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Warrior Queens of the Ancient Maya

Intro:(IN PROGRESS)

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Coba Warrior Queens

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Coba,Quintana Roo, Mexico

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Five stelae that portray royal women positioned above vanquished enemies.[1]

Stela 4

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The front panel is the earliest recorded example of a queen standing on a captive. Likely part of a pair (with male ruler on Stela 6) depicting the ruling couple of Coba in 623. Dates to 9.9.10.0.0, 2 Ajaw 13 Pop (March 19, 623). Stela 4 is approximately 2.1m high, the tallest at this site.[2] The queen is shown in the same pose as her male counterpart holding a double-headed serpent bar. She is wearing a long skirt and a tall, elaborate headdress. Under her feet are two bound captives, wearing only loincloths and simple headbands. Another captive kneels in front of her. The names of all three captives are badly eroded; however the emblem glyphs strongly suggest they are high-ranking nobles of other kingdoms.[3]

Stela 2

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Dated to 9.10.10.00, 13 Ajaw 18 K’ank’in (December 4, 642) Most of the text on Stela 2 is badly eroded; however the fact that it was erected alone and not with another monument suggests that this Queen may have reigned alone. Like Stela 4, the figure on Stela 2 also holds the double headed-serpent bar. She wears a long skirt and huipil and a single bound captive lays prostrate beneath her.[4] The placement of glyphs above his head and feet indicate he was high ranking or noble. Another bound captive kneels to her right, clothed only in a loincloth and headdress. Eroded glyphs behind him likely depict his name and titles.[5]

Stela 29

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Stela 29 is carved on both the front and back, it is badly broken but enough can be seen on the front to identify a Queen standing over two seated captives and glyphs on the back include the prefix IX or female often interpreted as Lady. Like Stela 2, it is not part of a pair, suggesting this Queen ruled in her own right. The date on Stela 29 is too damaged for a positive interpretation, but it possibly references 9.10.18.0.0, 7 Ajaw 18 Kej (October 22, 650).[6] It is possible, then, that the dates, eight years apart, on both Stela 2 and 29 refer to the same female ruler, Ix Ch’en Nal.[7][8]

Stela 5

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Stela 5 represents a stylistic change from the previously mentioned paired stelae, with both male and female figures represented on a single monument. This is thought to illustrate the binary nature of Maya royalty. In this example, the king is on the front and the queen on the opposite side. The name on the female side is unreadable because of damage, but there is clearly one bound prisoner before her feet and possibly another behind her. Stela 5 dates to 9.11.10.0.0, 11 Ajaw 18 Ch’een (August 20, 662). Additionally, there are several other significant dates, including 13.0.0.0.0, 4 Ajaw 8 Kumk’u, an important mythological date also found on Stela 1.[9]

Stela 1

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Stela 1 is thought to represent another Queen who ruled in her own right as she is not paired with any male counterpart and she appears on both the front and back, and unusual occurrence. The dedication date is 9.12.10.5.12, 4 Eb’ 10 Yax (August 27, 682). Stela 1 closely resembles the iconography on Stela 5, as expressing the political power usually associated with a couple in a solitary female ruler. The name of this ruler, Ix K’awiil Ek is noted several times in this text as is the title kaloomte’[10], (currently understood to indicate a high-ranking individual, often but not always, a military leader).[11] On both sides of Stela 1 Ix K’awiil Ek is shown standing on two bound prisoners and holding an elaborate ceremonial bar. More captives are illustrated in smaller scale kneeling before and below the Queen. With the following exception, all the captives are in loincloths without headdresses, with bound wrists. There are two slightly larger male figures on each side who appear to be wearing headdresses, one with a cape and belt, but both kneeling, seeming to indicate prisoners with higher social rank than the two functioning as the pedestal. It seems clear that Ix K’awiil Ek was an exceptionally powerful warrior queen.[12]

Calakmul Warrior Queens

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Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico

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Four Stelae depict royal women standing on vanquished captives.[13] Stela 9 and Staela pair 23 and 24 depict well-known rulers of the Kaan dynasty.

Stela 28

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Stela 28 is the earliest of Calakmul’s monuments to depict a noteworthy female, with a dedication date of 9.9.10.0.0, 2 Ajaw 13 Pop (March 19, 623), exactly the same period ending date as Stela 4 from Coba, and the third oldest date at the site. Stela 28 is paired with Stela 29 in the traditional complementary gender pairing of king and queen. Stela 28 is dominated by a queen wearing the traditional jade-beaded net skirt and standing on a platform supported by a smaller, twisted, captive[14] who is possibly wearing a head covering or headdress but is otherwise naked.[15] The IX glyph is present with the female name-phrase although additional glyphs are now illegible.[16]

Stela 9

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Stela 9 depicts an unidentified queen wearing the jade beaded net skirt and xok fish belt with a dangling Spondylous shell and nibbling fish. The dedication date, 9.12.0.0.0, 10 Ajaw 8 Yaxk’in (June 29, 672) place it during the reign of Yuknoom Ch’een II and seems to indicate joint rule between he and his son, Yuknoom Yich’aak K’ahk’. Yuknoom Yich’aak K’ahk’ appears on one side of Stela 9 and the other side is dedicated to a woman, who is either his wife or mother. Although the queen’s name appears several times in the text, it remains unclear. Her name is, however, associated with the glyph for CHUK meaning, “s/he was captured” and the female prefix IX followed by a proper name. There is disagreement whether the name-phrase refers to the standing queen or her captive.[17] Interestingly, the depiction of long, coiffured hair and the association with the feminine name-phrase marks this captive as a woman, the first known occurrence of a queen with a high-ranking female prisoner.[18]

Stela 116

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Stela 116 is part of a pair with Stela 115, both found broken in Structure II, both dedicated in 9.12.10.0.0 (June 29, 672) Stela 116 is of a woman wearing the long netted skirt associated with the Moon Goddess and standing over a single captive . She appears to be looking over her shoulder and in the act of scattering. Her name is not known but she is thought to be a wife of Yuknoom Yich’aak K’ahk’, who is named on Stela 115.[19]


Stela 23

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Stela 23 is a tall (3.44m), commanding monument. It is mostly indecipherable due to weathering. Although the majority of the glyphs cannot be read the image is of a queen wearing a long skirt with beaded fringe and in the hieroglyphic border the female head glyph, IX can be read. The male pair of the two was found fallen nearby. Both king and queen are depicted standing on bound individuals. The dedication date is on both is 9.13.10.1.0 (January 24, 702). The paired Stelae are believed to be Yuknoom Took K’awiil and one of his wives.[20]


Naranjo Warrior Queens

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Naranjo, Guatemala

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Two Stelae depicting the same powerful female ruler.[21]

Stela 24

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Stela 24 is a two-sided monument standing 1.92 m in height. Originally it stood alone in a very central place across from a monument depicting K’ahk’ Tiliw Chan Chaak who acceded to the throne at age five.

Stela 24 is dedicated to his royal mother, Ix Wak Chan Ajaw.[22] The glyphs grouped before her face, following her name-phrase confirm her powerful status as kaloomte’. Additionally, Ix Wak Chan Ajaw is wearing the jade beaded net overskirt, and a large belt adorned with a xok head and Spondylus shell. She is also associated with stingray spines and other tools of bloodletting. Glyph blocks proclaim she is personifying the Moon Goddess. On her head, she is wearing a large plumed headdress featuring the trapeze and ray war symbols and under her feet, her captive is named Lord Kinichill Cab from Ucanal.[23] Two important dates are recorded on Stela 24, the dedication date, 9.13.10.0.0.0 (January 24, 702) and 12.10.5.12, Eb’ 10 Yax (August 30, 682), the arrival date of Ix Wak Chan Ajaw of Dos Pilas to the kingdom of Naranjo. This date is also recorded on Stela 29 and surprisingly, on Stela 1 from Coba.[24]

Stela 29

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Stela 29 also depicts Ix Wak Chan Ajaw fifteen and a half years later. Stela 29 is paired with Stela 30 commemorating the first katun anniversary of K’ahk’ Tiliw Chan Chaak’s accession. In addition to the arrival date of Ix Wak Chan Ajaw on Stela 29, both stela are inscribed with the ox-tun ending date 9.14.3.0.0 (November 15, 714). Ix Wak Chan Ajaw ruled for 69 years both in her own right and as co-regent with her son. Finally, as becomes increasingly common for the descendants of Warrior Queens, there is no mention of K’ahk’ Tiliw Chan Chaak’s father.[25]

Naachtun Warrior Queen

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Naachtun, north-central Peten

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The final stela depicting a queen and her captive.[26]

Stela 18

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Stela 18 is part of a pair found fallen from their original location. Only the front and sides of this massive monument (4.5m high) are carved. Badly eroded inscriptions leave the date to speculation ranging somewhere between 652 and early eighth century based on style.[27] This stela depicts an unknown queen standing on and crushing a captive from Calakmul.[28] Damage has left little else apparent. Stela 18 represents the last known stela erected commemorating victorious queens and their conquests.[29]

Notes

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  1. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 44.
  2. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 45.
  3. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 46.
  4. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 46.
  5. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 47.
  6. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 48.
  7. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p48.
  8. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 50.
  9. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 48.
  10. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 69.
  11. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 44.
  12. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 50.
  13. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 50.
  14. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 51.
  15. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 52.
  16. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 51.
  17. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 52.
  18. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 53.
  19. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 53.
  20. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 53.
  21. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 54.
  22. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 54.
  23. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 55.
  24. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 54.
  25. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 55.
  26. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 57.
  27. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 57.
  28. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 56.
  29. ^ Reese-Taylor, et al 2009, p. 57.

Bibliography

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Reese-Taylor, Kathryn, Peter Mathews, Julia Guernsey, and Marlene Fritzler. "Warrior Queens Among the Classic Maya." Blood and Beauty. Eds. Heather Orr and Rex Koontz. Los Angeles: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, 2009. 39-72. Print.
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