Siyaj K'ak'

Siyaj K'ak'

Siyaj K'ak' (alternative spelling: Siyah K'ak' , "Fire is Born", formerly nicknamed "Smoking Frog") was a prominent political firgure mentioned in the glyphs of Classic Era (250-800AD) Maya civilization monuments, principally Tikal and Uaxactun. Epigraphers originally identified him by the nickname "Smoking Frog", a description of his name glyph, but later deciphered it as" Siyaj K'ak' "meaning "Fire is born." He is believed to have been the general of the Teotihuacano ruler Spearthrower Owl.

Overview

Originally from Teotihuacan or very closely allied with that city, Siyaj K'ak' was a warlord in the Maya heartland of the Petén (modern Guatemala) during the fourth century. In 378 and 379 he oversaw the replacing of the kings of important Maya states such as Tikal and Uaxactun with new rulers who claimed descent from Spearthrower Owl, probably the ruler of Teotihuacan. As Smoking Frog, he caused himself to be portrayed wearing Teotihuacano battle dress. It is during his lifetime that the public architecture of the Central Mexican capital began to be emulated in the Maya region; particularly the "talud-tablero" style so characteristic of the Mexican highland, and so atypical of Mayan building styles.

Siyaj K'ak' remained a power in the region until his death early in the fifth century, acting as overlord to such kings as Nun Yax Ayin (aka "Curl Nose") of Tikal. The appearance of Siyah K'ak' marks the beginning of a strong cultural influx from Central Mexico, although whether this was accomplished via peaceful interaction or military invasion is still being very actively debated.

External links

* [http://www.mesoweb.com/features/findings/fate/08.html The name glyph of Siyah K'ak']
* [http://www.mesoweb.com/pari/publications/news_archive/25/strangers/strangers.html "The arrival of strangers" Teotihuacan in classic maya history]

Resources


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Siyaj-kin Camping — (Mahahual,Мексика) Категория отеля: Адрес: Avenida Costera SN, 77940 Mahahual, Ме …   Каталог отелей

  • Tikal — For other uses, see Tikal (disambiguation). Tikal National Park * UNESCO World Heritage Site …   Wikipedia

  • Tikal — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Tikal (homonymie). Parc National de Tikal * …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Tikal — Der Große Platz von Tikal, die Nordakropolis und Tempel I Tikal ist eine antike Stadt der Maya in den Regenwäldern des Petén im nördlichen Guatemala. Sie war eine der bedeutendsten Städte der klassischen Maya Periode (3. bis 9. Jahrhundert) und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Copán — Copan redirects here. For the town in the United States, see Copan, Oklahoma. For other uses, see Copán (disambiguation). Maya Site of Copan * UNESCO World Heritage Site …   Wikipedia

  • Yax Nuun Ayiin I — [The regnal number I is sometimes added to his name by modern scholars, in order to distinguish this personage from the similarly named 8th century Tikal ruler, Yax Nuun Ayiin II. Regnal numbers were not used in the Maya inscriptions themselves.] …   Wikipedia

  • Spearthrower Owl — (or Atlatl Cauac) is the name commonly given to a Mesoamerican ruler from the Early Classic period in Mesoamerican chronology, who is identified in Maya inscriptions and iconography. Although the polity over which Spearthrower Owl ruled is… …   Wikipedia

  • Naranjo, Guatemala — For other uses, see Naranjo Naranjo is an ancient city of the Maya civilization in the Petén Basin region of the central Maya lowlands. It is located in the present day department of Petén, Guatemala about 10 km west of the border with Belize. It …   Wikipedia

  • Tikal Temple I — Temple I, Tikal View across the Great Plaza to Temple I from Temple II …   Wikipedia

  • Yik'in Chan K'awiil — as depicted in a lintel from Tikal Temple IV.[1] Residence Tikal Other names Tikal Ruler B …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”