Yax Yopaat facts for kids
Yax Yopaat was an important ancient Maya king who ruled the powerful Kaan kingdom. This kingdom was also known as Calakmul. He was king from AD 572 to 579.
Not much is known about Yax Yopaat's life. Many details about him are still a mystery to us today. However, we do have some clues from ancient Maya writings and objects.
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Who Was Yax Yopaat?
Yax Yopaat was a king of the Kaan kingdom, a very strong Maya city-state. This kingdom was located in what is now Mexico. Kings in the Maya world were like rulers or emperors. They were in charge of their cities and the lands around them. Yax Yopaat ruled for about seven years.
What Do We Know About His Rule?
We know a few things about Yax Yopaat from ancient records. One important record is on a stone monument found at a place called Dzibanche. This monument tells us that Yax Yopaat celebrated a special event in AD 572. This event was the end of a time period called a 9.7.0.0.0 k'atun.
What is a K'atun?
The Maya had a very complex calendar system. A "k'atun" was a period of 7,200 days, which is about 20 years. Kings often celebrated the end of these k'atun cycles with big ceremonies. This showed their power and connection to the gods.
Other Clues About Yax Yopaat
Yax Yopaat's name also appears on a special object. It was a carved slate mirror-back. This means it was the back part of a mirror, probably used for ceremonies. Finding his name on such an object tells us he was an important person.
How Long Did He Rule?
Yax Yopaat became king in AD 572. This was the same year that the previous king, Sky Witness, is thought to have died. Yax Yopaat ruled until AD 579. After him, another king named Scroll Serpent took over the throne. This means Yax Yopaat was king for about seven years. Even though his rule was not very long, he was still a part of the rich history of the ancient Maya.
