K'an II

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K'an II
King of Caracol
Caracol-glif.png
Caracol glyph
FatherKing Yajaw Te' K'inich II
Mother Lady Batz' Ek'
Religion Maya religion

K'an II[ pronunciation? ] (born on April 18, 588, died on July 21, 658; Ruler V, Lord Stormwater Moon and Antenna Top II) was a Maya ruler of Caracol (in present day Belize). He reigned AD 618–658.

Maya civilization Mesoamerican civilization

The Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization developed by the Maya peoples, and noted for its logosyllabic script—the most sophisticated and highly developed writing system in pre-Columbian Americas—as well as for its art, architecture, mathematics, calendar, and astronomical system. The Maya civilization developed in an area that encompasses southeastern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize, and the western portions of Honduras and El Salvador. This region consists of the northern lowlands encompassing the Yucatán Peninsula, and the highlands of the Sierra Madre, running from the Mexican state of Chiapas, across southern Guatemala and onwards into El Salvador, and the southern lowlands of the Pacific littoral plain.

Caracol Maya city in Belize

Caracol is the name given to a large ancient Maya archaeological site, located in what is now the Cayo District of Belize. It is situated approximately 40 kilometres south of Xunantunich and the town of San Ignacio Cayo, and 15 kilometers away from the Macal River. It rests on the Vaca Plateau at an elevation of 500 meters above sea-level, in the foothills of the Maya Mountains. Long thought to be a tertiary center, it is now known that the site was one of the most important regional political centers of the Maya Lowlands during the Classic Period. Caracol covered approximately 200 square kilometers, covering an area much larger than present-day Belize City and supported more than twice the modern city's population.

Contents

Biography

Birth and family

K'an was a younger son of the king Yajaw Te' K'inich II, and his mother was Lady Batz' Ek'. His half-brother was Knot Ajaw. His paternal grandfather was K'an I. [1]

Knot Ajaw was a king of the Maya city-state Caracol in Belize, a successor of his father Yajaw Te' K'inich II. He reigned AD 599-613>.

Reign

In the view of the substantial expansion from the site core into the surrounding area during his reign, K'an II might be considered Caracol's most successful ruler. [2] The wealth underlying this expansion was widespread, as indicated by the quality of grave goods and architecture in the outlying districts; Caracol's system of roadways also expanded to accommodate the growing population.

Having taken his grandfather's name upon his accession to rulership, K'an often combined it with his childhood name (Sak B'aah Witzil [or Sak Witzil B'aah]) in order to distinguish his inscriptions from those of his ancestor. He was a successor of his half-brother.

The fact that his mother, Lady Batz' Ek', was the more junior wife caused K'an II to emphasize his royal legitimacy and his mother's importance in the text of Stela 3.

It is to K'an that we owe Altar 21's account of his father's reign, which saw a shift from the overlordship of Tikal to that of the Kaan ("Snake") kingdom, as well as the great Tikal reversal of AD 562. He records all of his father's major period endings, but he omits that of his half-brother.

Tikal Ruins of major ancient Maya city

Tikal is the ruin of an ancient city, which was likely to have been called Yax Mutal, found in a rainforest in Guatemala. It is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. Situated in the department of El Petén, the site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mentions of the Snake kingdom in K'an II's inscriptions include a reference to Sky Witness (possibly his death) in 572; an event performed under the auspices of Yuknoom Chan in 619; the accession of Tajoom Uk'ab' K'ahk' in 622; the receipt of a gift from Tajoom Uk'ab' K'ahk' in 627; the latter's death in 630; and two successful war events involving Yuknoom Head in 631 and 636. [3] It was probably toward the end of this timespan that the Snake kingdom became established in Calakmul. [4]

"Sky Witness" was a ruler of the Maya city and major cultural center of Calakmul, also known as Kaan.

Calakmul archaeological site

Calakmul is a Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Campeche, deep in the jungles of the greater Petén Basin region. It is 35 kilometres (22 mi) from the Guatemalan border. Calakmul was one of the largest and most powerful ancient cities ever uncovered in the Maya lowlands.

One of K'an II's most important monuments is the Naranjo Hieroglyphic Stairway.

Naranjo

Naranjo is a Pre-Columbian Maya city in the Petén Basin region of Guatemala. It was occupied from about 500 B.C. to 950 A.D, with its height in the Late Classic Period. The site is part of Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park. The city lies along the Mopan and Holmul rivers, and is about 50 km east of the site of Tikal. Naranjo has been the victim of severe looting. The site is known for its polychrome ceramic style

Death

He died on July 21, 658.

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References

  1. ↑ Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens by Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube
  2. ↑ Martin and Grube 2000:91
  3. ↑ Martin and Grube 2000:92, in press
  4. ↑ Martin and Grube 2000:106
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