Lady K'abel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lady K'abel |
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| Ajaw | |
Lady K'abel's portrait on Stela 34 of El Perú
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| Queen of El Perú with her husband, K'inich Bahlam II |
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| Reign | 672-692 |
| Born | Calakmul |
| Died | 702 or 711 El Perú |
| Burial | El Perú |
| Spouse | K'inich Bahlam II of El Perú |
| Father | Yuknoom Chʼeen II, King of Calakmul |
| Religion | Maya religion |
Lady K'abel was a powerful queen of the ancient Maya people. She lived in the 7th century. She ruled the Wak kingdom from about 672 to 692 AD. People also knew her by other names. These names included Lady Water Lily Hand and Lady Snake Lord.
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Life as a Maya Queen
Lady K'abel was part of the important Snake dynasty. This powerful family ruled from the city of Calakmul.
She married a man named K'inich Bahlam II. He was of a lower social rank than her. Together, they ruled a city called El Perú. El Perú was a smaller city that was controlled by Calakmul.
Lady K'abel's High Status
Lady K'abel had a higher status than her husband. This was clear from their stone monuments, called stelae. Her stela was much more detailed. It showed her wearing full royal clothing. It also showed her being served by an assistant. Her husband's stela did not show these things.
Lady K'abel also held a special royal title. This title was Ix Kaloomte’. It might mean something like 'Lady Supreme Warlord'. This title was usually given to men. It was one of the highest royal titles. Some historians believe she even led armies. She may have fought against the Maya city of Tikal.
Lady K'abel ruled El Perú for many years. Her reign was from 672 to 692 AD. The exact date of her death is not fully known. It was likely between 702 and 711 AD.
Discovery of Her Burial Site
In October 2012, archaeologists found a tomb. It was discovered at the ancient Maya city of El Perú. Many believed it belonged to an important Maya queen.
Uncovering the Tomb
David Freidel, a professor, led the excavations. His team found the tomb inside the city's main pyramid temple. They identified it as the burial place of Lady K'abel. She was the military ruler of the Wak kingdom.
Inside the tomb, they found many items. These were offerings buried with her. They included clay pots and jade jewelry. There were also stone figurines. A small jar made of alabaster was also found. This jar was shaped like a conch shell. It had the carved head and arms of an old woman.
Hieroglyphs and Identity
Maya writing, called hieroglyphs, was on the back of the jar. These hieroglyphs included the names "Lady Water Lily Hand" and "Lady Snake Lord." These are the names thought to belong to Lady K'abel. She governed the Wak kingdom for her family. Her family was the Kan, or "Snake," dynasty. This powerful dynasty was based in the Maya capital of Calakmul.
