Тhis lintel, considered a masterpiece of Maya art, is one of a series of three panels from Structure 23 at Yaxchilan, Mexico. The scene represents a bloodletting ritual performed by the king, Shield Jaguar II, and his wife, Lady K'ab'al Xook. The king holds a flaming torch over his wife, who is pulling a thorny rope through her tongue. Scrolls of blood can be seen around her mouth.
The scene is carved in fine detail, showing the embroidery on the clothes of the king and queen and the intricacy of their jewellery and headdresses. On the left side and above the images are glyphs. The first two at the top of the lintel indicate the event and the date on which it took place (AD 709). The last glyph represents the Emblem Glyph (the city name in Maya hieroglyphs) of Yaxchilan. The text on the left of the panel contains the queen's name and titles.
Maya, from Yaxchilan, Mexico, Late Classic period
(AD 600-900)
Ht 109.7 cm
Gift of A.P. Maudslay
The scene is carved in fine detail, showing the embroidery on the clothes of the king and queen and the intricacy of their jewellery and headdresses. On the left side and above the images are glyphs. The first two at the top of the lintel indicate the event and the date on which it took place (AD 709). The last glyph represents the Emblem Glyph (the city name in Maya hieroglyphs) of Yaxchilan. The text on the left of the panel contains the queen's name and titles.
Maya, from Yaxchilan, Mexico, Late Classic period
(AD 600-900)
Ht 109.7 cm
Gift of A.P. Maudslay