Stela 45 of Naranjo and the Early Classic Lords of Sa'aal (original) (raw)

The Litany of Runaway Kings: Another Look at Stela 12 of Naranjo, Guatemala

PARI Journal, 2020

The remarkable duplication of dates and places between the text of the Komkom Vase and monuments at Naranjo has allowed more in-depth comparisons to be made and has greatly elucidated details of heretofore faint sections of the text of Stela 12 of Naranjo. Spurred on by these promising leads, coupled with new photography of the extant fragments, we have produced a new drawing of the glyphic text of Stela 12. Here we provide background information on this monument and describe the process by which we were able to produce a new drawing, before turning to a more detailed clause-by-clause presentation of the text, providing a thorough exploration of the historical narrative.

New Insights on the Acropolis of Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala

2000

Between 1958 and 1962, the Guatemalan archaeologist Gustavo Espinoza conducted a number of deep excavations at the Acropolis of Kaminaljuyu (Group C-II-4). At that time, these were the largest excavations conducted by an exclusively national team, with extensive test pitting and tunnels that delimited the borders of the talud-tablero type buildings. The evidence of floors defined with the use of trowels, and test pits with the primary objective of uncovering superimposed buildings, show, altogether, a much developed sensitivity regarding the archaeological strata. Espinoza used a method for excavating tunnels opening them in the form of an arrow (with the tip up) to maintain structural stability, often following the alignment of some architectural trait detected, to guarantee appropriate safety levels.

NEW INSIGHTS ON THE ACROPOLIS OF KAMINALJUYU, GUATEMALA by Houston et. al

Between 1958 and 1962, the Guatemalan archaeologist Gustavo Espinoza conducted a number of deep excavations at the Acropolis of Kaminaljuyu (Group C-II-4). At that time, these were the largest excavations conducted by an exclusively national team, with extensive test pitting and tunnels that delimited the borders of the talud-tablero type buildings. The evidence of floors defined with the use of trowels, and test pits with the primary objective of uncovering superimposed buildings, show, altogether, a much developed sensitivity regarding the archaeological strata. Espinoza used a method for excavating tunnels opening them in the form of an arrow (with the tip up) to maintain structural stability, often following the alignment of some architectural trait detected, to guarantee appropriate safety levels.

A king’s apotheosis: iconography, text, and politics from a Classic Maya temple at Holmul

Excavations at the ancient Maya city of Holmul, Petén, have led to the discovery of a building decorated with an intricately carved and painted plaster frieze. The iconography of the frieze portrays seated lords, mountain spirits, feathered serpents, and gods of the underworld engaged in the apparent rebirth of rulers as sun gods. Large emblems carved on the side of the building identify the structure as a shrine for ancestor veneration. A dedicatory text carved along the bottom of the frieze contains a king list and references to the political and familial ties of the ruler who commissioned the temple. Together, the iconography and text of this structure provide evidence of function and meaning. They also shed new light on a century during Classic Maya history known as the Tikal “Hiatus,” for which a limited number of texts are available. The information derived from this monument also broadens our understanding of the nature of hegemonic relationships among Classic Maya states.

(2005) Issues in Copan Archaeology

E. Wyllys Andrews V and William L. Fash. In Copán: The History of an Ancient Maya Kingdom, pp. 395–425, edited by E. W. Andrews and William L. Fash, School of American Research Press, Santa Fe, New Mexico., 2005