Copán Altar Q facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Altar Q |
|
|---|---|
Altar Q at Copán.
|
|
| Created | 776 at Copán (Honduras) |
| Present location | Copán Sculpture Museum |
Altar Q is a famous stone block found at the ancient Maya city of Copán in Honduras. It's called an "altar" because of its shape.
Copán was a very important Maya city during its Classic period. Altar Q tells the story of the kings who ruled Copán. It was made in the year 776, during the time of King Yax Pac.
The altar shows all sixteen leaders of Copán, with four on each side. It starts with Yax K'uk' Mo', who began ruling in 426 AD, and goes all the way to Yax Pac, who ruled in 763 AD. This means the monument covers 350 years of history! Each ruler sits on a special symbol that shows their name. The first ruler, Yax K'uk' Mo', is shown passing on the symbols of power to Yax Pac. This was a way to show that Yax Pac was a rightful and strong leader, just like the first king.
The name Altar Q was given by Alfred P. Maudslay. He was one of the first people to explore the Copán site in 1886. Back then, the altar was at the bottom of a big staircase at Structure 16, which was the main pyramid in Copán. Today, you can see Altar Q at the Copán Sculpture Museum.
What the Inscription Says
The writing on top of Altar Q tells us a lot about Yax K'uk' Mo', the first king of Copán.
According to a Maya expert named David Stuart, the inscription says that Yax K'uk' Mo' received his royal symbols in the early 400s. This happened in a place that might have been connected to Teotihuacan in Central Mexico. A few days later, he left that place.
The inscription then says something amazing: 153 days after leaving Central Mexico, he "rests his legs." This means he finished his long journey. He is called a "West Lord," a title he used throughout his rule in Copán. Finally, the inscription says, "he arrived at Copán." This shows that Yax K'uk' Mo' became a king far away in Central Mexico and brought his royal power to Copán to start a new line of rulers.
Another expert, Linda Manzanilla, adds that around the year 378, a group from Teotihuacan caused a big change in Tikal, another Maya city. This group was not the Teotihuacan government itself, but a specific group of people.
See also
In Spanish: Altar Q de Copán para niños
