Late classic politics and ideology : a case study of Hieroglyphic Stairway 2 at Yaxchilan, Chiapas, Mexico
This project examines Hieroglyphic Stairway 2 (HS. 2) at Yaxchilan, a Classic Maya city in Southern Mexico. Uncovered in 1975 as part of the clearing and consolidation of Structure 33, HS. 2 is made up of thirteen carved blocks which form the riser to the last step in the ascent to this building. The blocks depict thirteen different individuals (four female and nine male) in a series of elaborate ballgame rituals that demonstrated the legitimacy and power of Bird Jaguar IV, the ruler over Yaxchilan from 752-768 A.D. In this study, the previous work conducted around this monument is examined, and argue that it has been insufficient to draw the conclusions commonly presented about it. A translation of the hieroglyphic inscriptions from all blocks is provided, where previously only translations from the central three blocks (VI, VII, VIII) have been made available. This study also provides an analysis of the imagery on the blocks to better understand the ideology of Late Classic Yaxchilan (530-830 A.D.). This work relies on the hieroglyphic and archaeological data available from the site to demonstrate the geographical and temporal variation in lowland Maya political organisation, and to provide a model for Late
Nolan, Suzanne
CC Archaeology ; F1201 Latin America (General)
Late classic politics and ideology : a case study of Hieroglyphic Stairway 2 at Yaxchilan, Chiapas, Mexico. This project examines Hieroglyphic Stairway 2 (HS. 2) at Yaxchilan, a Classic Maya city in Southern Mexico. Uncovered in 1975 as part of the clearing and consolidation of Structure 33, HS. 2 is made up of thirteen carved blocks which form the riser to the last step in the ascent to this building. The blocks depict thirteen different individuals (four female and nine male) in a series of elaborate ballgame rituals that demonstrated the legitimacy and power of Bird Jaguar IV, the ruler over Yaxchilan from 752-768 A.D. In this study, the previous work conducted around this monument is examined, and argue that it has been insufficient to draw the conclusions commonly presented about it. A translation of the hieroglyphic inscriptions from all blocks is provided, where previously only translations from the central three blocks (VI, VII, VIII) have been made available. This study also provides an analysis of the imagery on the blocks to better understand the ideology of Late Classic Yaxchilan (530-830 A.D.). This work relies on the hieroglyphic and archaeological data available from the site to demonstrate the geographical and temporal variation in lowland Maya political organisation, and to provide a model for Late
late classic politics_ideology case_study hieroglyphic mexico project_examine hieroglyphic classic maya city southern mexico uncovered part clear consolidation structure make thirteen carve block form last step building block depict thirteen different individual female male series elaborate ritual demonstrate legitimacy power bird ruler study previous_work conduct around monument examine argue insufficient draw_conclusion commonly present translation hieroglyphic inscription block provide previously translation central block vii viii make_available study also_provide analysis imagery block well ideology late classic work relies hieroglyphic archaeological_data available site geographical_temporal variation lowland maya political_organisation provide_model late