Scroll Serpent facts for kids

Scroll Serpent (also known as Uneh Chan) was a powerful Maya king. He ruled the Kaan kingdom from 579 AD to 611 AD. He became king on September 2.

Scroll Serpent's Rule

Scroll Serpent was a very strong king. During his time, the Kaan kingdom became very powerful. They even became more powerful than another big Maya city, Tikal.

Attacks on Palenque

Records from Palenque show that Scroll Serpent's army attacked them twice. These attacks happened in 599 AD and again in 611 AD. His forces crossed the Usumacinta River to strike Lakamha', which was the main city of Palenque.

Important Relationships

Scroll Serpent also kept good relationships with other kingdoms. He worked with Yajaw Te' K'inich II of Caracol before 583 AD. This shows how he managed to keep his kingdom strong through alliances.

Where Did He Rule From?

Today, we don't find any monuments built by Scroll Serpent in Calakmul. This is interesting because Calakmul later became the main city of the Kaan kingdom.

Historians think that during Scroll Serpent's rule, the Kaan kingdom's main city might have been Dzibanche. This would mean his army traveled a very long way to attack Palenque.

Family and Legacy

Scroll Serpent's achievements are mentioned on two important stone carvings, called stelae. These stelae were put up by later kings.

One of these stelae, Stela 33, was put up by Yuknoom the Great in 657 AD. This stela mentions Scroll Serpent and also Yuknoom the Great's birth in 600 AD. This makes historians believe that Yuknoom the Great was Scroll Serpent's son.

If this is true, then the kings who ruled between Scroll Serpent and Yuknoom the Great might also have been Scroll Serpent's sons. These kings were Yuknoom Ti' Chan, Tajoom Uk'ab K'ahk', and Yuknoom Head.

Scroll Serpent's wife was likely Lady Scroll-in-hand.

See also

In Spanish: Serpiente Enrollada para niños