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Yaxchilan Lintel 24
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Yaxchilan Lintel 24
Lintel 24 is the designation given by modern archaeologists to an ancient Maya limestone relief sculpture from Yaxchilan, in modern Chiapas, Mexico, which is now in the British Museum, London. The lintel dates to about 723–726 AD, placing it within the Maya Late Classic period. Its mid-relief carving depicts the ruler of Yaxchilan, Itzamnaaj Bahlam III (also known as Shield Jaguar), and his consort Lady K’abal Xoc, performing a ceremony of bloodletting; the imagery is also accompanied by descriptive captions, and (unusually for a Maya monumental text) a signature by the sculptor, Mo’ Chaak.
Lintel 24 was found in its original context alongside Lintels 25 and 26 in Structure 23 of Yaxchilan. Alfred Maudslay had the lintel cut from the wall of a side entrance in 1882 and shipped to Great Britain where it remains today in the British Museum in London. Lintel 25 made the journey in 1883. Lintel 26 was discovered in 1897 by Teobert Maler. It was removed to the Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia in 1964.
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.
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."
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."
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?"
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. 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.
Itzamnaaj Bahlam III was a central figure in directing the course of Yaxchilan. He ascended to power in AD 681 and died in AD 742.[citation needed] There are numerous documented references to him on artifacts at the end of Stage V at Yaxchilan. In Lintel 24, he is depicted holding a torch above his first wife, Lady Xoc. The king is wearing his hair back with quetzal feathers indicating that he will also let blood in this ceremony. Attached to his head band is what appears to be a representation of the Jester Mask. The jester mask is considered analogous to the glyph for kingship, ajaw, and is named so for the vegetation often depicted coming from the crown of it. Since the rest of the costume is depicted without much abstraction, it is suggested that Maya kings may have literally attached a shrunken head to their head band as a representation of power. He is shown wearing a pectoral with a representation of the sun god depicted. It is strung from a jade bead necklace that is counterbalanced by a long strand of jade beads and what are probably carved shells going down his back. The artist was careful to show such minute details as the strings that are tied to hold on the wrist cuffs worn by both royals, and the pattern woven on Itzamnaaj Bahlam’s beautiful cape.
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Yaxchilan Lintel 24
Lintel 24 is the designation given by modern archaeologists to an ancient Maya limestone relief sculpture from Yaxchilan, in modern Chiapas, Mexico, which is now in the British Museum, London. The lintel dates to about 723–726 AD, placing it within the Maya Late Classic period. Its mid-relief carving depicts the ruler of Yaxchilan, Itzamnaaj Bahlam III (also known as Shield Jaguar), and his consort Lady K’abal Xoc, performing a ceremony of bloodletting; the imagery is also accompanied by descriptive captions, and (unusually for a Maya monumental text) a signature by the sculptor, Mo’ Chaak.
Lintel 24 was found in its original context alongside Lintels 25 and 26 in Structure 23 of Yaxchilan. Alfred Maudslay had the lintel cut from the wall of a side entrance in 1882 and shipped to Great Britain where it remains today in the British Museum in London. Lintel 25 made the journey in 1883. Lintel 26 was discovered in 1897 by Teobert Maler. It was removed to the Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia in 1964.
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.
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."
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."
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?"
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. 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.
Itzamnaaj Bahlam III was a central figure in directing the course of Yaxchilan. He ascended to power in AD 681 and died in AD 742.[citation needed] There are numerous documented references to him on artifacts at the end of Stage V at Yaxchilan. In Lintel 24, he is depicted holding a torch above his first wife, Lady Xoc. The king is wearing his hair back with quetzal feathers indicating that he will also let blood in this ceremony. Attached to his head band is what appears to be a representation of the Jester Mask. The jester mask is considered analogous to the glyph for kingship, ajaw, and is named so for the vegetation often depicted coming from the crown of it. Since the rest of the costume is depicted without much abstraction, it is suggested that Maya kings may have literally attached a shrunken head to their head band as a representation of power. He is shown wearing a pectoral with a representation of the sun god depicted. It is strung from a jade bead necklace that is counterbalanced by a long strand of jade beads and what are probably carved shells going down his back. The artist was careful to show such minute details as the strings that are tied to hold on the wrist cuffs worn by both royals, and the pattern woven on Itzamnaaj Bahlam’s beautiful cape.
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