Women rulers in Maya society
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During the 6th and 7th centuries in
A handful of women are described and depicted on monuments taking on roles and titles that were usually reserved for men.[1] High-ranking titles that both men and women could hold included Ajaw and Kaloomteʼ. The title of Ajaw was seen as "the most general title" that persons of nobility could have if they were born into the right social ranking; meanwhile, the title Kaloomte' has an unclear meaning but it is at the site of Tikal where the title is used as the highest rank.[2]
Among the high-ranking women in ancient Maya society during the
- Unen Bahlam of Tikal
- Lady of Tikal
- Yohl Ikʼnal of Palenque
- Muwaan Matof Palenque
- Cobá
- Lady Yopaat of Cobá
- Lady Kʼawiil Ajaw of Cobá
- Lady Chaak[3] of La Florida
- Lady K'awiil Yopaat of Toniná
- Lady Ich’aak K’inich[4] of Pusilha
- Lady K'abel of the Wak kingdom
Others ruled as regent until their sons were old enough to rule. These women included:
- Lady Six Sky of Naranjo
- Lady K'awill Chan of Toniná
- Edzná
- Lady Eveningstar of Yaxchilan
Tikal
Unen Bahlam
Unen Bahlam (fl. c. 317) was a queen regnant of the Maya city-state of Tikal in circa 317. Although the sex of this ruler has been contested and is not fully confirmed, she is generally assumed to be female.[5]
Lady of Tikal
"Lady of Tikal" assumed a leadership role at the age of six but did not rule on her own. She co-ruled with an individual named Kaloomteʼ Bahlam in 511-527.[6] The daughter of Chak Tok Ichʼaak II, Lady of Tikal was depicted on Stela 23, which was broken and later re-erected incomplete. Her relationship to Bird Claw, who may have been her successor is unknown due to problems deciphering the text of Stela 8, but it is important to note that Bird Claw does not carry the Tikal emblem.[7]
Monuments that refer to the Lady of Tikal are: Stelae 6, 12, and 23.
Palenque
Lady Yohl Ikʼnal
Lady Yohl Ikʼnal took the throne at Palenque in 583 when Kan Bahlam I, the 7th ruler, died and left no heir. The relationship between her and the previous king remains undetermined, though she appears to have been either his daughter or sister. She ruled for more than 20 years. She also carried full royal titles, an uncommon occurrence for women.[8] According to the sarcophagus of Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal, Yohl Ikʼnal was the mother of Lady Sak Kʼukʼ, making Lady Yohl Ikʼnal the grandmother of Kʼinich Janaab Pakal.[9]
Lady Yohl Ikʼnal appears on the side of the sarcophagus of Kʼinich Janaab Pakal.
Muwaan Mat
Muwaan Mat (also known as Lady
It was probably Sak Kʼukʼ and her consort Kʼan Moʼ Hix who held most of the power during the childhood of Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal.[10] There is an image of Lady Sak K'uk handing him what had been termed the "drum major" crown at his accession.[10]
Naranjo
Lady Six Sky
Lady Six Sky | |
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Reign | 682 – 741 |
Predecessor | Lady Wac Chanil Ahau, Lady of Dos Pilas, Lady of Tikal |
Of the female monarchs, Lady Six Sky's reign was the most impressive. She was the daughter of
Monuments that refer to Lady Six Sky are: Stelae 3, 18, 24, 29, and 31. She died on February 10 or 11, 741.
Yaxchilan
Lady Ikʼ Skull
Lady of Ikʼ Skull | |||||
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'Ix Ajaw' | |||||
Reign | as possible regent | ||||
Predecessor | Bird Jaguar IV | ||||
Born | September 1, 704 Calakmul | ||||
Died | 751 | ||||
Spouse | Itzamnaaj Bahlam III | ||||
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There is a great deal of speculation as to why the son of a secondary wife took the throne and did so after the king had been dead for ten years. Current thinking is that the rightful heir through Lady Kʼabʼal Xook's lineage may have been her son, or perhaps a nephew or brother,
A monument which refers to Lady Ikʼ Skull is stela 35.
See also
- Gender in Mesoamerican cultures
Notes
Information regarding monuments in which the above individuals are noted was obtained from Martin and Grube 2008: 38, 74, 129, 160, and 161.
- ^ Miller & Martin 2004:93
- ^ Montgomery 2002:201, 203
- ^ Baron, Joanne (2017). "The Mystery Queen of La Florida-Namaan". Expedition Magazine. Vol. 59, no. 2.
- ^ "The life, death, and afterlife of an ancient Maya king: A study of Pusilha Ruler G". Contributions in New World Archaeology: 269. 2016.
- ^ Martin, Simon; Nikolai Grube (2008). Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya (2nd ed.). London and New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 9780500287262. OCLC 191753193. p.27.
- ^ Martin & Grube 2008:38
- ^ Martin & Grube 2008:39
- ^ Martin & Grube 2008:159
- ^ Schele & Freidel 1990:221
- ^ a b Martin & Grube 2008:161
- ^ Martin & Grube 2008:74
- ^ Martin & Grube 2008:74; Miller & Martin 2004:99.
- ^ Martin & Grube 2000:122. Note that in Martin and Grube's 2nd (revised) edition of this work (2008), Itzamnaaj Bahlam's position in the dynastic sequence has changed from that given in the original edition, along with a modification to the orthography for his name (Martin & Grube 2008:122).
- ^ a b Josserand 2007 [page needed]
- ^ Martin & Grube 2008:126
- ^ Josserand 2007:299.
- ^ As is suggested by Martin and Grube (2008:127).
- ^ Josserand 2007:307.
- ^ Martin & Grube 2008[page needed]
References
- Bruhns, Karen Olsen; Karen E. Stothert (1999). Women in Ancient America. Norman: OCLC 41540119.
- OCLC 25507968.
- Josserand, J. Kathryn (2007). "The Missing Heir at Yaxchilan: Literary Analysis of a Maya Historical Puzzle" (PDF online reproduction, at the Maya Vase Database). S2CID 162302683.
- OCLC 47358325.
- OCLC 191753193.
- OCLC 54799516.
- Montgomery, John (2002). How to Read Maya Hieroglyphs (Hippocrene pbk. ed.). New York: OCLC 56050823.
- OCLC 21295769.