Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ (Mayan pronunciation:[jaʃkʼukʼmoʔ] "Great Sun, Quetzal Macaw the First", ruled 426 – c. 437) is named in Maya inscriptions as the founder and first ruler, kʼul ajaw (also rendered kʼul ahau and kʼul ahaw - meaning holy lord), of the pre-ColumbianMaya civilization polity centered at Copán, a major Maya site located in the southeastern Maya lowlands region in present-day Honduras. The motifs associated with his depiction on Copán monuments have a distinct resemblance to imagery associated with the height of the Classic-era center of Teotihuacan in the distant northern central Mexican region, and have been interpreted as intending to suggest his origins and association with that prestigious civilization. He is the founder of the Yax Kuk Mo Dynasty of rulers of Copan that lasted until 822 a.C. One of the most commonly cited motifs for this interpretation is the "goggle-eyed" headdress with which Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ is commonly depicted; this is seemingly an allusion to the northern central Mexican rain deity known as Tlaloc by later peoples, such as the Aztecs. However, modern strontiumisotope analysis of the human remains recovered from the tomb attributed to him indicate that Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ spent his formative years much closer to Copán, at Tikal, and had not himself lived at Teotihuacan.
His remains were found in the Hunal tomb inside of Temple 16, in the Copán acropolis;[1] he was buried with jade and shell jewelry, including his 'goggle-eyed' headdress.
Altar Qedit
His image occupies the first position in the carving on Altar Q, showing the dynasty's king list. His image is also found in significant positions in other monuments of later rulers.
Analysis of skeletonedit
Archaeological work done at Copán in 2000 excavated the tomb considered to be that of Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Mo under the Acropolis. The skeleton exhibited a number of traumas including healed fractures of the arm, sternum, and shoulder which have been surmised to have resulted from ball court matches. Analysis of strontium in the teeth of the skeleton indicates that the individual spent his early years near Tikal in the Petén Basin region and then at some point between Tikal and Copán, and the isotopic signature did not match with a Teotihuacan origin. Chronologically and epigraphically, however, much evidence points to the general ascension of rulers who were sent into the lowland Maya region either as invaders or envoys from Teotihuacan during the late 4th century; particularly the widely known and powerful Yax Nuun Ayiin I of Tikal, son of Teotihuacan lord Spearthrower Owl.[2] The implication of this, regardless of Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Mo's physical point of geographic origin, is that later Copán rulers, in particular Kʼakʼ Yipyaj Chan Kʼawiil and Yax Pasaj Chan Yopaat retrospectively sought to attribute Teotihuacano heritage to the ʼfoundingʼ ruler of their dynasty as a means of legitimising the dynastic claim.[3] Additionally, epigraphic research published in 2022 demonstrated that Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Mo's dynasty was an offshoot of the Mayan dynasty at Caracol, thereby confirming what was suggested by the strontium analysis.[4]
^See Skidmore (n.d.) for summary of recent research.
^Helmke, Christophe (2022). "Reading the Regnal Names of Rulers III and V of Caracol, Belize" (PDF). mesoweb.com. (PDF) from the original on 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
Stuart, David (1998). . PARI Online Publications: Newsletter # 25. Precolumbian Art Research Institute. Archived from the original (Extract of October 1996 paper) on 2014-04-23. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
Skidmore, Joel (n.d.). "Copan's Founder". Recent Findings in Maya History. Mesoweb. Retrieved 2006-12-18.
"Lost King of the Maya", Nova, PBS series, accessed April 8, 2006
April 12, 2024
kʼinich, kʼukʼ, moʼ, mayan, pronunciation, jaʃ, kʼukʼ, moʔ, great, quetzal, macaw, first, ruled, named, maya, inscriptions, founder, first, ruler, kʼul, ajaw, also, rendered, kʼul, ahau, kʼul, ahaw, meaning, holy, lord, columbian, maya, civilization, polity, c. Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ Mayan pronunciation jaʃ kʼukʼ moʔ Great Sun Quetzal Macaw the First ruled 426 c 437 is named in Maya inscriptions as the founder and first ruler kʼul ajaw also rendered kʼul ahau and kʼul ahaw meaning holy lord of the pre Columbian Maya civilization polity centered at Copan a major Maya site located in the southeastern Maya lowlands region in present day Honduras The motifs associated with his depiction on Copan monuments have a distinct resemblance to imagery associated with the height of the Classic era center of Teotihuacan in the distant northern central Mexican region and have been interpreted as intending to suggest his origins and association with that prestigious civilization He is the founder of the Yax Kuk Mo Dynasty of rulers of Copan that lasted until 822 a C One of the most commonly cited motifs for this interpretation is the goggle eyed headdress with which Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ is commonly depicted this is seemingly an allusion to the northern central Mexican rain deity known as Tlaloc by later peoples such as the Aztecs However modern strontium isotope analysis of the human remains recovered from the tomb attributed to him indicate that Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ spent his formative years much closer to Copan at Tikal and had not himself lived at Teotihuacan Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ MoʼAjawIncense burner found at the site of Copan and believed to depict Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Mo King of CopanReign9 February 427 437SuccessorKʼinich Popol HolBornTikalDied437CopanIssueKʼinich Popol HolHouseYax Kuk Mo DynastyReligionMaya religion Contents 1 Hunal Tomb 2 Altar Q 3 Analysis of skeleton 4 Influence over surrounding area 5 Notes 6 ReferencesHunal Tomb editHis remains were found in the Hunal tomb inside of Temple 16 in the Copan acropolis 1 he was buried with jade and shell jewelry including his goggle eyed headdress Altar Q editHis image occupies the first position in the carving on Altar Q showing the dynasty s king list His image is also found in significant positions in other monuments of later rulers Analysis of skeleton editArchaeological work done at Copan in 2000 excavated the tomb considered to be that of Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Mo under the Acropolis The skeleton exhibited a number of traumas including healed fractures of the arm sternum and shoulder which have been surmised to have resulted from ball court matches Analysis of strontium in the teeth of the skeleton indicates that the individual spent his early years near Tikal in the Peten Basin region and then at some point between Tikal and Copan and the isotopic signature did not match with a Teotihuacan origin Chronologically and epigraphically however much evidence points to the general ascension of rulers who were sent into the lowland Maya region either as invaders or envoys from Teotihuacan during the late 4th century particularly the widely known and powerful Yax Nuun Ayiin I of Tikal son of Teotihuacan lord Spearthrower Owl 2 The implication of this regardless of Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Mo s physical point of geographic origin is that later Copan rulers in particular Kʼakʼ Yipyaj Chan Kʼawiil and Yax Pasaj Chan Yopaat retrospectively sought to attribute Teotihuacano heritage to the ʼfoundingʼ ruler of their dynasty as a means of legitimising the dynastic claim 3 Additionally epigraphic research published in 2022 demonstrated that Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Mo s dynasty was an offshoot of the Mayan dynasty at Caracol thereby confirming what was suggested by the strontium analysis 4 Influence over surrounding area editKʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ installed Tok Casper upon the throne of Quirigua 5 Notes edit FAMSI 2004 Research on Temple 16 see Stuart 1998 See Skidmore n d for summary of recent research Helmke Christophe 2022 Reading the Regnal Names of Rulers III and V of Caracol Belize PDF mesoweb com Archived PDF from the original on 2023 12 03 Retrieved 2023 12 03 Martin amp Grube 2000 p 216References editStuart David 1998 The Arrival of Strangers Teotihuacan and Tollan in Classic Maya History PARI Online Publications Newsletter 25 Precolumbian Art Research Institute Archived from the original Extract of October 1996 paper on 2014 04 23 Retrieved 2007 01 18 Skidmore Joel n d Copan s Founder Recent Findings in Maya History Mesoweb Retrieved 2006 12 18 Lost King of the Maya Nova PBS series accessed April 8 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ amp oldid 1188193962, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
