelae depicting images of royal life, the site also represents one of the most elegant examples of classic Maya architecture.
What are the main buildings in Yaxchilán?
Here the main buildings are several temples, two ballcourts, and one of the two hieroglyphic stairways. Located in the central acropolis, Structure 33 represents the apex of Yaxchilán architecture and its Classic development.
What is the Central Acropolis of Yaxchilan?
The heart of Yaxchilan is called the Central Acropolis, which overlooks the main plaza. Here the main buildings are several temples, two ballcourts, and one of the two hieroglyphic stairways. Located in the central acropolis, Structure 33 represents the apex of Yaxchilán architecture and its Classic development.
What are the lintels of Yaxchilán?
The lintels exemplify the skilled carving of Maya artists at Yaxchilán—and the Maya more generally. The scenes are carved in high relief with carefully incised details decorating the raised surfaces. A beautiful diamond pattern decorates Lady Xook’s huipil, for instance, in Lintel 24 (below).
What is the history of Yaxchilan?
Between the 7th and 8th centuries AD, Yaxchilán gained power and independence under the rulers Itzamnaaj B’alam II and his son Bird Jaguar IV. Those rulers extended their dominion over other nearby sites and started an ambitious construction program that included most of what is visible on at Yaxchilan today.