Kʼinich Popol Hol facts for kids

Kʼinich Popol Hol was an important king, also called an Ajaw, of the ancient Maya city of Copán. He ruled around 435 to 470 AD. He is known for making the kingship in Copán very strong. This strong rule lasted for about 400 years!

Popol Hol was a co-ruler with his father, Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ. They shared power during special ceremonies in 435 AD. These events marked the end of a Maya calendar period called a baktun. We know this from a special stone called the Motmot Marker. Popol Hol proudly said he was the son of Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ on a stone carving called Stela 63. He also claimed to be the second king of Copán on the Xukpi Stone.

Building Copán's Legacy

Popol Hol was a very active builder. He worked with his father to plan the main parts of Copán. This included the royal area (acropolis), a large open plaza, and the ballcourt. They also planned many temples.

Honoring His Father

Popol Hol buried his father in a building called the Hunal structure. This was where his father lived and held court. Popol Hol then built a new temple, the Yehnal temple, right over it. This was to honor his father. Later, he built another temple, the Margarita temple, over the Yehnal temple.

These temples were decorated with special plaster images of his father's name. Popol Hol worked hard to make his father seem very important and holy. This helped to create a "cult of personality" around his father. It meant people would respect his father's memory greatly. This also helped Popol Hol and his family justify their rule for many years.

Other Important Projects

Popol Hol also finished the ballcourt in Copán. He built the Papagayo temple over his father's Motmot temple. He was careful to keep the original Motmot shrine safe. He even placed Stela 63 inside it.

Besides the Motmot Marker, the Xukpi Stone, and Stela 63, Popol Hol also created Stela 28. He likely made Stelae 50, 53, and 20 as well. He is also shown with his father on Stela 35. He ordered the creation of Altar A', which celebrates the completion of the Yehnal temple in 441 AD.

Popol Hol's body has not been found yet. Burial 95-1 is one possibility. Scientists are still digging under the Oropendola temple, where another old burial has been found.

Popol Hol's Timeline

Here is a possible timeline of Kʼinich Popol Hol's life, based on what we know: