Yaxchilan Lintel 24
Lintel 24 | |
---|---|
Material | Limestone |
Created | Estimated to be 709 AD |
Present location | British Museum, London, England |
Lintel 24 is the designation given by modern archaeologists to an
Discovery and removal
Lintel 24 was found in its original context alongside Lintels 25 and 26 in Structure 23 of Yaxchilan.
Inscriptions
The text comprises three discrete sections. The uppermost describes Itzamnaaj Bahlam, where the second raised section describes Lady Xoc. The final sentence, which is not elevated like the other two, is an artist’s signature.
A1-F3
ti-5-EB 15-ma-AK-u-ba-hi ti-CH’AB-li ti-K’AK’-la-ju-lu u-CH’AB-4-WINIKHAB-AJAW ITZ’-BALAM-ma-u-cha-CHAN-nu a-NIK-ki K’UHUL-[PA’]CHAN-AJAW
ti ho (?) holaju’n mak u baah ti ch’abil ti k’ak’al jul u ch’ab chan winikhaab ajaw Itz’[amnaaj] Bahlam u cha’n Aj Nik k’uhul Pa’chan ajaw
"On 5 [Eb] 15 Mak, his image at the penance with the flaming spear, his penance, the four-k’atun lord Itzamnaaj Bahlam, captor of Ah Nik and holy lord of Yaxchilan."
G1-G4
u-ba-ti-CH’AB-li IX-CH’AK?-ku-na-XOK-ki IX-k'a[ba]-la-XOK-ki IX-KALOM-TE’
u baah ti ch’abil ix ch’akan xook Ix K’abal Xook ix kalo’mte’
"Her image at the penance, the cut lady, Ix K’abal Xoc, female autocrat."
H1-H4
T’AB-ya yu-xu-lu MO’-CHAK-ki a-HIX?-la
t’abiiy yuxul mo’ chaak aj hixiil?
"His sculpture was erected, Mo’ Chaak, he of Hixil?"
Style
The lintel is done in high relief style with the background deeply recessed. All three were apparently commissioned by Lady Xoc for the doorways of Structure 23. The lintels show the elaborate costumes of the king and queen with remarkable detail and an uncharacteristic lack of abstraction. These lintels are considered by some to be the pinnacle of Mayan art.[2] We are able to study the detail of Mayan weaving as depicted in these carvings, and see the pearls woven into the fabric. Subtle differences in the three lintels suggest that the compositions were completed by two or three different artists. Each of the works is signed, indicating that the production of such works was regarded as a highly specialized skill rather than a trade.
The King
The Queen
Lady Xoc is one of the most prominent and probably politically powerful women in the Maya civilization. Lady Xoc is shown here performing an important royal rite of blood letting. By pulling the rope studded with obsidian shards through her tongue, she causes blood to drip onto paper strips held in a woven basket to be burned as depicted on Lintel 25. Blood scrolls can be seen on her face. The queen also wears an elaborate headdress. There are flower tassels on the main part of the head band and a mosaic depiction of
Associated tombs
Recent excavations have unearthed what is thought to be the tombs of Itzamnaaj Bahlam and Lady Xoc within Structure 23. Discovered in association with the female burial attributed to Lady Xoc were 146 prismatic obsidian blades, each with two lateral notches on the edges. These were located in what is known as Element 21 in Room 1 of Structure 23 at Yaxchilan. Due to the association with Lady Xoc’s burial in Room 2, these have been interpreted as being depicted on Lintel 24. The original interpretation of the studded rope was that there were thorns attached, but this new evidence in context has caused the interpretation to shift. We now know that it was a rope studded with obsidian blades used in the ritual, and may have the very physical shards depicted themselves. Lady Xoc’s burial is known as Tomb 3. Itzamnaaj Bahlam’s remains lay not far, in Room 3. This is referred to as Tomb 2. Elaborate grave goods were found in association with both burials.
See also
Notes
- ^ "The Yaxchilan Lintels". British Museum. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
- Sylvanus G. Morley, who in his Ancient Maya (1946) considered this to be "the most beautiful example of sculptured stone door lintel."
References