Aj Yaxjal Bʼaak facts for kids

A special ceramic pot from the ancient Maya city of Ixtutz, where Aj Yaxjal Bʼaak was a ruler. You can see it today in the Museo Regional del Sureste de Petén in Dolores.

Aj Yaxjal Bʼaak was an important ruler who lived a long time ago, around the year 780 AD. He was the only known leader of a significant Maya city called Ixtutz. This city was the most powerful place in the Dolores region.

Who Was Aj Yaxjal Bʼaak?

Aj Yaxjal Bʼaak was a powerful leader of the ancient Maya people. He was like a king or a president for his city, Ixtutz. His rule was very important for the people living in the Dolores region.

The City of Ixtutz

Ixtutz was a major city in the Maya world. It was located in what is now El Petén, Guatemala. As the main city in the Dolores region, Ixtutz played a big role in the lives of many Maya people.

An Important Ceremony

In 780 AD, something very special happened. A large stone monument, called a stela, tells us about it. This stela records a big ceremony led by Aj Yaxjal Bʼaak.

• During this event, a very important person, his "overlord," was present. An overlord was like a higher-ranking ruler who had some authority over other leaders.
• This overlord was probably Tan Teʼ Kʼinich from another powerful city called Aguateca.
• Also, 28 other important lords attended the ceremony. These lords came from both the nearby Dolores valley and from places further away. This shows how important Aj Yaxjal Bʼaak and Ixtutz were at that time.