Itzam Kʼan Ahk I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Itzam Kʼan Ahk I |
|
|---|---|
| Ajaw | |
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I's portrait on Stela 35
|
|
| King of Piedras Negras | |
| Reign | 12 April 639 - 15 November 686 |
| Predecessor | Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I |
| Successor | Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk II |
| Born | 22 May 626 Piedras Negras |
| Died | 15 November 686 (aged 60) Piedras Negras |
| Consort | Lady White Bird |
| Issue | Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk II |
| Father | Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I |
| Mother | Lady Bird Headdress |
| Religion | Maya religion |
| Signature |  |
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I (pronounced it-sam kahn ahk), also known as Ruler 2, was a powerful leader, or ajaw, of Piedras Negras. This was an ancient Maya city in what is now Guatemala. He ruled during the Late Classic Period, from 639 AD to 686 AD.
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I was the son of Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I. He became ruler when he was only 12 years old. His time as ruler included several wars. He also seemed to have a special connection with the city of Calakmul. Itzam Kʼan Ahk I died just a few days before his son's wedding. His son then became the next ajaw of Piedras Negras, taking the name Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk II.
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I created many monuments. These include eight large stone carvings called stelae, three panels, a throne, and a short column. This made him the most active leader of Piedras Negras in terms of building monuments.
Contents
Biography of Itzam Kʼan Ahk I
Becoming the Ruler of Piedras Negras
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I, also called Ruler 2, was the son of Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I and Lady Bird Headdress. He was born on May 22, 626 AD. This date is 9.9.13.4.1 in the Long Count.
He became the ajaw (leader) of Piedras Negras in 639 AD. This was about two months after his father passed away. He was only 12 years old when he took the throne.
The title kʼinich means "sun-faced". Maya rulers used this title because they believed they were "lords of the sun". His name also included "ahk", which means "turtle". This showed he was royalty. Later, another ruler, Itzam Kʼan Ahk II, used his name. This was likely to make his own rule seem more rightful.
Wars and Power During His Reign
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I's rule was known for wars and strong actions. Carvings on Stelae 35 and 37 show he won two military campaigns. One was in 662 AD against Santa Elena. He might have captured an important person during this war. The other victory was in 669 AD against a Maya city whose name is now lost.
Panel 2 also shows Itzam Kʼan Ahk I's military strength. It shows a Piedras Negras ajaw surrounded by leaders from nearby cities. These included Bonampak, Lacanha, and Piedras Negras's rival, Yaxchilan. Experts believe the ajaw in this scene is likely Yat Ahk I. He ruled Piedras Negras long before Itzam Kʼan Ahk I.
However, some experts like Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube think Itzam Kʼan Ahk I might have made the panel. He might have wanted to show how similar he was to Yat Ahk I. Both rulers were very powerful. They also note that Yaxchilan seemed weaker during Itzam Kʼan Ahk I's time. This suggests Piedras Negras might have controlled it.
Despite the wars, Itzam Kʼan Ahk I also cared for his children. This suggests he wanted peaceful times too.
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I's Death
Towards the end of his life, Itzam Kʼan Ahk I became ill. He knew he was going to die soon. He spent his last energy making sure his son, Kooj (meaning "Puma"), would become the next ruler of Piedras Negras.
To do this, he arranged a wedding for Kooj. His son was to marry a Maya princess from Namaan, named Lady K'atun Ajaw of Namaan. Her name means "20-year Queen". Itzam Kʼan Ahk I died on November 15, 686 AD. This was just five days before the wedding.
Even though he had passed away, his body was still part of the wedding ceremony. Itzam Kʼan Ahk I was buried nine days after his death. The exact location of his tomb is not known. However, clues on Panel 15 suggest he was buried inside Structure J-4, which looks like a pyramid. On January 2, 687 AD, Kooj became the new ruler. He took the royal name Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk II.
Monuments of Itzam Kʼan Ahk I
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I ordered the creation of many stone monuments. He had eight stelae, three panels, a throne, and a short column made. This made his time as ajaw the most active for royal building projects in Piedras Negras.
Stelae Monuments
Stela 33 was the first monument Itzam Kʼan Ahk I put up. It marked him becoming ruler. It was carved on December 1, 642 AD. This stela shows the ajaw sitting on a cushion. A band is wrapped around his chest, which might mean he was "bound to office".
He is shown from the side, looking at a woman. She is offering him royal items. This woman is usually thought to be his mother. Some believe she could be his wife. His mother was likely shown because she was important politically and might have ruled for him when he was young.
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I also put up Stela 32 (November 5, 647), Stela 34 (October 9, 652), Stela 35 (August 18, 662), Stela 36 (July 23, 667), Stela 37 (June 26, 672), Stela 39 (May 31, 677), and Stela 38 (May 6, 682).
Six of his eight stelae (Stelae 32-37) were placed in front of Structure R-5. These stelae were purposely set up to face the stelae of Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I. This was done to "respond" to them.
Panels and Their Meanings
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I ordered the creation of Panels 4 and 7.
He also had Panel 2 made, ten years after his father's death. This carving is a bit unclear. It likely shows an earlier Piedras Negras ruler, Yat Ahk I. It might also show both Yat Ahk I and Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I at the same time. This would connect the two leaders.
The ruler on the panel is shown doing a religious ceremony. He is holding a helmet that looks like it came from Teotihuacan. The writings on the panel show that Itzam Kʼan Ahk I did this ritual in 658 AD. This was over a hundred years after Yat Ahk I did the same ritual in 510 AD.
The ajaw on the panel is surrounded by leaders from nearby cities who are showing respect. This suggests that during Yat Ahk I's rule, Piedras Negras was the most powerful city in the region. The other leaders are "fully dressed and armed". This shows they worked together and were allies with the Piedras Negras ruler. Panel 2 was later moved and placed near Panel 3 on Structure O-13. This happened during the rule of the last ajaw of Piedras Negras, Kʼinich Yat Ahk II.
Other Monuments
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I also commissioned Throne 2.
On September 13, 657 AD, Itzam Kʼan Ahk I put up what is now called "Stela" 46. It is a short, squat column, about a meter tall. It was placed in the middle of Itzam Kʼan Ahk I's Stelae group at Structure R-5. Stelae 32-34 were to its left, and Stelae 35-37 were to its right. This column served as a marker for a special time period and as an altar for the other six stelae in the row.
Images for kids
-
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I's portrait on Stela 35
-
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I's signature
See also
In Spanish: Itzam Kʼan Ahk I para niños
