Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil
| Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil | |
|---|---|
| Ajaw of copan | |
Stela B at Copan.
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| Reign | 695-738 |
| Predecessor | Chan Imix K'awiil |
| Successor | Ajaw K'ak' Joplaj Chan K'awiil |
| Born | 600s |
| Died | May 3, 738 Quiriguá |
Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil (also known by the appellation "18-Rabbit" or "Eighteen Rabbit"), was the 13th ajaw or ruler of the powerful Maya polity associated with the site of Copán in modern Honduras (its Classic Maya name was probably Oxwitik). He ruled from January 2, 695, to May 3, 738.
Uaxaclajuun Ub’aah Kawiil ascended to the throne of Copan upon the death the 12th ruler in the line of the founder, Smoke Imix, in 695. He began his reign with the construction of the Esmeralda Structure in order to entomb the remains of Smoke Imix. This ritually terminated the adjacent ancient temple of Papagayo constructed 250 years earlier by the celebrated Ruler 2, son of K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo'. He later constructed the original hieroglyphic stairway on the east side of the Esmeralda Structure. A passage on the stairway commemorates its construction 15 years after the death of Smoke Imix.
Based on the number of structures and monuments constructed during his reign, Uaxaclajuun Ub’aah Kawiil is considered the greatest patron of the arts in Copan’s history. This period was characterized by a deep, florid relief, which represents the culmination of the sculptural tradition of Copan.
The reign of Uaxaclajuun Ub’aah Kawiil saw the construction of several structures, some of which were lost to erosion by the Copan River. The most impressive of these is Structure 10L-22, which represents a sacred man-made mountain. The inner chamber of 10L-22 was likely central in the performance of auto-sacrificial bloodletting rituals. The corners of the structure are decorated with stone masks, textually labeled as ‘stone mountain'. The entrance was carved in the likeness of an arching Celestial Monster, representing the mouth of a cave and a symbolic entrance into the earth.
The final architectural achievement of Uaxaclajuun Ub’aah Kawiil was Ballcourt A-III. It is one of the most imposing in Mesoamerica, surpassed only by that of Chichen Itza. It is remarkable for the sloping benches used by players of the game, and by six macaw markers, the function of which is not completely resolved. Many of the stone macaws associated with the ballcourt wear the sign for darkness, akbal, on their tails. The macaw is typically symbolic of the sun, so these akbal macaws may be symbolic of sun in the Underworld. This could make the players symbolic combatants in the battle between light and dark. The inclined benches of the ballcourt are inscribed with hieroglyphic text, one of these being the commemoration date. It was dedicated in 738, only 113 days before Uaxaclajuun Ub’aah Kawiil’s death.
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