Maya - Language of Beauty
Touring exhibition of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Mexico. Information and photo tour through the presentation in Berlin, 2016.
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K’inich Janahb’ Pakal as a child
and
K’inich Janahb’ Pakal
Late Classic (600 - 900 n. Chr.)
Palenque, Chiapas
Stucco
INAH. Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City
The Divine Ruler
These two depictions of K’inich Janaab’ Pakal, the great ruler of Palenque, were found inside his burial chamber. The larger statue shows finely carved facial features and a pronounced deformation of the head. Due to the stepped haircut on the forehead - with a shaved place in the middle - and the hair that hangs down from the top like corn husks, it is assumed that this is an allusion to Bolon Mayel, the Maize God.
In the case of the other statue, it is believed that it depicts K’inich Janaab’ Pakal as a child and symbolizes his reincarnation as Unen K’awiil - Baby K’awiil - , god of lightning, of thunder, of agriculture and of the sceptre of the royal family.
© Photo: Haupt & Binder
Touring exhibition of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Mexico. Information and photo tour through the presentation in Berlin, 2016.