10. Late Classic

Question 1

Late Classic

Answer 1

650 - 830 CE

Question 2

Copan

Answer 2

In late classic Copan grows in size

Many pyramids and sculptures are commissioned by kings

Sculptures and masonry
are made of volcanic tuff –
a soft, easily carvable stone
(not limestone)

Question 3

Copan: Temple of the
Hieroglyphic
Stairway

Answer 3

Built by two rulers (700-800 CE)

Characterized by 70 steps each with hieroglyphic carvings

Dynastic text totalling 2,500 individual glyphs longest known mayan text

Question 4

Copan: Ball Court

Answer 4

one of the largest most elaborate classic mayan ballcourts

Includes 16 mosaic sculptures depicting scarlet macaw

Inscribed text indicates it was
completed in 738 CE

Question 5

18 Rabbit

Answer 5

13th ruler of copan was known as 18 rabbit

took power in 695 CE and ruled until 738 CE

Celebrated for his contributions to the city’s
architecture and cultural development (hieroglyphic staircase, ballcourt etc)

commissioned seven monuments of himself with two headed centipede at chest

Transformed Copan into one of the four great mayan cities (Copan, Tikal, Calakmul, Palenque)

Question 6

Quirigua

Answer 6

small city next to copan

Originally founded by subordinate of Yax Kuk Mo.
In 738 CE, Quirigua captures and
sacrifices 18 Rabbit and Copan falls into decline

Question 7

Yuknoom Ch’een II (Yuknoom the great)

Answer 7

636 CE: establishes Calakmul as the Kanu’l Capital

Then he conquers dos pilas and makes in a vassal state

He takes control of cancuen (jade source) at upper region of pasion river

he has presided over the accession of king at El
Peru-Waka

657 CE: He conquers Tikal, makes its king his subordinate

Question 8

Death of Yuknoom the great

Answer 8

Died in 686 CE, after ruling the Kaanu’l kingdom at Calakmul for 50 years

Was in his 80s when he died
Succeeded by Yuknoom Yich’aak K’ahk

Question 9

Structure 2

Answer 9

Largest pyramid structure in calakmul

Originally a ceremonial-
ritual structure, but saw
addition of palace
structures and
workshops in the Classic
period

Question 10

Chiik Nahb

Answer 10

within calakmuls urban centre is a great market named chiik nahb

designated by low exterior walls and mounds that served as stalls for vendors.(Maiz vendorsd, salt vendors, pottery vendors)

A 12-m shrine/temple located on the southern edge

Question 11

Jasaw Chan K’awill

Answer 11

Tikal returns to prominence after Quirigua defeat with accession of Jasaw

IN 692, 10 years after his accession the first stela is erected after 130 year hiatus

stela 30 is completed in combo with altar 14

Question 12

Stela 30 and Altar 14 (Twin pyramids)

Answer 12

stela 30 and altar 14 are from twin pyramid complex.
Two identical pyramids east/west
Wall Enclosure to the north
range building to the south

Built in tikal to celebrate 20 year katun cycle of the long count calendar

Question 13

Tikal Regains Prominence

Answer 13

Three years after jasaw chan kawill rule begins he defeats king Yuknoom Yichaak Kahk of calakmul.

Temple I, lintel 3: A wooden Lintel that records Yuknooms defeat to jasaw chan kawill

Question 14

Death of Jasaw Chan
K’awiil I

Answer 14

Jasaw Chan K’awiil I dies in 734 CE after
52-year reign
Buried in Temple I (right), which was
purpose-built as his funerary structure
Buried with elaborate offerings, including
cache of incised bones (example below

Question 15

Calakmul Loses Grip on Power

Answer 15

Jasaw Chan K’awiil is
succeeded by his son (Yik’in
Chan Ka’wiil

He attacks Calakmul,
captures Yuknoom Took’
K’awiil and executes him

Already waning, Calakmul
looses grip on its hegemonic
power and does not recover

Question 16

Images of Kingship: Sculptural Art

Answer 16

Late Classic period
provides some of the
finest examples of Maya
art
Created by specialists
and craftspeople who
were part of royal courts
Much of the finest Late
Classic art depicts
images of kingship

Question 17

Lintel 24

Answer 17

shows king
of Yaxchilán
performing blood
letting ritual with his
wife Lady Xook

Question 18

Bonampak Murals

Answer 18

Bonampak located in the
western lowlands, and
under control of Yaxchilán
in the Late Classic period

Murals dated to ca. 800
CE Within three rooms of
what is thought to be a
young men’s house

Historical narrative of a
battle, its aftermath, and
victory celebrations

Question 19

Jaina Figurines

Answer 19

Mold-made, hand-
finished figurines painted
in vibrant polychromes
Most between 10-25 cm
tall

Question 20

Palenque

Answer 20

Relatively small city until
early 600s, when it grew
rapidly under Lord Pakal
“The Great” (Shield)
between 615-683 CE.

Contains some of the finest architecture, sculpture, and
carvings of anywhere in the Maya world.

Pakal the Great built an
elaborate palace and the
Temple of the Inscriptions,
which housed his tomb

Question 21

Pakal’s Palace: Palenque

Answer 21

Series of vaulted galleries
and rooms arranged around
interior courtyards or patios
Unique four-story tower
with interior stairway
(possibly watchtower)

Question 22

Temple of the inscriptions:Palenque

Answer 22

Temple is atop a 20 m high
pyramid with a large stairway

contains three panels with
620 hieroglyphs

Floor covered by stone slabs but
one section of stones had double
row of removeable stone stoppers
Once opened up, it revealed a
vaulted stairway leading down into
the interior of the pyramid

Question 23

Temple of Inscriptions: Interior

Answer 23

Bottom of stairs: chamber
with skeletons of six young
adults sacrificed for Pakal’s
burial
Funerary crypt behind
sacrifices is burial place of
Pakal
Images of his ancestors are carved on the tomb walls and his genealogy is inscribed on
he temple to legitimate his
right to rule.

Question 24

Pakals Tomb

Answer 24

Tomb (as a whole) is among the
greatest archaeological discoveries
in Mesoamerica (1948-1952)
Jade mask, ear spools, piece of jade
in the mouth and in each hand
Buried in a stone sarcophagus
carved from single block of
limestone