Bolon Kʼawiil II facts for kids

Bolon Kʼawiil II was an important king of the ancient Calakmul city. He ruled during the late 700s AD. We know about him from large stone carvings called stelae found in his city. These stelae are like giant stone billboards that tell us about Maya history and their rulers.

Who Was Bolon Kʼawiil II?

Bolon Kʼawiil II was a powerful ruler in the Maya world. He ruled the city of Calakmul, which was a very important city. His rule was from at least 771 AD, and possibly until 789 AD.

We know about him from two special stone monuments, called Stelae 57 and 58. These stelae were placed on the east side of a building known as Structure 13. They were put there to mark a very important date in the Maya calendar: 9.17.0.0.0. This date happened in the year 771 AD. It marked the end of a long period of time called a kʼatun. A kʼatun is a Maya time period lasting about 20 years.

Early Mentions of Bolon Kʼawiil

Even before he became king, Bolon Kʼawiil was mentioned in other important records. For example, a large stone carving called Stele 88, from 751 AD, mentions his name. This stele was made by the king who ruled before him. It seems to show the previous king's queen.

His name also appears on a part of a hieroglyphic stairway. This stairway was found in Structure 13. The carvings on it date to just after 751 AD. This shows that Bolon Kʼawiil was an important person in Calakmul even before he officially became king.

What Does His Name Mean?

The name Bolon Kʼawiil II has a special meaning. It comes from the Maya religion. The king was named after a very important god in the Maya royal families. This god was named God K.

God K was a powerful deity who represented the lightning axe of the rain god. The word Bolon means "nine" in the Maya language. So, his name connects him to a powerful god and the number nine, which was important in Maya beliefs.