9. Middle Classic Flashcards
Classic post entrada
Who is Sihyaj K’ahk
Sihyaj K’ahk is also known as “Fire is Born”
A warlord or general operating on behalf of
ruler of Teotihuacan
Oversaw replacement of kings of importan tMaya city-states with new rulers claiming
descent from Spearthrower Owl
He is depicted wearing Teotihuacano battle
dress
Spearthrower Owl
Teotihuacan’s ruler, beginning
374 CE
Father of Yax Nuun Ayiin I (first new order ruler of Tikal post entrada)
Yax Nuun Ahiin I
Spearthrower Owl’s son
First ruler of tikal following entrada (installed as 16th ruler)
ended Mutul dynasty.
Yaax Nuun Ahiin a boy when he
acceded the throne
The Maya lowlands post Entrada
Teotihuacano art-styles appears
Increased trade and interaction between
Mexican Highlands and Maya area (Pachua, obsidian vessels)
Teotihuacan style architecture (talud tablero)
Founding of Copan dynasty in 426 CE by Yax K’uk’ Mo’
Talud Tablero
Teotihuacan style of architecture
talud = slope
Tablero = panel perpendicular
to the ground
Together depict body of the
feathered serpent
Founding of Copan Dynasty
Copan located southeast of tikal. (tikal basically in the centre of mayan lowlands)
Already an existing Maya city, Copán is re-founded as capital of new Maya kingdom in 426 CE by
Yax K’uk Mo
Yax K’uk’ Mo’
first dynastic ruler of copan post entrada
Temple 16, Copan/ Hunal
Dedicated to founder Yax K’uk’ Mo’
Multiple structures encased within
pyramid, with the earliest being a talud-tablero platform called “Hunal”
Hunal contained masonry tomb of Yax kuk Mo (At least 50 yrs old at time of death, he had jade laid incisors, cointains teotuhican offerings)
Temple 16, Margarita
Built overtop of the Hunal structure
western wall stucco adorned with scarlet macaw and quetzal in the name of Yax Kuk Mo
within tomb, aged female thought to be yax kuk mo’s widow
Temple 16, Rosalia
Particular emphasis on interweaving the sun god with yax kuk mo
Rise of Kaanul (snake) dynasty
kaanu’l dynasty ruler of
Dzibanche city (North east of Tikal) by 408 CE
Pyramid of the owl located in Dzibanche. Pyramid contains tomb of unknown female ruler.
Kaanu’l kings at
Dzibanche
Pre-600 CE
Kaanu’l kings established at Dzibanche
Tikal holds monopoly
over trade and power in the central region during the period
kaanul begins to establish allies around tikal in the east to increase power
Kaanul Expansion
550 CE, Kaanu’l
“snake head” glyph starts
to be found across the
Lowlands, indicating expansion
The “Kaanu’l Expansion”
achieved via marriage
alliances, diplomacy, and
conquest
Marriage: La Corona
Monument dated to 520 CE records arrival of Kaanul woman to marry local ruler
woman depicted with feline protector adorned with teotihuacan icons
Gives Kaanul dynasty a foot hold in region NW of Tikal.
Naranjo and Caracol
Kaanul dynasty has hostile takeovers of naranjo and caracol in the fifth and sixth centuries expanding and consolidating their power east of Tikal
Warfare: shifting alliances in tikal
series of pivotal events that lead to the downfall of tikal:
553 CE: Tikal is presiding
over royal accession of
Caracol king “Lord Water
556 CE: Tikal attacks Caracol
562 CE: Caracol and Kaanu’l attack and defeat Tikal
Kaanu’l King “Sky Witness” is credited with the defeat
Defeated Tikal King is “Wak
Chan K’awiil” (ruled 537-562 CE)
Star War
defeat of tikal by the hands of kaanul and caracol recorded as first star war (decisive rival conflict between mayan polities)
the term comes from a specific glyph depicting a star showering the earth with liquid droplets
Tikal association with teotihuacan
Defeated Tikal king Wak Chan K’awiil direct descendent of
Yax Nuun Ayiin (from “The
Entrada”
K’inich Waaw
kinich waaw is the 22nd successor of the tikal, succeeding king wak chan k’awiil (likely placed on throne by kaanul king)
rules during tikal hiatus, wherein tikal loses its power and raises zero monuments for 130 years
Dzibanche to Calakmul
The seat of Classic Kanu’l
shifts in 635 CE (yuknoom cheen)
The move from Dzibanche and Calakmul was a violent one, a conflict that can essentially
be characterized as a civil war
The reigning Snake king at Dzibanche, Waxaklajuun Ubaah Kaan, was defeated by a non-ruling Snake lord named Yuknoom Head, possibly the pre-accession name of Yuknoom Ch’een.
Yuknoom Ch’een’s accession to the throne of the Kanu’l kingdom is 58 days after the
victory of Yuknoom Head.
shortly thereafter, Yuknoom Ch’een moves the capital of the kingdom to Calakmul.
Waxakjalun Ubaah Kaan evidently spent four years as a captive, or on the run, before he
was put to death in 640
