Pitts Piedras Negras History

A Brief History of Piedras Negras
As Told by the Ancient Maya

History Revealed in Maya Glyphs
Night in Piedras Negras 1300 years ago
by Mark Pitts
The Aid and Education Project, Inc.
www.aidanded.org

This book is dedicated to John F. Harris.

Thank you John for all you taught us.
This book is the result of more than a year-long workshop on Piedras Negras sponsored by the
Pre-Columbian Society of the University of Pennslyvania Museum. The author would like to
thank all participants in those workshops for their many valuable comments that have been
incorporated into this book. The remaining errors are the exclusive property of the author.
2011 by Mark Pitts. This book may be copied and distributed for non-profit educational
purposes without permission from the author. All other uses require the written permission of the
author.
Note to Reader:
The readings of ancient Maya glyphs are often revised and refined. Furthermore,
conventions for transcriptions and transliterations change. Consequently, many
aspects of this book must be considered preliminary. As readings and
conventions change, or as errors are discovered, appropriate revisions will be
made.
Please send corrections, comments, and suggestions to the author at

[email protected] .

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. MYTHICAL KINGS AND THE MAYA STORY OF CREATION

(Piedras Negras Altar 1 - Fragment B)
2. RULER A AND RULER B OF PIEDRAS NEGRAS

(Yaxchilan Lintels 49 and 37)
3. TURTLE TOOTH AND HIS OVERLORD

(Piedras Negras Panel 2 and the Alvaro Obregon Box)
4. RULER C THE MAJOR EVENTS OF HIS REIGN

(Piedras Negras Panel 12)
5. THE ACCESSION OF RULER 1

(Piedras Negras Stela 25)
6. RULER 1 WAR and RITUAL

(Piedras Negras Panel 4: I1-P3)
7. RULER 2 BOY KING

8. RULER 2 AN ANCIENT RITUAL

129. A TRIBUTE TO RULER 2

10. THE CONQUESTS OF RULER 2

11. LADY KATUN - QUEEN OF PIEDRAS NEGRAS

12. A ROYAL MAYA FAMILY

13. THE MASK OF THE PUMA

(Jadeite Mask Found at Chichn Itz)
14. A ROYAL FAMILY HISTORY

15. FOR THE GOOD OF THE STATE

(Shell Plaques from Piedras Negras Burial 5)
16. TOMB OF THE MATRIARCH

17. THE LIFE OF RULER 4

(Piedras Negras Altar 2 Supports)
18. PALACE LIFE

19. ROYAL ARTISTS

20. AN UNFORTUNATE END

(La Pasadita Lintel 1)
21. RULER 6
22. A MASTERPIECE OF MAYA ART

(Piedras Negras Throne 1)
23. A PERIOD ENDING FOR RULER 7

24. THE POMONA WARS

25. THE END OF THE LINE

(Yaxchilan Lintel 1)
Sculpted Stone from Piedras Negras
THE HISTORY OF PIEDRAS NEGRAS

AS TOLD by the ANCIENT MAYA
The history of Piedras Negras begins in 4691 BC with a very early Piedras
Negras ruler, perhaps no more than a legend. He was probably the mythical
founder of the dynasty.
Stories of kings and queens, victories and defeats, myths and religious rituals, all
continue up to the 9th century and the collapse of the city.
In this brief book you will learn about the history of the ancient Maya city of
Piedras Negras. But most important, you will learn the history by reading the
very words of ancient Mayas themselves.
The writing system of the ancient Maya, which we call Maya glyphs, was one of
only three independent writing systems ever created in the history of the world.
The artistry and creativity of the Maya glyphs is unsurpassed by any language,
and today the ancient Mayan language is studied by scholars around the globe.
The study of Maya glyphs is challenging, but a lot of fun.
Athletes from Piedras Negras
Formal Analysis of Maya Glyphs

Scholars and linguists have developed an analytical method for analyzing and
understanding Maya glyphs. This method involves three steps:
(1) transcription - is just writing down each glyph in Latin letters. In this step we
do not indicate which vowels are long or short and we do not insert letters that we
know were voiced but not written. We may separate known words with spaces.
We write the transcription in bold letters, with logograms in capital letters and
syllables in small letters.
We will write infixed glyphs in square brackets [], reconstructed glyphs in curly
brackets{}, and join conflated glyphs with a plus (+) sign. When we dont know
the reading for a glyph, we may insert a question mark, or a brief explanation in
parentheses. An arrow indicates the reading is shown on the following line.
(2) transliteration - writing the words as we believe the ancient Maya spoke them.
In this step we indicate long vowels by doubling them and glottal stops with an
apostrophe. Generally, letters are pronounced as they would be in Spanish
(except for glottal stops).
The transliteration is written in small letters in italics.
(3) Translation - this is the meaning of the text in English, Spanish, or some other
modern language.
The translation is written as it would be in the modern language. Quotation marks
may be used to delineate the translation or to avoid ambiguity.
Example.
Consider this common glyph block:
The three steps are:
Transcription
Transliteration
Translation
u-KAL-TUN-ni
u kal tuun
He bound the stone.
Connecting European and Maya Dates

To find the date in the European Calendar that corresponds to a Maya date, or
vice versa, we need to know the correlation constant that connects them.
Among researchers there is some question as to how the two calendars fit
together, but many believe that the most accurate fit is derived by using the
Goodman, Martnez, Thompson (GMT) correlation. This correlation gives the
best fit in terms of astronomical data, and ethnographic and historical sources.
Nonetheless, primarily for historical reasons, most epigraphers use the
Astronomical correlation (584285), and we shall use that correlation in this
book. This correlation is two days different from the GMT correlation.
Although there are other correlations beside the GMT and Astronomical, they are
generally believed to be in error. But because some correlations and dates are
traditionally accepted (Proskouriakoff, Schele, etc.), they may also be listed here.
(SN suggests putting some statement here to let users know that some of your
dates may not agree with current dates)
We also have to be careful which European calendar we are talking about since
there are two: the Gregorian, which is the calendar we use every day, and the
Julian. Some epigraphers use the Gregorian and some the Julian. Generally it
is probably best to use the Julian calendar since it is widely used by
astronomers. The dates used in this book will be Julian unless stated otherwise.
Example:
Today is September 11, 2009 G. (G.=Gregorian)
Also, today is August 29, 2009 (J.) (J.=Julian)
Using the GMT correlation, the date in the Maya calendar is 12.19.16.12.03 3
Akbal 1 Chen
Using the Astrological correlation, the Maya date is 12.19.16.12.01 1 Imix 19
Mol.
Finally, do not confuse the Julian calendar with the Julian Day Number. These
are two completely different concepts that happen to have the same name. The
Julian Day Number for any particular day is the number of days since January 1,
4713 BC. For example, September 11, 2009 (G.) bears the Julian Day Number
2455086.
9
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

To use this book effectively you need to already have some knowledge of Maya
glyphs. In the appendix we list general references and study guides in Spanish
and English in case you need to study more or review before starting. You
should consult these references while doing your readings and translations of the
glyphs. Also in the appendix, you will find references of special interest for
Piedras Negras. For working thru the texts in this book, at a minimum you
should have (1) the chapter on Piedras Negras from Martin & Grube, (2) Boots
dictionary, (3) the book by Coe & Van Stone, and (4) a computer program for
Maya calendrics.
In each section of this book we will cover a small span of Piedras Negras history.
We will give an overview of the texts in question, and a table for the transcription,
transliteration, and translation of the glyph blocks. Sections called Translation
Notes are provided to help you with the most difficult parts. Grammar Notes
are also provided in some chapters.
For items of special interest, a box is provided to give you additional information.
Finally, where appropriate, we list references specific to the text in question.
Using only the general references, you should try to decipher the texts by
yourself before reading the descriptions or analyses provided in this booklet. It is
only by struggling with the glyphs that you learn to read them.
Studying the most beautiful language ever written is a difficult but very rewarding
task.
Stela 5 from Piedras Negras
10
Chapter 1.
MYTHICAL KINGS and the MAYA STORY OF CREATION
Piedras Negras Altar 1 - Fragment B
This beautiful text weaves together the Maya story of creation with two very early
Piedras Negras rulers. It tells of gods and mythical places. The text shows that
the ancient Maya knew their society was an ancient one originating in the distant
past.
11
According to Maya traditions, time moves in great cycles of 13 baktuns, or

approximately 5125 years. The current era began in 3114 BC and will end in
2012 AD.
Piedras Negras Altar 1 is unusual because it tells of rulers in the prior era. The
text begins in the year 4691 BC and then moves forward 4 baktuns to the
beginning of the current era, or 13.00.00.00.00 in the Maya calendar.
According to the ancient Maya when the current era began on the Calendar
Round date of 4 Ajaw 8 Kumku, the Paddler Gods changed the Hearth Stones
at a place called the First Three Stone Place. As in many Maya homes of
today, the fire and hearth, generally surrounded by the three stones for cooking
are the center of lifes activities. In the cosmic sense as well, the three stones
are the center of the universe. In fact, we are told that creation happens at the
edge of the sky.
The text mentions the Five Flower Place, a mythical Maya place that is in other
texts as well. As you will learn, the Maya knew of many beautiful places in the
mythological realm.
Due to erosion we cannot read the name of first Piedras Negras ruler who is said
to witness the event in 4691 BC, but we know he was a man, not a god, since his
title is Holy Piedras Negras Lord.
A second ruler is said to witness the period ending on 13.00.00.00.00. His name
too is eroded, but we can see that part of his name is Ahk, meaning Turtle in
Maya. In fact, all known rulers of Piedras Negras include Turtle as part of their
name.
12
Analysis of the Text

Piedras Negras Altar 1 - Fragment B
The relevant passages start at D2 and end at P2:
D2
E1
F1
E2
u-TZAK-AJ
8-{AJAW}
18-{PAX}
TZUTZ-yi 9-PIK
u tzakaj
waxak ajaw
waxaklajun pax
tzutzuy bolon pik
F2
G1
yi-IL-a-ji
?
yilaaj
?
H1
G2
k'uhul yokib ajaw
J2
K1
L1
K2
K'UHUL-yo-[{ki}]biAJAW
u-ti-ya
?
?
K'UHUL CHAN
CH'EN
4-PIK-ya
4-{AJAW}
8-{KUMKU}
TZUTZ-yi 13-PIK
chan pikiiy
chan ajaw
waxak kumku
tzutzuy uxlajun pik
L2
?-u-JEL-k'o-ba
u jel k'ob
M1
N1
(the Paddler Gods)

?
(Paddler Gods)
?
M2a
M2b
u-ti-ya
TI-CHAN-na
YAX-TUN-TUN-TUNNAL
{yi}-IL-ji-ya
?-?-AK
K'UHUL-yo-[{ki}]biAJAW
u-ti-ya
5-JANAB-NAL
uhtiiy
ti chan
yax ux tuun nal
H2
I1
J1
I2
N2
O1
P1
O2
P2a
P2b
uhtiiy
?
?
k'uhul chan ch'een
Its count (is)

8 Ajaw
18 Pax
9 baktuns get
completed.
He has witnessed (it)
(Name of a PNG
Ruler)
(Name of PNG
Ruler, continued)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
It happened (at)
(?Place Name)
(?Place Name)
(the) Holy Place.
yiljiiy
? ahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
4 baktuns (later)
(on) 4 Ajaw
8 Kumku
13 baktuns get
completed.
They changed the
hearth (stones)
the Paddler Gods
(title for the Paddler
Gods?)
It happened
at the edge of sky
1st Three Stone
Place.
He has witnessed it
? Ahk (PNG ruler)
Holy PNG Lord.
uhtiiy
ho janab nal
It happened (at)
5 Flower Place
13
Rough Translation:
On September 7, 4691 B.C. 9 baktuns were completed. He (name unreadable)
witnessed it, the Holy Piedras Negras Lord. It happened at (name unreadable),
the holy place. Four baktuns later on 4 Ajaw 8 Kumku the 13th baktun ended.
The Paddler Gods changed the hearth stones. It happened at the edge of the
sky, at the First Three Stone Place. Turtle-? witnessed it, the Holy Piedras
Negras Lord. It happened at the Five Flower Place.
The Paddler Gods

We dont know the real names of the mythical Paddler Gods, but they are
often shown in Maya images paddling canoes. In the image below, the
Stingray Paddler (far left) and the Jaguar Paddler (far right) are shown
paddling the Corn God (center) and various wild creatures into the
Underworld.
The Stingray Paddler is often associated with the day (denoted by the KIN
glyph) and the Jaguar Paddler with the night (denoted by AKAB glyph).
The glyph for the Paddler Gods

These glyphs look like
upside down day glyphs.
The Jaguar Paddler and Stingray Paddler

Note the jaguar spots on the figure on
the left, and the aquatic markings on the
figure on the right.
14
Translation Notes
Piedras Negras Altar 1 Fragment B (D2 thru P2)
General Commentary: This text demonstrates a common discourse pattern

used in Maya texts. First there is an action or event. Then there is a secondary
sentence that most commonly tells us who witnessed the first event (using the
verb il), who authorized or oversaw it (the verb kab), or who accompanied the
actor in the first event (using yichnal or yitaj). As in this text, the pattern may be
repeated for a series of paired statements.
It is common to use three letter codes for airports and Maya sites. For example,
PNG stands for Piedras Negras, while YAX stands for Yaxchilan.
D2: This is the head variant of the common TZAK logogram. Although hard to
see in many drawings, there is a faint remnant on the cheek of the design in the
interior of the common TZAK logogram.
E1-E2: Here the Calendar Round (CR) can be read only as 8 ? 18 ?. At E2 we
see that on this date 9 baktuns are completed, so we know the
Tzolkin date is 8 Ajaw. (All major period endings occur on the day name Ajaw.)
Using any computer programs for calculating Maya dates, we can easily find the
CR date corresponding to the long count date 9.00.00.00.00. Doing so, we find
that on this long count date the CR date was 8 Ajaw 13 Keh. Obviously, we have
a problem. Although we cannot read the Haab month, the Haab coefficient is
clearly 18, not 13.
It turns out that the long count date is in the previous era. Then the CR date was
8 Ajaw 18 Pax, corresponding to our date of Sept-07-4691 BC (Julian). This
reading is confirmed later in the text: at J2 we have a distance number of 4 piks
that takes us forward to the beginning of the current era on 4 Ajaw 8 Kumku.
(Note: the ancient Maya word for baktuns was pik.)
F2: This glyph block is probably misdrawn. The prefix is very likely yi-, and the
suffix on the right -a.
M1: It is hard to see who these characters are, but the Paddler Gods often
appear together at major period endings. See the nearby box for more on the
Paddler Gods.
15
Ancient Maya Month Names

The names commonly used in reference to the Maya calendar may not be the
names used by the ancient Maya. Specifically, many Haab month names
were quite different, although Tzolkin names remain essentially unchanged.
The names commonly used for the Haab months are in fact names borrowed
or adapted from Yucatec by the colonial Spanish.
Below, you will find the names used by the ancient Maya compared to those
used in Spanish/English/Yucatec.
Ancient Maya
Spanish-English-Yucatec
1. KANJALAB (?)
2. IKAT
3. CHAKAT
4. SUUTZ
5. KASEW
6. TZIKIN
7. YAXKIN
8. MOL
9. IKSIHOM
10. YAXSIHOM
11. SAKSIHOM
12. CHAKSIHOM
13. MAK
14. UNIW/KANKIN
15. MUWAN
16. PAX
17. KANASIY
18. HULOHL (?)
19. UWAYHAB (?)
1. POP / POHP
2. WO
3. SIP
4. SOTS/ SOTZ
5. SEK
6. XUL
7. YAXKIN
8. MOL
9. CHEN
10. YAX
11. SAK
12. KEH
13. MAK
14. KANKIN
15. MUWAN
16. PAX
17. KAYAB
18. KUMKU
19. WAYEB
16
Other References to Five Flower Places
Copan:
Five-Flower Place
Cancuen
Piedras Negras
B1-A2: Five-Flower Mountain
B1: Five-Flower Mountain
17
K8457:
B3: Five-Flower Place
K6020:
B2: Five-Flower Place
God D Court Vessel:

A
C1: Five-Flower Place
18
Chapter 2.
RULER A and RULER B of PIEDRAS NEGRAS
Yaxchilan Lintels 49 and 37
The Piedras Negras story now jumps ahead to the Classical period in Maya
history. We learn the names of two 5th century rulers, the first Piedras Negras
rulers whose names we know for sure. We find those names not at Piedras
Negras, but in the nearby city of Yaxchilan, their long-time rival.
The lintels shown below are two of a series of lintels about the Yaxchilan
dynasty. But our interest is not the Yaxchilan rulers, but instead two of their
captives: a Piedras Negras ruler, and the vassal of another Piedras Negras ruler.
These two early rulers of Piedras Negras are often referred to as Ruler A and
Ruler B. We can however read their names with some degree of certainty.
Both names can be read as something like Itzam Kan Ahk. (In fact, the names
and glyphs for the two rulers are so similar that there is speculation that they may
be the same person.)
We start with Yaxchilan Lintel 49 where we see that a Piedras Negras ruler is the
captive of Moon Skull the Lord of Yaxchilan. This is Ruler A.
19
7
Yaxchilan Lintel 49 (detail)
Then, on Yaxchilan Lintel 37 another Piedras Negras ruler is mentioned. This

ruler is known as Ruler B.
A
20

C5
D5
C6
D6
C7
(Moon Skull)
pa chan ajaw
te'nal?
itzam k'an ahk
yokib ajaw
ja-?-JOLOM
pa-CHAN-AJAW
te?-NAL
ITZAM[K'AN]-AK
yo-[ki]bi AJAW
(Moon Skull)
YAX Lord
captor of
Ruler A
Lord of PNG
Rough Translation:
Moon Skull, Lord of Yaxchilan, is the captor of Ruler A of Piedras Negras.

A2
B2
A3
B5
A6
B6
ya-YAXUN?-BALAM
pa-CHAN AJAW
ye-te?-NAL
ya-AJAW
ITZAM[K'AN]-AK
yo-yo-ki-bi-hi AJAW
yaxuun bahlam
pa chan ajaw
yetnal?
yajaw
itzam k'an ahk
yokib ajaw
21
Bird Jaguar II
YAX Lord
captor of (the)
vassal of
Ruler B
Lord of PNG
Rough Translation:
Bird Jaguar II, Lord of Yaxchilan, is the captor of the vassal of Ruler B of Piedras
Negras.
Translation Notes
Yaxchilan Lintel 49 C5-C7 and Lintel 37 A2-B6
C6 and A3: We do not know the reading for these glyph blocks, but we do know
that they connect a captor and his captive.
B5: ya-AJAW > yajaw has the literal meaning of his lord, but the expression
denotes a vassal. Thus, in Lintel 37 the Yaxchilan ruler has captured a vassal of
Ruler B of Piedras Negras.
22
Chapter 3.
TURTLE TOOTH AND HIS OVERLORD
PNG Panel 2 and the Alvaro Obregon Box
The next Piedras Negras ruler has the nickname Turtle Tooth. (We do not
know how to read his real name.) He appears in only two texts Piedras Negras
Panel 2 commissioned by a much later ruler, and on a beautiful wooden box
called the Alvaro Obregon Box.
We start with Panel 2.
relevant to Turtle Tooth.
Only a small part portion of the glyphs, O1-V2, are
The text tells of an ancient helmet ceremony carried out by Turtle Tooth. This
ceremony was repeated by later rulers.
In this short text we also learn that Turtle Tooth had an overlord, very probably
from Mexico and the ancient city of Teotihuacan.
23

Piedras Negras Panel 2
The relevant passages start at O1 and end at V2:
O1
P1
O2
P2
Q1
R1
Q2
R2
S1
8-CHIKCHAN
3-CHAKSIHOM
CH'AM-ma
ko-o
{ha-wa}
ya-?
a-{ku}
K'IN-ni-AJAW
yi-YICHNAL
T1
S2
T2
U1
V1
U2
V2
ta-[jo]mo
u
k'a
ba
TUN-ni
OCH-K'IN-ni
KALOMTE
waxak chikchan
ux chaksihoom
ch'am

ko'haw

y-?-ahk
k'in ajaw
yichnal
tajom

u kab
tuun
och k'in
kaloomte'
(On) 8 Chikchan
3 Keh
grasped

helmets (of war)

"Turtle Tooth"
K'in Ajaw (Sun Lord).
He was
accompanied by
Tajom

U Kab
Tun
West
Kalomte
Rough Translation:
On 8 Chikchan 3 Keh, 9.03.16.00.05, November 11, 510 (J.) Turtle Tooth, the
Sun Lord grasped the war helmets. His companion was Tajom U Kab Tun, the
West Kalomte.
Translation Notes
Piedras Negras Panel 2 O1-V2
P2-Q1: To decipher these glyphs you need to know that a helmet was called a
kohaw in the ancient Maya language. It is important to constantly consult a good
Chol or Cholt dictionary to find ancient maya words you may not know.
24
At P2b there is an unusual o glyph that does not appear in most syllabaries.
Next, at Q1 we have to reconstruct the syllables ha-wa . The former is the usual
knot-skull form and occupies most of the glyph block. The wa syllable would
have been at the bottom right of center.
Finally, when vowels are double in the glyphs, the resulting Maya word has a
glottal stop. In this case the syllables ko-o become ko. (This is not be
confused with the fact that we use double letters in English to indicate long
vowels in spoken Mayan.)
Q2: The missing portion is almost surely the syllable ku, thus giving a-ku >
ahk > turtle.
S1: This block is read yichnal and indicates that Turtle Tooth was accompanied
by Tajom. It uses a logogram for ICHNAL that depicts a persons torso. Such a
depiction makes sense since the word can also mean presence or front.
T1-U1: Although this is part of a persons name (and therefore need not be
translated into English), it should be noted that kab is the Maya word for hand.
We will need this for the translation of the glyphs on the Alvaro Obregon box
below.
Calendrical Reconstructions
It is convenient to include a few lines in our analysis to explain the dates that
occur in Maya texts. Below you will see one method for presenting each date.
We indicate the glyph block where the date occurs (or at least where it begins),
the Long Count (LC), the Calendar Round (CR), and the equivalent date in the
European calendar. Finally, on the next line we may say what happened on the
date
Calendrical Reconstruction:
O1-P1
9.03.16.00.05
8 Chikchan 3 Keh
11-Nov-510 (J.)
Turtle Tooth grasps
helmets
As noted, in this booklet, we will use the Astronomical correlation and cite the
European date in terms of the Julian calendar (and thus the J. after the
European date).
25
We now turn to the Alvaro Obregon box which was found in Mexico. We are
lucky to have this box. Given the climate in the ancient Maya regions, only one
other wooden box has survived.
In many ways, the text on the Box parallels the text on Panel 2. In fact, as you
study Maya glyphs you will discover that it is not uncommon for texts to repeat
much of the information on other texts. This can help us when texts are eroded
or difficult to read for any other reason. We use the readable parts of one text to
fill in for the unreadable texts on the other, and vice versa. Parallel texts can also
help us read difficult logograms that are spelled out on another text.
Below is a drawing of the glyphs on the Alvaro Obregon Box:
26
Besides the parallels to Panel 2, this text is also similar to the well-known Altar Q
from Copan. Like that text, the Box tells of a journey by a soon to be Maya ruler
to a place known as the root tree house, or in more common terms, the
founders house, or lineage house.
As on Altar Q, an early Maya ruler travels a long distance, probably to Mexico in
order to receive his authority as ruler. And like Panel 2, we see that the overlord
Tajom is present.
The beautiful Alvaro Obregon Box
27

Piedras Negras Alvaro Obregon Box
A1-F2
G1
H1
G2
H2
I1
J1
I2
J2
K1
K2
L1
M1
N1
O1
N2
O2
P1
Q1
P2
Q2
R1
S1
R2-S2
T1
U1
T2-V1
W1
V2
W2
X1
X2
Y1
Z1
?
wi-te-{NAH}
ya-?
?
{u-TZAK-AJ}
15-7-WINIK
?
wite naah
?
?
u tzakaj
holajun wuk winik
8-CHIKCHAN?
(Haab date)
{verb }
ya-?
{a-ka}
?-K'IN-ni-{AJAW}
{AJAW?}
yi-chi-{NAL}
ta-jo-mo
u-K'AB-TUN-ni
wi-te-NAL
AJAW
u-6-la-ta
1-{CHUWEN}
{Haab date?}
(CELT-ELBOW)-ba-ja
tu ba/ma/t'u/HA'
?
CHAN-na
u-?-ko-te
?
u-KAB-ji-ya
?-ma-?
?
ta-jo-ma
{u-K'AB-TUN}
{OCH-K'IN-n}?
KALOMTE
waxak chikchan?
(Haab date)
{huliiy? }
ya-?
ahk
k'in ajaw
{ajaw?}
yichnal
tajom
u k'ab tuun
witenal
ajaw
u wak lat
juun chuwen
(Haab date)
?
?
?
chan
?
?
u kabjiiy
?
?
tajom
u k'ab tuun
och k'in
kaloomte'
?
Founders House
?
(verb?)
Its count (is)
15 kins 7 winal (155
days)
8 Chikchan?
(Haab date)
{ arrived?}

"Turtle Tooth"
K'in Ajaw
Ajaw?
accompanied by
Tajom
U K'ab Tun
Founder House
Ajaw
6 kins later (on)
1 Chuwen
(Haab date?)
?
?
?
Sky
?
?.
He supervised it
?
?
Tajom
U K'ab Tun
West
Kalomte
Rough Translation:
the Founders House.after 155 days (verb arrived?) Turtle Tooth, Sun
Lord. He was accompanied by Tajom U Kab Tun, the Founders House Lord.
Six days later(something happened). It was supervised by Tajom U Kab Tun,
the West Kalomte.
28
Translation Notes
Piedras Negras Alvaro Obregon Box
General Commentary: As on many ancient Maya texts, the first problem is to

determine the proper reading order. Where do we start?
Here we have a box with two long sides and two short sides. On the short sides
we have titles, which would be a very unusual way to begin a text. We can count
them out as the starting point, and assume the text will start with one of the long
sides, and then continue around the perimeter or the box.
The most complete side, at the top in the drawings above, starts with yichnal +
persons name. As indicated above, the standard discourse pattern is to name
an event and actor, and then indicate that a second actor was present, witnessed
the first event, or oversaw the proceedings. Thus, it is very reasonable to think
that the text started on the long side shown at the bottom of the drawings.
Unfortunately, the beginning of the text has been destroyed by time.
Nonetheless, what remains is very valuable and confirms the pattern for
obtaining royal authority that we find at other Maya sites.
Finally, note that on the long sides of the box the text is read in paired columns
as usual, with one single column that is read alone at the end of each long side.
L1-M1: Although rarely with certainty, often we can reconstruct part of a text
using patterns that we have observed elsewhere. In this case, take glyph blocks
L1-M1 for example. We know from other texts that the common title for a
Piedras Negras ruler is Kin Ajaw, and we know that the first long side of the box
concludes with the name of the PNG ruler Turtle Tooth.
We can see that L1 has the KIN logogram, and that there is at least enough
room for the full AJAW glyph at M1. Thus, KIN AJAW is a reasonable
reconstruction of the first short side of the box.
O1: Sometimes syllables are not placed in the same order in which they would
be read. Although eroded, the hat on the head is a circle of dots giving the
syllable mo. Thus in this glyph block we have ta-mo-jo in place of the more
proper ta-jo-mo to signify the name Tajom. The scribe obviously thought
aesthetics were more important than placing the syllables in the order of
pronunciation.
Although not appearing in many syllabaries, the thick-lipped character is a glyph
for the syllable jo.
29
N2: This glyph block clearly shows a hand. But, you would not make much
progress in reading this glyph by searching for logograms and syllables depicting
a hand.
Fortunately, we know from Panel 2 that Turtle Tooths overlord is Tajom U Kab
Tun, and we know that kab is the ancient Maya word for hand. So, in this
instance, the scribe has simply carved a hand instead of spelling out the word
kab.
Y1-Z1: The reasoning here is much like the other short end of the box. We can
see that the second long end of the box concludes with Tajoms name. We also
know from Panel 2 that he is a West Kalomte. Given that the Kalomte glyph is
quite clear at Z1, and that there is a ni syllable at Y1, it is quite reasonable to
reconstruct block Y1 as OCH-KIN-ni > och kin > west.
Further Comments: This box presents the discourse pattern we have mentioned
before in delicately balanced symmetry. We see the rhythm and flow between
Turtle Tooth and his overlord Tajom. Turtle Tooth acts and Tajom oversees.
Turtle Tooth acts again, and Tajom oversees again.
The short sides of the box demonstrate another form of symmetry and balance,
in terms of spatial presentation, as well as message. On one short side of the
box we have Turtle Tooths title carved in oversized glyphs and on the other
Tajoms title, carved in equally large glyphs. The titles are balanced, and equal.
In sum, the box presents a picture of the balance of power between lord and the
overlord, a picture of local action and regional supervision, a picture of regional
power and super-regional power.
30
References of Special Interest for this Text:

Stuart, David: The Arrival of Strangers, Mesoweb 1998,
http://www.mesoweb.com/pari/publications/news_archive/25/strangers/strangers.
html .
31
32
Chapter 4.
RULER C THE MAJOR EVENTS OF HIS REIGN
Panel 12 is the only text we have that mentions Ruler C. However, because the
glyphs for his name are severely eroded, we dont even know his name.
Like many other monuments, Panel 12 was commissioned by a son to honor his
deceased father. In this panel on the life of Ruler C we have his probable
accession date, the dedication of an important building, and the rituals
surrounding a major period ending. This latter ceremony is overseen by a group
of lords. These types of events are celebrated throughout the ancient Maya
world and are often the subject of the Maya glyphic texts.
On Panel 12 we also have images and text relating to 3 bound lords from other
cities. Since we know that at least one of these lords continues to rule after the
monument was carved, it is probable that their bindings are metaphors for their
subservience to the Piedras Negras ruler. Behind the large figure on the right
there is an individual who appears to be a real captive from a military battle.
33

A1-B1
A2
B2
A3
B3
A4
B4
A5
B5
A6
B6
A7
B7
C1
D1
tzi-ka-HAB-(SEK)
9-PIK
3-WINIKHAB
19-HAB
12-WINIK
12-K'IN
9-EB
(Glyph G8 + F)
10-KASEW
JOY?-AJ?-AJAW?
?
?
?
13-AJAW
i-PAT-ji-ya
(ISIG)
bolon pik
ux winikhaab
bolonlajun haab
lajcha winik
lajcha k'in
bolon eb
(Glyph G8 + F)
lajun kasew
joyaj ajaw
?
?
?
uxlajun ajaw
i patjiiy
E1
?-OK?-TUN-ni
? ok? tuun
F1
G1
3-a-je-la
18-YAXSIHOM
ux ajel
waxaklajun yaxsihoom
H1
I1
J1
I2
J2
I3
J3
I4
J4
I5
J5
I6
J6
I7
J7
K1
L1
M1
{u-CHOK-wa}?
ya-AJAW-wa
OCH-K'IN KALOMTE
17 he-wa
0-WINIK
3-TUN
5-KABAN
CHUM-SAKSIHOM
?
?
?
{u-TZ'AK-AJ}
{4-K'IN}?
{9-WINIK}?
7-IMIX
19-K'ANJALAB
i-K'AK'-EL-NAH
u-WAY-bi-li
u chokow
yajaw
ochk'in kaloomte
wuklajun hew
mih winik
ux tuun
ho kaban
chum saksihoom
?
?
?
{u tz'akaj}
{chan k'in}?
{bolon winik}?
wuk Imix
bolonlajun k'anjalab
i k'ahk' el naah (?)
u waybil
N1
O1
P1
O2
P2
O3
yo-OTOOT
K'INICH-6-?
8-HA'-?-K'UH
ya-IL?-?-WINIK
?
?
yotoot
k'inich wak ?
waxak ha' ? k'uh
?
?
?
34
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
3 k'atuns
19 tuns
12 winals
12 days
9 Eb
(Glyph G8 + F)
10 Sek
( Accession ?)
( of Ruler C? )
( titles? )
( titles? )
13 Ajaw
was formed /
dedicated
(name of structure)
foot? stone
3 kins passed ?
18 Yax
he scattered ?
(the) vassal (of)
(the) West Kalomte
17 kins
0 winal
3 tun
5 Kaban
seating of Sak
(capture event?)
(capture event?)
(capture event?)
Its count (is)
4 kins?
9 winal?
7 Imix
19 Pop
house censed
its dreaming place /
shrine
(of) his house
Kinich 6 ?
8 Water ? God
?
Sky God?
?
P3
O4
P4
O5
P5-P7
?
?-?-JA-ya?
?-CHAN?-na?
?-BALAM-?
?
?
?
? chan
? bahlam ?
?
?
?
? sky
? Jaguar
?.
Q1
R1
Q2
R2
u baah
? chan?
ahk
k'uhul lakamtuun ajaw
(It is) his image

? Sky
Ahk
Holy Lakamtun Lord
S1
T1
S2
T2
u-BAH
?-CHAN?
a-AK
K'UHUL LAKAM
TUN-ni AJAW
u-BAH
?
?
K'UHUL ? AJAW
u baah
?
?
k'uhul ? ajaw
U1
U2
U3
u-BAH
?
JOY-BALAM-?
u baah
?
joy bahlam ?
(It is) his image

?
?
Holy Santa Elena
Lord
(It is) his image
?
Knot-Eyed Jaguar
U4
pa-CHAN-AJAW
pa chan ajaw
YAX Lord
V1
V2
V3
u-BAH
?-AJAW
ma-SAK?[K'in]-la
u baah
? ajaw
?
(It is) his image

? Lord
?
Date A:
A2-A4
9.03.19.12.12
9 Eb 10 Sek
30-Jun-514 (J.)
accession Ruler C
Date B:
C1&G1:
9.04.00.00.00
13 Ajaw 18 Yax
16-Oct-514 (J.)
dedication event
D.N.:
I2-J3:
0.00.03.00.17
Date C:
J3-I4:
9.04.03.00.17
5 Kaban 0 Sak
17-Oct-517 (J.)
capture event
7 Imix 19 Pop
19-Apr-518 (J.)
fire entering
ceremony
D.N.:
?
Date D:
J7-K1:
0.00.00.09.04
9.04.03.10.01
35
Rough Translation:
On 9.03.19.12.12, 9 Eb 10 Sek, June 30, 514, Ruler C acceded to the Lordship.
At the baktun ending, 9.04.00.00.00, 13 Ajaw 18 Yax, October 16, 514, the
structure called ?- Stone was dedicated and incense was ritually scattered by
Ruler C, the vassal of the West Kalomte.
Then 3 tuns and 17 days later on 9.04.03.00.17, 5 Kaban Seating of Sak,
October 17, 517 Ruler C captured prisoners.
Then 184 days later on 9.04.03.10.01, 7 Imix 19 Pop, April 19, 518 Ruler C took
ritual fire into the shrine and dreaming place of the house of Holy Gods.
His vassals are the Lord of Lakamtun, the Lord of Santa Elena, and Knot-Eyed
Jaguar the Lord of Yaxchilan. His prisoner is (name and place of origin).
Translation Notes
General Commentary: Note the house-like structure of the monument. We, the
viewers, look inside the house and see the individuals. Except for the labels for
those individuals, all the writing is on the walls of the house.
C1-G1: This section is very unusual in that the calendar round frames the
action. We have the Tzolkin date at C1, the Haab date at G1, and the verb and
object come in between.
It is easy to mistake the Tzolkin day name in this passage. In most drawings, C1
appears to be 13 Chikchan. However, 13 Chikchan 18 Yax yields no date in this
era. By a process of elimination we arrive at 13 Ajaw 18 Yax which is the period
ending date of 9.04.00.00.00 that occurred during the reign of Ruler C.
H1: Although there is a dedication event (at D1), we also expect to find
scattering events at major period endings. Although eroded, at H1 we can see
the droplets that are often part of the glyph block for scattering.
I1-J1: We know that the expression ya-AJAW > yajaw > his lord is an
expression that denotes vassalage. As in other texts, we see that the early
Piedras Negras ruler owes his power to a greater lord located somewhere to the
west, probably Teotihuacn near present day Mexico City.
36
J6-I7: Although completely eroded, we can reconstruct a probable distance

number (DN) in this section by reading ahead. We see that the next CR date at
J7-K1 is 9 Imix 19 Pop, corresponding to 9.04.03.10.01. The DN would thus be 9
winals and 4 days to connect this date with the previous date of 9.04.03.00.17.
(It is possible that the new date is connected to one of the other dates previously
mentioned, so we cannot be absolutely sure of this distance number.)
M1: Here we have the word for dreaming place, probably some kind of shrine
or meditation area. The root is the word way, which can be a verb meaning to
dream or transform, as well as a noun indicating a spirit. The syllable bi is an
instrumental, meaning that it indicates place where something happens, or
that which does something. The suffix li is most likely included to mark the
noun as possessed.
M1-N1: Here we have two consecutive possessed nouns. In most cases such a
structure just indicates that the two things are owned by the same person (e.g. u
took u pakal means his flint and his shield, meaning his army).
In this case however the meaning is different. First we have u waybil, which
indicates that the waybil is possessed. Then we have yotoot, which indicates a
possessed house. Next we have the possessor(s).
In this case, the house is possessed by the god, and the shrine / dreaming place
is possessed by the house. In English, a similar structure would be the window
of Johns car. The window belongs to the car, and the car belongs to John.
37
______________________________________________________
The Captives Section of Panel 12
Lakamtun EG:
Santa Elena EGs:
Stucco EG from Palenque
Yaxchilan:
Knot-eye Jaguars name glyph
on Panel 12
38
Yaxchilan EG
39
Symmetry and Syntax on Piedras Negras Panel 12

There is much evidence that Maya scribes exercised great care in laying out their
texts. The layout and syntactical symmetry of the texts often reemphasize the
message and enhance the artistry of the texts. (See Hopkins and Kinsman
references below.) Piedras Negras Panel 12 is a good example of the
syntactical symmetry in glyphic texts.
From the drawing of Piedras Negras Panel 12 we see that it is designed to look
like a building. There are three columns, or pillars, and two lintels spanning
those pillars. The primary glyphic text is on the outside of the building, and the
people and their name tags are inside the building.
Starting at the beginning, it is well known that the ISIG is important because it is
the first glyph in the text and because it introduces the most important and
complete date sequence.
Consequently, in many Maya texts important
personages are in symmetric opposition to the ISIG. And this is exactly what we
see in Panel 12. At A1-B1, which is the top of the first column, we have the ISIG.
At I1-J1, at the top of the second column, we have yajaw ochkin kaloomte, the
vassal of the West Kalomte. This is a brilliantly concise reference to both the
ruler of Piedras Negras and his overlord. Both rulers are thus set in symmetric
opposition to the ISIG.
The pattern continues on the top of the third column. Although we cannot read
the glyphs, it is clear that O1-P1 is the name of a god and the owner of the
house. Thus, the ISIG, the Piedras Negras ruler, the rulers overlord, and the
god (or gods) occupy the same important positions at the top of the columns.
Next, lets look at the lintels, that is, the sections across the top that span the
columns. On the left we have 6 glyphs, and the right we have 4 glyphs. In both,
the first glyph is a date glyph and the second glyph is a verb in one case a
formation / dedicatory verb, and the other case a ritual fire-entering verb. On
both lintels the next glyph is the direct object. On the first lintel, it is the name of
the structure that was formed / dedicated, and on the second lintel it is the shrine
/ dreaming place of the house. We must move to the top of each column to see
who the agents are (as mentioned above).
Although this pattern may at first seem coincidental, the very rare framing of the
action on the first lintel would argue otherwise. There, the Haab date is split off
from the Tzolkin date and placed after the verb and direct object. It is not easy
to explain this syntactically. However, in terms of creating a visual and
syntactical symmetry, the structure is perfectly clear.
Now lets look at the first column and the second (i.e. middle) column. The first
column is entirely date information. The second column is mostly, but not
entirely, date information. In any case, even the possible capture verb in the
40
middle column is quite different from the dedicatory and ritualistic verbs that
compose the lintels on top. So, the first and second columns are quite symmetric
in their purpose and tone, and very different from the text on the lintels. Thus,
the scribes again repeat and echo the flow of the glyphs in the similar spaces in
which they are written.
Finally, we have the similarity of the way in which each subsidiary character is
named. In each case, starting with u baah, we are told the name and place of
origin of the person (except perhaps for the captive on the right).
References of Interest for this Text:

Josserand, J. Kathryn and Nicholas A. Hopkins: The Art of Political Discourse in
Classic Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions, paper presented at the 97th Annual
Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Philadelphia, December 4,
1998.
Kinsman, Hutch: Literary and Visual Devices in Grammatical Construction, in
The Codex of the University of Pennslyvania Museum of Archaeology and
Anthropology, Vol. 17, Issue 3, June 2009.
Stuart, David: Fire Enters His House Architecture and Ritual in Ancient Maya
Texts in Function and Meaning in Classical Maya, Stephen D. Houston, ed.,
Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, DC, 1998
http://www.doaks.org/publications/doaks_online_publications/ClassicMaya/maya
010.pdf
Stuart, David: The Captives on Piedras Negras, Panel 12
http://decipherment.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/the-captives-on-piedras-negraspanel-12
41
Chapter 5.
THE ACCESSION OF RULER 1
Piedras Negras Stela 25
Stela 25 is the first of many niche stelae produced at Piedras Negras and is the
accession stela of Ruler 1 (Kinich Yonal Ahk I).
Although much of this stela remains obscure and undecipherable, it does let us
place Ruler 1s reign and it throws light on the accession of an Ajaw.
Below you will see a drawing of the full front of the stela, and further below a
more detailed drawing of just the glyphs. You will see some differences between
these drawings. These differences arise from the difficulties inherent in making
accurate drawings from eroded stone carvings.
42
43

A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7a
A8
A9
A10
A11
tzi-ka-HAB-(MAK)
9-PIK
8-WINIKHAB
10-TUN
6-WINIK
16-K'IN
10-KIB
9-MAK
(Glyph G1)
(Glyph F)
3 HULI-li-ya
(ISIG)
bolon pik
waxak winikhaab
lajun tuun
wak winik
waklajun k'in
lajun kib
bolon mak
(Glyph G1)
(Glyph F)
ux huliiy
A12a
A12b
A13
A14
A15
(Glyph C3)
20-9
(Glyph X)
u-CH'OK-ko K'ABA'
i-JOY-AJ-HUN-AJAW
(Glyph C3)
bolon k'aal
(Glyph X)
u ch'ok k'aba'
i joyaj huun ajaw
B1
?-CHUM[mu]-wa-?AJAW?
yo-NAL-AK
K'IN-ni-AJAW
u-ti-ya
i-nu?-TUN-ni-ji
12-KAWAK
12 SAKSIHOM
u-?-li
ma-CH'AB[AK'AB]-li
ti? chumuw ajaw?
?
baak waywal
?
H1
I1
H2
I2
I3
k'e[ba]-ba-te
BAAK-wa-WAY-ya-la
TUN-ji-ya u-teJANAB-te
CH'EN-na-?
?
LAK-K'IN CH'EN-na
?
yi-ta-ji
I4
I5
I6a
?-K'UHUL-?
u-?-?-ya
u-CH'AB[AK'AB]-li?
? k'uhul ?
?
u ch'ab akabil
I6b
I7a
ch'a-?-ho-ma
K'IN-ni-AJAW
ch'ahoom
k'in ajaw
C1
B2
C2
D1
E1
D2
E2
F1
G1
F2
G2
yo' nal ahk

k'in ajaw
uhtiiy
?
lajcha kawak
lajcha saksihoom
?
ma ch'ab ma' akabil
ch'een ?
?
lak'in ch'een
?
yitaaj
44
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
8 k'atuns
10 tuns
6 winals
16 kins
10 Kib
9 Mak
(Glyph G1)
(Glyph F)
3 (kins ago the
moon) arrived
3rd lunation
29 (days in lunation)
(Glyph X)
its youth name
acceded to the
ajawship
and was seated in
the Ajawship
Yo Nal Ahk (Ruler 1)
K'in Ajaw.
It happened (at)
?
12 Kawak
12 Sak
?
It is the ? of the
captive (literally: no
creation no
darkness)
?
Baak Waywal
?
place ?
?
east place
?
He is accompanied
by
? holy ?
(verb?)
his creation
darkness
Scatterer
Sun Lord
I7b
u-NAH-hi-TUN-?-ji
u nah tuun
I8a
I8b
I9
I10a
I10b
I11
I12
I13a
JOY-AJAW
12-he-wa
1-WINIK 1?-TUN
BAK-WAY-wa-?
?-AJAW
4 11-WINIK-ya 4TUN-ya
i-JOY-AJAW
u-K'AL-TUN-ni
joy ajaw
lajcha hew
juun winik juun? tuun
baak waywal?
? ajaw
chan buluk winikiiy
chan tuuniiy
i joy ajaw
u k'al tuun
I13b
I14
I15
10-AJAW
5-WI'-wa-TUN-ni
u-ti-ya
lajun ajaw
ho wi tuun
uhtiiy
(It is) his first tun?

(since)
accession as lord
12 kins
1 winal 1? tun
Baak Waywal?
? Lord
4 kins 11 winals and
4 tuns
since becoming ajaw
he wrapped the
stone
10 Ajaw
last 5 tuns.
It happened
Calendrical Reconstruction
Date A:
A2-A6
9.08.10.06.16
10 Kib 9 Mak
Nov-14-603 (J.)
accession Ruler 1
Date B:
E1-D2
9.08.10.04.19
12 Kawak 12 Sak
Oct-08-603 (J.)
(event unclear)
0.00.01.01.12(?)
?
0.00.04.11.04
9.08.15.00.00
(from Date A)
10 Ajaw 8 Sek
DN:
I8b-I9:
Date C:
DN:
I11:
Date D:
Jun-04-608 (J.)
15 k'atun ending
Rough Translation:
On 9.08.10.06.16 10, Kib 9 Mak, November 14, 603 Ruler 1, Yonal Ahk,
acceded and was seated in the rulership. It happened at (place name). On
9.08.10.04.19, 12 Kawak 12 Sak, October 8, 603 he captured(?) Baak Waywal at
? place in the east.
He was accompanied by the holy ?.
He (verb?) the sacrificer, the Sun Lord. One? tun, one winal, and 12 days
(after/before? accession?) Baak Waywal ?.
Four tuns, 11 winal, and 4 days after becoming ruler, on 10 Ajaw 8 Sek he
wrapped the stone on the 15th tun on 9.08.15.00.00, June 4, 608. It
happened(illegible).
45
Translation Notes
General Commentary: This text is very difficult and many parts are still not
understood, even by the experts.
F1: Although no one understands these glyphs completely, we do know that they
have to do with the taking of prisoners. This group of glyphs may relate to the
hostilities between Piedras Negras and Palenque as the name Baak Waywal is a
name that appears with some regularity at Palenque.
H1: The glyphs CHEN and more frequently CHAN-CHEN are locative
markers, that is, they tell us that the glyphs that came immediately before are
the name of a place. Thus, we can translate these glyphs as simply place
(even though literally they mean sky cave). At times, CHEN is also used to
mean village.
I11-I12: Here we have a distance number coupled with the event from which we
are to count. These glyphs say 4 days, 11 winal, and 4 tuns since he became
Ajaw.
I13a: Some common glyph blocks are not pronounced in the normal reading
order (i.e, from top to bottom and left to right). Here we have a good example.
The normal reading order would be u-TUN-ni-KAL, but these glyphs are instead
read as u-KAL-TUN-ni > u kal tuun > He wrapped the stone.
Another common example of departure from normal reading order are the glyph
blocks that include the word ajaw. In such glyph blocks the word ajaw is
always read last. For example, block B2 is read as KIN-ni-AJAW > kin ajaw
(not ajaw kin).
I13b: Major period endings are often identified by the Tzolkin date that occurs
on the period ending. Here, for example, we have the 10 Ajaw ending, which
refers to the period ending 9.08.15.00.00 10 Ajaw 8 Sek.
I14: This glyph which is read as ho wi tuun means something like the last 5
tuns, and indicates the milestone 15 tuns (out of the 20 tuns of the katun). On
the pages that follow you will find the glyphs that indicate the 5 tun and the 15 tun
period endings.
46
Above the head of the ruler we have the following design:
Note the hand, the design with curls below the hand, and the two small upside
down heads. These are glyphs! They can be read yo-na-la > yonal > Yonal
-- the name of Ruler 1. Also, the design on top with the granules is read as NAL.
47
MAYA CHRONOLOGY: THE FIVE TUN GLYPYHS
48
MAYA CHRONOLOGY: THE FIFTEEN TUN GLYPHS
49
Chapter 6.
RULER 1: WAR and RITUAL
(I1-P3)
Panel 4 tells of a son honoring his father. In this case Ruler 2 performs a ritual
with incense to honor his father, Ruler 1.
In the panel there is a Ruler with two of his vassals and several bound war
prisoners. Unfortunately, the glyphs that tell of the conquests of the ruler are
badly eroded. But, starting at I1 we can read about the death of Ruler 1 and the
ritual to honor him carried out by his son almost 20 years later.
A
50

(I1-P3)
I1
J1
I2
J2
I3
J3
I4
J4
I5
J5
K1
L1
K2
L2
K3
L3
M1
N1
M2
U-TZ'AK-AJ
11-13-WINIK
5+?-TUN
u-ti-ya
i-PAS
5-IMIX
{19 K'ANASIY}
{OCH}-BIH-ji
?
K'INICH
{yo-o}-NAL
AK
?
2-WINIKHAB
AJAW
u-TZ'AK-AJ
7-17-WINIK
19-TUN
OCH-BIH-ji-ya
u tz'akaj
buluk uxlajun winik
? tuun
uhtiiy
i pas
ho imix
bolonlajun k'anasiiy
och bihiij
?
k'inich
yo'nal
ahk
?
cha' winikhaab
ajaw
u tz'akaj
wuk wuklajun winik
bolonlajun tuun
och bihjiiy
N2
M3
N3
O1
O2
O3
P1
P2
P3
yo?-o-NAL
AK
u-TZ'AK-AJ
3-LAMAT
6-CHAKSIHOM
EL-NAH-AJ
?
K'UHUL-yo-ki
bi-AJAW
yo'nal
ahk
u tz'akaj
ux lamat
wax chaksihoom
elnaahaj
?
k'uhul
yokib ajaw
Its count (is)

11 kins 13 winals
? tuns
It happened
it dawned on
5 Imix
19 K'ayab
he road entered
?
Kinich
Yo'nal
Ahk (Ruler 1)
?
2 katun
Lord .
Its count (is)
7 kins 17 winals
19 tuns
after the road-entering
/ death (of)
Yonal
Ahk (Ruler 1)
Its count (is)
3 Lamat
6 Keh
fire entered (censed)
the house of (?)
Holy
PNG Lord
Date A:
J3-I4
Distance No.:
M1-N1
9.10.06.02.01
5 Imix 19 K'ayab
19.17.07
51
01-Feb-639 J
Death of Ruler 1
Date B:
O1-O2
9.11.06.01.08
3 Lamat 6 Keh
6-Oct-658 J
Censering
Rough Translation:
On 9.10.06.02.01 on 5 Imix 19 Kayab February 1, 639 Ruler 1 died. And 19
Tuns, 17 Winals, and 7 kins after he died fire entered the tomb of the Holy
Piedras Negras Lord.
52
Translation Notes
General Commentary: Much of the text is eroded, and the interpretation of some
glyphs will depend upon whose drawing is used. Nonetheless, the text tells us of
an important ceremony performed 20 years after the death of a Ruler.
I1-L1: Note the elaborate structure here surrounding the distance number. We
have:
The distance number introductory glyph: u-TZAK-AJ

The distance number itself: 11-13-WINIK 5?-TUN
A verb indicating that something happened: u-ti-ya
A glyph that indicates that a particular calendar round date dawned: iPAS
The calendar round itself: 5 Imix {19 Kayab}
(Remember, curly brackets indicate reconstructed glyphs.)
The event to which we are counting: OCH-BIH (road-entering, a
metaphor for death)
The person: KINICH-{yo}-o-NAL AK, i.e. Ruler 1
Thus the ancient Maya use a verbal structure that we also use. However, they
used the passive voice much more often than we do.
In the drawings we have it is difficult to see, but the upper left part of O3 has the
KAK flames, and the flat part on the bottom is NAH, meaning edifice. The
following is a more accurate drawing of O3.
Z1: Beneath the left foot of the Ruler we see the signature of the artist. The
word is probably yuxul meaning (It is) his carving and then the artists name
(unreadable in this case). At Piedras Negras, many artists signed their names on
the carvings.
53
Further Comments: In the language of the Ancient Maya, there was no verb to
be. Thus, for example, instead saying It is the image of the Ruler they would
simply say Image of the Ruler. We see this several times in this text. To show
that we have inferred the verb to be, in the translation we may write (It is) the
image of the Ruler.
Grammar Notes
As at O3, in ancient Maya texts we often see verbs ending in the syallable ja
(sometimes indicated in the transcriptions as AJ by linguists). This ending
indicates that the scribe created an intransitive verb from a transitive verb. In
most cases, the resulting verb is passive.
Note also that in the transcriptions we also insert an h just after the vowel in the
verb root. From closely related Mayan languages linguists have determined that
this aspirant would have been pronounced, even though not written in the glyphs.
Thus, the two part morpheme -{h}-aj indicates that a passive verb was
derived from a transitive verb.
In English, we create the passive tense with the auxillary verb to be. The dog
bit the man uses the transitive verb to bite. But The man was bitten by the
dog converts the verb to a passive via use of was and the past participle.
54
Chapter 7.
RULER 2 BOY KING
Ruler 2 acceded to the throne when he was only 12 years old and ruled for over
47 years. Stela 33 is his accession stela and shows him with a lady, probably his
mother, but perhaps a wife.
There are only a few glyphs on this stela. They tell of his accession and his first
period ending on 9.10.10.00.00. They also tell us the ladys name, but we dont
know how to read her name glyphs.
55

G1
G2
G3
G4
E1
F1
H1
H2
H3
H4
H5
u-BAH-hi
?
?
IX-?
8-MULUK
{2}-CHAKAT
11-12-WINIK
3-TUN
JOY-AJ?- AJAW-le?
TAN-LAM (?)
13-AJAW
u baah
?
?
ix ?
waxak muluk
cha' chakaat
buluk lajcha winik
ux tuun
joyaj ti ajawlel (?)
tahn lam
uxlajun ajaw
(It is) her image

?
?
Lady ?
8 Muluk
2 Sip
11 days, 12 winal
3 tuns
since his accession
half period
13 Ajaw
Date A:
E1-F1
9.10.06.05.09
8 Muluk 2 Sip
12-Apr-639 (J.)
Accession of Ruler 2
DN
H1-H2
H5
0.00.03.12.11
9.10.10.00.00
13 Ajaw 18 K'ank'in
03-Dec-642 (J.)
Period Ending
Rough Translation:
It is the image of Lady ???. On 9.10.06.05.09, 8 Muluk 2 Sip, April 12, 639 was
the day of his accession to the rulership, which was 3 tuns, 12 winals, and 11
kins until the half period.
56
Translation Notes
General Commentary: Although we cannot read much of the beginning glyphs,

we know they refer to the lady on the left. Glyphs close to or touching the image
of an individual (whether noble or captive) are often name tags that identify the
individual. However, usually the ruler has no name tag, presumably because it
would have been unnecessary.
H1-H5: Note how the Distance Number operates here. First we have the
distance number (3 tuns, 12 winals, and 11 days), then an event (the accession),
and then another event (the half period), and then an identifying name for the
second event. This can certainly give rise to confusion until you realize that the
distance number is time from the first event to the second event. (The same
form was on Stela 25.)
Sometimes it helps to do a little trial and error with dates and distance numbers.
Also, it helps to keep in mind when the monument was carved, and what would
be logical for that point in time.
57
Chapter 8.
RULER 2 AN ANCIENT RITUAL
Panel 2 was commissioned by Ruler 2 on the first katun anniversary of his

fathers death. It tells of Ruler 2s repetition of an ancient rite of helmets that
Turtle Tooth performed many years earlier. (See Chapter 3.) The Panel also
shows and identifies various vassals from neighboring sites.
58
Detail of glyphs from Panel 2
59

A1-B1
A2-B2
A3-B3
A4-B4
A5-B5
A6-B6
C1
D1
C2
D2
E1
F1
E2
F2
G1
H1
G2
H2
I1
J1
tzi-ka-HAB-(KEH)
9-PIK
11-WINIKHAB
6-HAB
2-WINIK
1-K'IN
{3}-IMIX
(Glyph G5)
(Gyph F)
19-? (Glyph E)
HULI-ya
(Glyph C5)
?
20-9
19 CHAKSIHOM
ch'a-CH'AM-wa
5?-KO'HAW
CHAK
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
yi-chi-NAL-la
(ISIG)
bolon pik
buluk winikhaab
wak haab
cha' winik
juun k'in
ux imix
(Glyph G5)
(Gyph F)
bolonlajun ?
huliiy
(Glyph C5)
?
bolon k'aal
bolonlajun chaksihoom
ch'amaw
ho? ko'haw
chahk
itzam k'an ahk
yichnal
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
11 k'atuns
6 tuns
2 winals
1 kin
3 Imix
(Glyph G5)
(Gyph F)
19 kins (ago)
arrived (the moon)
5th lunation
?
29 kins (in lunation)
19 Keh

5 Helmets Grasped
Chak
Itzam K'an Ahk (Ruler 2) .
(He) was accompanied by
I2
J2
K1
L1
K2
L2
M1
N1
M2
u-KUH-li
YAX-HA'-la
CHAK
8-ba?-na-ka
1-ba-na-ka
?
u-TZAK
K'UHUL-K'UL
K'UHUL yo-ki-bi
u kuhil
yaxha{a}l
chahk
?
?
?
u tzak
k'uhul k'ul
k'uhul yokib
his god
Yaxhaal
Chak (god name)
?
?
?.
He conjured
the holy god
the Holy Piedras Negras
N2
O1
P1
O2
P2
Q1
R1
Q2
R2
S1
T1
S2
T2
U1
V1
AJAW
8-CHIKCHAN
3-CHAKSIHOM
CH'AM-ma
ko-o
{ha-wa}
ya-?
a-ku
K'IN-ni-AJAW
yi-YICHNAL-NAL
ta-[jo]mo
u
k'a
ba
TUN-ni
ajaw
waxak chikchan
ux chaksihoom
ch'am
y-?-ahk
k'in ajaw
yichnal
tajom
Lord
8 Chikchan
3 Keh
grasped

helmets

"Turtle Tooth"
K'in Ajaw
his companion (was)
Tajom

u k'ab tuun
U K'ab Tun

ko'haw
60
U2
V2
W1
X1
W2
X2
W3
X3
W4
X4
W5
X5
W6
X6
W7
X7
W8
X8
W9
X9
W10
X10
W11
X11
W12
X12
OCH- K'IN-ni
KALOMTE
u-TZ'AK-AJ
16-he-wa
1-WINIK
5-TUN
7-WINIKHAB
u-ti-ya
i-CH'AM-wa
ko-o
ha-wa
XOK?
CHAK
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
K'UHUL yo-ki-bi
AJAW-wa
11-12-WINIK
8-TUN
1-WINIKHAB
JOY-ji-ya
ti-AJAW-le
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
i-PAS
4-AJAW
13-MOL
WI-5-TUN-ni
och k'in
kaloomte'
u tz'akaj
waklajun hew
juun winik
ho tuun
wuk winikhaab
uhtiiy
i ch'amaw
West
Kalomte.
Its count is
16 kins
1 winal
5 tuns
7 k'atuns
it happened
ko'haw
xook?
chahk
itzam k'an ahk
k'uhul yokib
ajaw
buluk lajcha winik
waxak tuun
juun winikhaab
joyjiiy
ti ajawlel
itzam k'an ahk
i pas
chan ajaw
uxlajun mol
wi ho tuun
M1
M2
M3
M4
N1
JOY-CHITAM
a-ku
CHOK-ko
Yo-ki[bi]
AJAW-wa
joy chitam
ahk
chok
yokib
ajaw
he helmet grasped
Xok?
Chak
Itzam K'an Ahk (Ruler 2)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
11 kins 12 winals
8 tuns
1 k'atun
since his accession
to the lordship
Itzam K'an Ahk (Ruler 2) .
Dawned
4 Ajaw
13 Mol
5 tuns lacking (15 tun
ending)
Joy Chitam
Ahk
Youth
Piedras Negras
Lord
A'1
B'1
A'2
B'2
A'3
B'3
C'1
D'1
C'2
D'2
C'3
D'3
E'1
F'1
E'2
F'2
E'3
CHAN-NAL-la
CHAK-chi-wo
no-ne?-ni?
AJ-pa-li-ya?-?
ju-ku-bi
xu-ka-la-NAH-AJAW
3-?-ya
AJ
K'AN-na
a-?-li
pa-CHAN-na
AJAW
?
CHAK-BAK
AJ
SAK-la-ka-la
xu-ka-la-NAH
chanal
chak chiwoj
?
aj ?
jukub
xukal naah ajaw
?
aj
k'an
?
pa chan
ajaw
?
chak baak
aj
sak lakal
xukal naah
Sky
Great Tarantula
?
He of ?
Canoe
Lacanha Lord
?
He of
Kan
?
Yaxchilan
Lord
?
Great Bone
He of
Sak Lacal
Lacanha
61
F'3
G'1
H'1
G'2
H'2
G'3
H'3
I'1
J'1
I'2
J'2
I'3
J'3
K'1
L'1
K'2
L'2
AJAW
(Sun Holder)
K'AK'-K'UH
mo-o-ta-la
a-ki?
xu-ka-la-NAH
AJAW
MUYAL-la
CHAN-na
K'AWIL
mu?-?-?
a-AK
AJAW-wa
yi-ch'a-ki
pa-ta
AJ
2
bu-lu-HA'
ajaw
(Sun Holder)
k'ahk k'uh
mo' tal ?
?
xukal naah
ajaw
muyal
chan
k'awiil
?
ahk
ajaw
yihch'aak
pat
aj
bubulha'
Lord
(Sun Holder)
Fire God
Mo' Tal
?
Lacanha
Lord
Cloudy / Six
Sky
Kawil
?
Bonampak
Lord

Yichaak Paat (Claw of the ?)
He of
Bubul Ha (Round? Water)
K'3
L'3
xu-ka-la-NAH
AJAW
xukal naah
ajaw
Lacanha
Lord
Date A:
A2
9.11.06.02.01
(20 years after Ruler 1's death)
Date B:
O1-P1 9.03.16.00.05
D.N.
W1-W3 0.07.05.01.16
Date C:
9.11.01.02.01
3 Imix 19 Keh
21-Oct-658 (J.)
Ruler 2 takes helmets
8 Chikchan 3 Keh
11-Nov-510 (J.)
Turtle Tooth takes helmets
10 Imix 4 K'ank'in
16-Nov-653 (J.)
Ruler 2 takes helmets
15 years after Ruler 1's death
D.N. (from accession date 9.10.06.05.09 to Date D)

W8-W9 0.01.08.12.11
Date D:
9.11.15.00.00
4 Ajaw 13 Mol
62
25-Jul-667 (J.)
Period Ending
Rough Translation:
On 9.11.06.02.01, 3 Imix 19 Keh, October 21, 658, Chak Itzam Kan Ahk (Ruler
2) grasped the helmets in the presence of his god(s), Yaxhaal Chak, ?.
The Holy Piedras Negras Lord conjured the god(s).
On 9.03.16.00.05, 8 Chikchan 3 Keh, November 11, 510 Turtle Tooth, the Sun
Lord grasped the war helmets. His companion was Tajom U Kab Tun, the West
Kalomte.
Then 7 katuns, 5 tuns, 1 winal, and 16 kins later on November 16, 653 the
Holy Piedras Negras Lord Chak Itzam Kan Ahk grasped the helmets.
And, 1 katun, 8 tuns, 12 winals, and 11 kins after Itzam Kan Ahk acceded to
the lordship, the 15th tun ended on 4 Ajaw 13 Mol.
Name Tag for Individual on right:

Joy Chitam Ahk, young Piedras Negras Lord
Name Tags for Individuals on left:

Sky-like Great Tarantula, ?, Canoe Guide(?), Lord of Lacanha.
?, he of precious Yaxchilan, Lord of Yaxchilan
?, Great Bone, he of White ?, Lacanha Lord
(Sun Holder?), Fiery ?, ?, Lord of Lacanha
Cloudy Sky Kawil, ?, Bonampak Lord.
? Claw, he of Round? Water, Lord of Lancha
63
Translation Notes
General Commentary:
Note the flow of events in Panel 2. The panel starts with a taking of the helmets
on the 20 tun anniversary of Ruler 2s fathers death. Then the text looks back
148 years to when Turtle Tooth performed the same ritual. Then, moving into the
time of Ruler 2, we see another performance of the ceremony 15 years after
Ruler 2s fathers death.
The helmet grasping ceremonies are the main focus of the text. But the death of
Ruler 2s father (not mentioned explicitly), and Ruler 2s accession (mentioned in
the context of a distance number) are background events.
Finally, the text concludes with a reference to the 15 tun period ending. As you
will see, many texts conclude with a count to a forthcoming major period ending.
G2: Here we see the logogram KOHAW meaning helmet (or helmets). Note that
the logogram is almost identical to the helmets worn by the six individuals on the
left.
From the picture we can guess that the logogram means helmet, but without
further information we would have no way to know how to pronounce the word.
Fortunately, we have the same word spelled out in syllables at P2-Q1 and X4W5. Such phonetic substitutions are a key strategy for discovering how ancient
Maya words were pronounced.
W11: This block is read as i-PAS > i pas > opened or dawned and is often
used just before a date. It means something like, and (such and such day)
dawned.
The logogram PAS is a beautiful example of the creativity of the Maya scribes. It
is composed of the three logograms CHAN, KIN, and KABAN, meaning sky,
sun, and earth. The three logograms are arranged so that the glyph for sky
appears to open up, revealing the glyph for sun shining above the glyph for earth
--- i.e. exactly what happens at dawn.
L2: Here we have a very creative way that scribes used to double a syllable in
the script. The doubler is two small dots in the glyph block, usually to the upper
left of the syllable that is to be doubled and is denoted with the superscript 2 in
the transcription.
64
Further Comments:
In most cases plural nouns in the ancient Maya texts are not written any
differently from singular nouns. We thus have to use context to decide which is
correct. In Panel 2 we have to decide if helmet(s) is singular or plural.
Similarly, we have several references to god or gods. In many cases we can
never know for sure if a noun is singular or plural.
Glyphs indicating the beginning of the current era in 3114 B.C. on 4 Ajaw 8 Kumku 13.00.00.00.00
65
Chapter 9.
A TRIBUTE TO RULER 2
Stela 36 contains a short well-preserved text. The text gives the full calendar
information for the accession of Ruler 2 and connects his birth to a minor period
ending.
66

A1-B1
A2
B2
A3
B3
A4
B4
A5
B5
A6
tzi-ka-HAB-(SIP)
9-PIK
10-WINIKHAB
6-TUN
5-WINIK
9-K'IN
8-{MULUK}
(Glyph G1)
(Glyph F)
4-HULI-li-ya
(ISIG)
bolon pik
lajun winikhaab
wak tuun
ho winik
bolon k'in
waxak muluk
(Glyph G1)
(Glyph F)
chan huliiy
B6
A7
B7
A8
B8
(Glyph C4)
(Glyph X4)
20-9
2-CHAKAT
ti-JOL-AJAW-li
(Glyph C4)
(Glyph X4)
bolon k'aal
cha' chakat
ti joy ajawlel
C1
D1
C2
D2
AK
CHAK
ITZAMNA-na
K'UHUL-yo-{ki}-biAJAW
19-13-WINIK-ji-ya
ahk
chahk
itzamna
k'uhul yokib ajaw
C3
D3
C4
D4
C5
D5
C6
D6
C7
D7
C8
D8
1-TUN-ya 2WINIKHAB-ya
6-{IMIX}
19 SUTZ'
SIY-AJ-ji-ya
AK
CHAK
ITZAMNA-na
PAS
4-AJAW
13-MOL
5-WI'-wa-TUN-ni
bolonlajun uxlajun
winikjiiy
juun tuuniiy cha'
winikhaabiiy
wak imix
bolonlajun suutz'
siyjiiy
ahk
chahk
itzamna
pas
chan ajaw
uxlajun mol
ho wi' tuun
67
(ISIG)
9 baktun
10 k'atun
6 tun
5 winals
9 kins
8 Muluk
(Glyph G1)
(Glyph F)
4 (days ago the
moon) arrived
4th lunation
(Glyph X4)
2 Sip
succeeded to the
lordship
Ahk
Chak
Itzamna (Ruler 2)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
(It has been) 19 kins
13 winals
1 tun 2 k'atuns
(since)
6 Imix
19 Sotz'
was born
Ahk
Chak
Itzamna (Ruler 2)
dawned
4 Ajaw
13 Mol
5 tuns lacking (i.e.
15 tun period
ending)
Date A:
A2-A4
9.10.06.05.09
8 Muluk 2 Sip
D.N. (from birth of Ruler 2 on 9.09.13.04.01)

0.02.01.13.19
C3-D3
Date B:
4 Ajaw 13 Mol
9.11.15.00.00
D7-D8
12-April-639 (J.)
Accession of Ruler
2.
25-July-667 (J.)
Rough Translation:
On 9.10.06.05.09, 8 Muluk 2 Sip, April 12, 639 Ruler 2 acceded to the rulership.
Two katuns, 1 tun, 13 winals and 19 kins after his birth, the period ended on
4 Ajaw 13 Mol 9.11.15.00.00.
Translation Notes
General Commentary: For the most part, this text is straight-forward and
relatively easy to read. Of note, however, is the physical layout of the text.
The ISIG is the first glyph in most texts and is usually much larger than other
glyphs. Thus, to emphasize the importance of Ruler 2, his name at C1-D1 is set
opposite the ISIG.
The symmetry of the text is also apparent in the placement of Tzolkin dates. At
B4 and C4 we have two Tzolkin days side by side. At A8 and C8, we have two
Tzolkin days each appearing at the lower left corner of their respective columns.
The placement of glyphs does not change their actual reading or meaning, but
certainly adds to the aesthetic and poetic nature of the texts.
C2&D6: It is often difficult to distinguish between head variant glyphs. However,
phonetic complements help. In these cases the glyphs for Itzamna have the
suffix -na. It is not unusual to see the name spelled Itzamnaaj and spelled with
the suffix ji. The full correct name of this god is a complex topic. (See article by
Erik Boot referenced below.)
D2: Note the head variant of the bi syllable in this block.
68
References of special interest for this text:

Boot, Erik: At the Court of Itzam Nah Yax Kokaj Mut, 2008, available from
www.mayavase.com .
69
Chapter 10.
THE CONQUESTS OF RULER 2
Panel 15 was commissioned by Ruler 2s son. As mentioned before, it was not

unusual for a son to create monuments to honor his father and tell of the exploits
of his fathers life. Normally, such monuments were created many years after the
fathers death, as was the case with Panel 15.
70

A1-B2
A3
B3
A4
B4
A5
B5
A6
B6
A7
B7
A8
B8
A9
B9
A10
B10
A11
tzi-ka-HAB-({SOTZ'})
{9-PIK}
{9-WINIKHAB}
{13-TUN}
{4-WINIK}
{1-K'IN}
{6-IMIX}
{(Glyphs G8 & F)}
20-3
{HUL-li}
(Glyph C?)
(Glyph X and C?)
u-CHOK-ko-K'ABA'
20-10
19-SUTZ'
SIY-ya-AJ
CHAK
ITZAM{[K'AN]}-AK
(ISIG)
bolon pik
bolon winikhaab
uxlajun tuun
chan winik
juun k'in
wak imix
(Glyphs G8 & F)
ux k'aal
huli
(Glyph C?)
(Glyph X and C?)
u chok k'aba'
lajun k'aal
bolonlajun suutz'
siyaj
chahk
itzam k'an ahk
B11
k'uhul yokib ajaw
A12
B12
A13
B13
C1
D1
C2
D2
C3
D3
C4
D4
C5
D5
C6
D6
C7
K'UHUL-yo-ki-biAJAW
ya-YAL-la
K'UHUL-IX
?
?
u-{MIJIN-li}
{yo-o-NAL}
{a-ku}?
2-WINIKHAB-AJAW
{yo-ki-bi}?
u-TZ'AK-AJ
8-1-WINIK
13-TUN
u-ti-ya
i-PAS
8-{MULUK}
2-CHAKAT
ti-JOY-AJAW
yal
k'uhul ix
?
?
u mijinil
yonal
ahk
cha' winikhaab ajaw
yokib
u tz'akaj
waxak juun winik
uxlajun tuun
uhtiiy
i pas
waxak muluk
cha' chakat
ti joy ajaw
D7
C8
CHAK
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
chahk
itzam k'an ahk
D8
K'UHUL-yo-[ki]biAJAW
u-TZ'AK-AJ
17 1-WINIK
k'uhul yokib ajaw
C9
D9
u tz'akaj
wuklajun juun winik
71
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
9 k'atuns
13 tuns
4 winals
1 kin
6 Imix
(Glyphs G8 & F)
23 (days ago)
arrived (the moon)
(Glyph C?)
(Glyph X and C?)
his youth name
19 Sotz'
was born
Chak
Itzam K'an Ahk
(Ruler 2)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
(He is) child of
Holy Lady
"Bird Headdress"
?
(He is) child of
Yo'nal
Ahk (Ruler 1)
2 k'atun Lord
(of) Piedras Negras.
Its count (is)
8 kins 1 winal
13 tuns
it happened
dawned
8 Muluk
2 Sip
succeeded to the
lordship
Chak
Itzam K'an Ahk
(Ruler 2)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
Its count (is)
17 (kins) 1 winal
C10
D10
9-TUN
u-ti-ya i PAS
bolon tuun
uhtiiy i pas
C11
D11
C12
D12
C13
D13
9-KIMI
14-IK'AT
chu-ka-AJ
?-ya-?
?
YEHT
bolon kimi
chanlajun ik'at
chuhkaj
?
?
yeht
E1
F1
chahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
E2
F2
E3
F3
CHAK
K'UHUL-{yo-ki-biAJAW}
u-TZ'AK-AJ
7 16-WINIK
16-TUN
{u-ti-ya i PAS}
E4
F4
G1
H1
G2
H2
G3
H3
G4
H4
{12-BEN}
1-MUWAN
chu-ka-AJ
?
?-AJAW?
u-KAB-ji
CHAK
1 2-WINIK
4-TUN
{u-ti-ya i PAS}
lajcha' ben
juun muwaan
chuhkaj
?
? ajaw
u kabiij
chahk
juun cha' winik
chan tuun
uhtiiy i pas
I1-I2
J1
J2
K1
L1
K2
L2
K3-N1
tzi-ka-HAB-({PAX})
{9-PIK}
{11-WINIKHAB}
{16-TUN}
{7-WINIK}
{14-K'IN}
{11-IX}
?
(ISIG)
bolon pik
buluk winikhaab
waklajun tuun
wuk winik
chanlajun k'in
buluk ix
?
M2
N2
M3
N3
M4-P7
O8
P8
O9
P9
20-9
{2-PAX}
?-?
?
?
CHAK / AK ?
4-WINIKHAB-AJAW
12 3-WINIK
{u-ti-ya i PAS}
bolon k'aal
cha' pax
?
?
?
chahk / ahk
chan winikhaab ajaw
lajcha' ux winik
uhtiiy i pas
O10
P10
5-{KIMI}
9-{K'ANJALAB}
ho kimi
bolon k'anjalab
u tz'akaj
wuk waklajun winik
waklajun tuun
uhtiiy i pas
72
9 tun
it happened and it
dawned
9 Kimi
14 Wo
was captured
? (captive's name)
?
(1) captive of or(2) He was his work
Chak (Ruler 2)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
Its count (is)
7 kins 16 winals
16 tun
it happened and it
dawned
12 Ben
1 Muwan
was captured
? (captive's name)
? Lord.
He oversaw it
Chak (Ruler 2).
1 kin 2 winals
4 tuns
it happened and it
dawned
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
11 k'atuns
16 tuns
7 winals
14 kins
11 Ix
? (supplemental
series information)
2 Pax
? (war on)
? (place)
?
Chak / Ahk (Ruler 2)
4 k'atun lord
12 kins 3 winals
it happened and it
dawned
5 Kimi
9 Pop
O11
P11
chu-ka-AJ
a-?
chuhkaj
a-?
O12
P12
O13
P13-R8
Q9
R9-Q10
?-AJAW
{u-KAB-ji}
? / CHAK?
?
{K'AK'-EL-AJ}
?
? ajaw
u kabiij
? / chahk?
?
k'ahk' elaj
?
R10
Q11
R11
u-KAB-ji
{Ruler 3}
{K'UHUL-yo-ki-biAJAW}
?
{13-AJAW}
{18-PAX}
{5-WI-TUN}
u kabiij
(Ruler 3)
k'uhul yokib ajaw
Q12
R12
Q13
R13
?
uxlajun ajaw
waxaklajun pax
ho wi tuun
was captured
? (he of place orpersonal name)
? Lord
He oversaw it
?/Chak (Ruler 2)
?
fire was brought into
? (tomb / structure
name?).
He supervised it
(Ruler 3)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
? (D.N)
13 Ajaw
18 Pax
(5 tuns lacking
period ending)
Date A:
A1-A5
9.09.13.04.01
6 Imix 19 Sotz'
22-May-626 (J.)
Birth of Ruler 2
D.N.:
C4-D4
Date B:
C6-D6
8 Muluk 2 Sip
12-Apr-639 (J.)
9 Kimi 14 Wo
01-Apr-648 (J.)
Capture Event
12 Ben 1 Muwan
30-Nov-664 (J.)
Capture Event
11 Ix 2 Pax
20-Dec-668 (J.)
Star War Event
5 Kimi 9 Pop
28-Feb-669 (J.)
Capture Event
D.N.:
D9-C10
Date C:
C11-D11
D.N.:
F2-E3
Date D:
E4-F4
D.N.:
H3-G4
Date E:
I1-N2
D.N.:
O9
Date:
O10-P10
0.00.13.01.08
9.10.06.05.09
0.00.09.01.17
9.10.15.07.06
0.00.16.16.07
9.11.12.05.13
0.00.04.02.01
9.11.16.07.14
0.00.00.03.12
9.11.16.11.06
73
Date:
9.13.15.00.00
13 Ajaw 18 Pax
27-Dec-706 (J.)
Period Ending
Rough Translation:
On 9.09.13.04.01, 6 Imix 19 Sotz, May 22, 626 Ruler 2 was born, son of Lady
Bird Headdress and Ruler 1, the 2 Katun Lord. Then on 9.10.06.05.09,
8 Muluk 2 Sip, April 12, 639 Ruler 2 acceded to the Ajawship.
On 9.10.15.07.06, 9 Kimi 14 Wo, April 1, 648 (person) was captured and was
captive(?) of Ruler 2. On 9.11.12.05.13 12 Ben 1 Muwan November 30, 664
(person) was captured.
On 9.11.16.07.14, 11 Ix 2 Pax, December 20, 668 war was made on (place?).
On 9.11.16.11.06, 5 Kimi 9 Pop, February 28, 669 (person) was captured and
Ruler 2 supervised it.
There was a fire entering and Ruler 3 supervised it. Then on 13 Ajaw 18 Pax
was the period ending 9.13.15.00.00 .
74
Translation Notes
General Commentary: Although largely eroded, we can glean a great deal of

information from this text by careful analysis. To read the text we have to bring
to bear much of our knowledge of the norms of Maya writing, as well as Maya
warfare and ritual.
A3-A5: The Long Count (L.C.) date is completely eroded and cannot be read.
However, as is often the case, we can figure out the date by reading ahead in the
text. In this case, we can derive the L.C. since it refers to the birth of Ruler 2
(which we know from other sources), or by using the subsequent D.N. to count
backwards from the accession date (which we also know from other sources).
A12-C3: In this passage we have two nice parentage statements. As is normal,
the mother comes first, then the father. Thus, for example, although C1 is highly
eroded, we can infer a child of father glyph. This, in turn, informs us that blocks
D1-C3 are the name and titles of Ruler 2s father (Ruler 1).
D3, C9, E2: Although highly eroded, these blocks can be read as u-TZAK-AJ.
We can be quite certain of these readings because they come directly before
Distance Numbers, and because they are at least partly readable.
You should look for this same Distance Number Introductory Glyph in other
texts that contain Distance Numbers.
D10, F3, H4, P9: All these glyphs have the same reading, although they are
constructed somewhat differently. They are all u-ti-ya i-PAS > uhtiiy i pas > it
happened, it dawned. In each case, the phrase is followed directly by the
Calendar Round, except at H4 which is followed by the full Initial and
Supplementary Series.
A similar structure occurs at C5-D5, except that the phrase is presented more
conventionally as two glyphs blocks.
See Translation Notes from Chapter 8 on Panel 2 for a discussion of the
logogram PAS.
D13: This glyph is not well understood. However, we do know that it often
relates captors to their captives. We saw variations of this glyph in Chapter 2 on
Ruler A and Ruler B.
75

Houston, Stephen and Hctor Escobedo, Mark Child, Charles Golden, Richard
Terry, and David Webster: In the Land of the Turtle Lords:
Archaeological Investigations at Piedras Negras, Guatemala
Available from www.famsi.org.
Panel 15 from Piedras Negras
76
Chapter 11.
LADY KATUN - QUEEN OF PIEDRAS NEGRAS
Rarely if ever in Maya writing does a lady receive as much attention as Lady
Katun of Piedras Negras. In this stela we learn of her birth and the events
surrounding her marriage. We also have her full image. The sides of the stela
are devoted to her husband, Ruler 3.
Stela 1 Face
77

Piedras Negras Stela 1 (Face)
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
tzi-ka-HAB-(YAXKIN)
9-PIK
12-WINIKHAB
2-TUN
0-WINIK
16-K'IN
5-KIB
{(Glyph G)}
(Glyph F)
8-HULI-ya
(ISIG)
bolon pik
lajcha' winikhaab
cha' tuun
mih winik
waklajun k'in
ho kib
(Glyph G)
(Glyph F)
waxak huliiy
A11
B1
C1
B2
C2
B3
C3
D1
E1
D2
E2
D3
E3
F1
G1
F2
G2
(Glyph C2)
(Glyph X)
u-CH'OK[ko]-K'ABA'
20-10
14-YAXK'IN
SIY-AJ-ji-ya
IX-WINIKHAB
a-AJAW
IX-MAN-ni AJAW
15 9-WINIK-ji-ya
12-TUN-?
u-ti-ya
i-PAS
9-CHUWEN
9-UNIW
ma-ka-AJ
IX-MAN-ni AJAW
(Glyph C2)
(Glyph X)
u ch'ok k'aba'
lajun k'aal
chanlajun yaxk'in
siyajiiy
ix winikhaab
ajaw
ix {na}maan ajaw
holajun bolon winikjiiy
lajcha' tuun
uhtiiy
i pas
bolon chuwen
bolon uniw
mahkaj
Ix{na}maan ajaw
F3
G3
G4
G5
u-5-la-ta
1-KIB
14-UNIW
na-wa-AJ
u ho lat
juun kib
chanlajun uniw
nahwaj
G6
G7
G8
G9
G10
G11
5 2-WINIK-ya?
1-WINIKHAB
5-IMIX
19-SAKSIHOM
u-BAH-hi
ti-o-mi-bi
G11
ti-mo-o-mi-ma
G11
ti ?
ho cha' winik
juun winikhaab
ho imix
bolonlajun saksihoom
u baah
ti omib
-orti mo' mim
-orti ?
G12
IX-WINIKHAB-AJAW
ix winikhaab ajaw
78
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
12 k'atuns
2 tuns
0 winals
16 kins
5 Kib
(Glyph G)
(Glyph F)
8 (days ago the
moon) arrived
2nd lunation
(Glyph X)
Its youth name
14 Yaxk'in
was born
Lady K'atun
Lordess
Lordess of Namaan
15 (kins) 9 winal
12 tuns
it happened
it dawned
9 Chuwen
9 K'ank'in
was enclosed
Lady Namaan
Lordess
5 days later
(on) 1 Kib
14 K'ank'in
was revealed /
adorned / betrothed
5 (kins) 2 winals
1 k'atun
5 Imix
19 Sak
(it is) her image
as consort
as ? grandmother
while (doing
something)
Lady K'atun Lordess
G13
{IX}-na-MAN-ni{AJAW}
ix namaan ajaw
Lady Namaan
Lordess
5 Kib 14 Yaxk'in
4-Jul-674 (J.)
Birth of Lady K'atun
9 Chuwen 9 K'ank'in
13-Nov-686 (J.)
Lady K'atun
"enclosed"
1 Kib 14 K'ank'in
18-Nov-686 (J.)
Lady K'atun
"revealed/adorned"
Date A:
A2-A6
D.N.:
D2-E2
Date B:
F1-G1
D.N.:
F3:
Date C:
G3-G4
D.N.:
G6-G7
Date D:
G8-G9
9.12.02.00.16
0.00.12.09.15
9.12.14.10.11
0.00.00.00.05
9.12.14.10.16
0.01.00.02.05
9.13.14.13.01
5 Imix 19 Saksihoom
19-Sep-706 (J.)
Lady K'atun does something?
1 k'atun anniversary of successsion
Rough Translation:
On July 4, 674 , 9.12.02.00.16, 5 Kib 14 Yaxkin, Lady Katun, Lordess of
Namaan, was born.
On 9.12.14.10.11, 9 Chuwen 9 Kankin November 13, 686 she was enclosed,
and 5 days later on 1 Kib 14 Kankin she was revealed / adorned (i.e.
betrothed).
On September 19, 706 , 9.13.14.13.01, 5 Imix 19 Sak, it is her image as (?) /
doing (?).
79
Translation Notes
F2: This block reads ma-ka-AJ > mahkaj > to be enclosed / covered. However,
in this context the verb undoubtedly refers to a part of the ancient Maya marriage
ceremony.
F2: The word
completed.
lat
is often used in Distance Numbers and means later or
G5: This verb is na-wa-AJ > nahwaj > to be revealed / to be adorned. Much
like the verb at F2, this verb refers to some type of ceremony related to the
marriage of Lady Katun.
G10-G11a: In Maya glyphic texts it is quite common to see: u-BAH-hi ti +
(verb/noun) > u baah ti (verb/noun) > (It is) his/her image (as something) /
(while doing something).
Such a phrase refers to the image on the monument and often identifies the
action being carried out by the figure in the carving, or in some cases the god
that the actor is impersonating.
However, in this case we cannot read the word following ti, so we cannot be
sure that this is the right interpretation.
Further Commentary:
headdress.
Note the prominent katun glyph in Lady Katuns
80
Stela 1 Sides
81

Piedras Negras Stela 1 (Sides)
H1
H2
H3
H4
H5
H6
H7
H8
H9
H10a
H10b
H11a
H11b
I1
J1
I2-I7
J7
I8
J8
I9
J9
I10
tzi-ka-HAB-({PAX})
9-PIK
13-WINIKHAB
15-TUN
0-WINIK
0-K'IN
13-{AJAW}
(Glyphs G&F)
(Glyphs E&D)
(Glyph C)
(Glyph X)
u-CH'OK?-K'ABA'
(Glyph A)
{18-PAX}
WI-5-TUN
?
?-AJ
K'UHUL-li?
u-MIJIN-li
?
?-CHAK
{ITZAM[K'AN]}-AK
(ISIG)
bolon pik
uxlajun winikhaab
holajun tuun
mih winik
mih k'in
uxlajun ajaw
(Glyphs G&F)
(Glyphs E&D)
(Glyph C)
(Glyph X)
u ch'ok k'aba'
(Glyph A)
waxaklajun pax
wi ho tuun
?
?
k'uhul
u mijinil
?
? chahk
itzam k'an ahk
J10
u-TZ'AK-AJ
19 6-WINIK
u-ti-ya
4-{IMIX}
19-{IK'SIHOM}
PUL-{[yi]}
u-{tzi}-ti-li
ITZAM-K'AN-na
k'uhul yokib ajaw
I11
J11
I12
J12
I13
J13
I14
J14
u tz'akaj
bolonlajun wak winik
uhtiiy
chan imix
bolonlajun ik'sihoom
puluy
utzitil
itzam k'an
k'uhul yokib ajaw
J17
u-CH'AM-wa-?
KOJ-ji
yo-o-NAL
ti-1-WINIKHAB
I18
{OCH?}-bi-hi
och bih
I15
J15
I16
J16
I17
u ch'amaw ?
kooj
yo'nal
k'uhul yokib ajaw
ti juun winikhaab
82
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
13 k'atuns
15 tuns
0 winals
0 kins
13 Ajaw
(Glyphs G&F)
(Glyphs E&D)
(Glyph C)
(Glyph X)
its youth name
(Glyph A)
18 Pax
5 tuns lacking
?
?
Holy
(It is) his child
?
? Chak
Itzam K'an Ahk
(Ruler 2)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
(It is) his count
19 (kins) 6 winal
it happened
4 Imix
19 Ch'en
it (gets) burned
? (type of ritural)
(by) Itzam K'an
(Ruler 2)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
He grasped (s.t.?)
Puma
Yo'nal (Ruler 3)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
on the 1k'atun
(anniversary)
of the road entering
(death) of
J18
itzam k'an ahk
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
Itzam K'an Ahk

(Ruler 2)
Date E:
H2-H5
D.N.:
J11
Date F:
J12-I13
9.13.15.00.00
13 Ajaw 18 Pax
27-Dec-706 (J.)
Period Ending
-0.00.00.06.19
9.13.14.11.01
4 Imix 19 Ch'en
8-Aug-706 (J.)
Something gets burned
2 winals short of 1 k'atun anniversary of successsion
8 kins short of 1 k'atun anniversary of Ruler 2's death
Rough Translation:
On December 25, 706 (J.), 13 Ajaw 18 Pax, there was the period ending
9.13.15.00.00.
. (Ruler 3), child of Ruler 2.
On 9.13.14.11.01 4 Imix 19 Chen, August 8, 706 (J.) (something) of Ruler 2 /
belonging to Ruler 2 got burned.
Ruler 3 grasped (something) on the one katun anniversary of the death of Ruler
2.
Translation Notes
General Commentary: Note that the text flows directly from one side to the other
side and is concerned with Ruler 3 and his father Ruler 2, whereas the text on
the face of the stela is essentially independent and is concerned with Lady
Katun.
83
J13: This is the head version of the verb PUL meaning to burn. Although
eroded, it is likely that there was a yi syllable infixed in the cheek. The yi
syllable makes the verb a medio-passive, which means that the subject is acted
upon, rather than acts itself. In English, the boys burn the wood is a regular
transitive verb, but the wood gets burned by the boys is a medio-passive verb.
Medio-passive verbs are always intransitive.
In general, the Ancient Maya used the passive voice much more than we do in
English.
I14: This unreadable block is probably the thing that gets burned. It is appears to
start with u, indicating that it is a possessed noun.
J14: As is often the case in Maya glyphs, when a persons name directly follows
a possessed noun, the person is the possessor of that noun. So, reading J13J14 we have gets burned the (something) of Ruler 2. This almost surely refers
to a ritual fire ceremony carried out at the tomb of Ruler 2 on the first katun
anniversary of his death.
I16: Although this glyph appears to be a jaguar, it is in fact a puma. It can be
read as KOJ-ji > kooj > puma, which was the childhood name of Ruler 3. As
frequently was the case, it is followed by his adult name. Unlike jaguars, pumas
will hunt humans.
I18: This block can be reconstructed as OCH-bi-hi > och bih > enters the road
(i.e. dies). The ancient Maya often used poetic and metaphoric phrases to refer
to death.
84
Chapter 12.
A ROYAL MAYA FAMILY
Stela 3 gives us an unusual portrait of a royal Maya family. The stela focuses on
Lady Katun, her husband Ruler 3, and their daughter Precious Turtle. The face
of the stela shows mother and daughter seated on a throne.
Stela 3 Face
85

A1
B1
A2
B2
A3
B3
A4
B4
A5
B5
tzi-ka-HAB-(YAXKIN)
9-PIK
12-WINIKHAB
2-TUN
0-WINIK
16-K'IN
5-KIB
(Glyph G7)
(Glyph F)
7-20-li HUL-li-ya
(ISIG)
bolon pik
lajcha' winikhaab
cha' tuun
mih winik
waklajun k'in
ho kib
(Glyph G7)
(Glyph F)
wuk k'aal huliiy
A6
B6
A7
B7
A8
A9
A10
(Glyph C2)
(Glyph X) u-K'UHULK'ABA'
20-ki-9
14-YAXK'IN
SIY-ya-AJ
IX-WINIKHAB-AJAW
IX-na-MAN-ni AJAW
(Glyph C2)
(Glyph X) u k'uhul
k'aba'
bolon winak
chanlajun yaxk'in
siyaj
ix winikhaab ajaw
ix namaan ajaw
C1
D1
C2a
C2b
D2a
D2b
C3
D3a
0-10-WINIK
12-TUN
i-u-ti
1-KIB
14-UNIW
na-wa-AJ
IX-WINIKHAB-AJAW
IX-na-MAN-ni AJAW
mih lajun winik

lajcha' tuun
i uhti
juun kib
chanlajun uniw
nahwaj
ix winikhaab ajaw
ix namaan ajaw
D3b
C4
yichnal
k'inich yo'nal ahk
D4a
D4b
C5
{yi}-chi-NAL-la
K'INICH-yo-[o]AKNAL
10-11-WINIK
1-TUN
1-WINIKHAB i-u-ti
lajun buluk winik

juun tuun
juun winikhaab i uhti
D5
C6
D6
C7
D7
E1a
E1b
F1
E2
F2
4-KIMI
14 IK'AT
SIY-ya-AJ
IX-1-tan-na a-ku
IX-K'IN-ni-AJAW
15 8-WINIK
3-TUN
i-u-ti
11-IMIX
14-YAXSIHOM
chan kimi
chanlajun ihk'aat
siyaj
ix juun tahn ahk
ix k'in ajaw
holajun waxak winik
ux tuun
i uhti
buluk imix
chanlajun yaxsihoom
86
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
12 k'atuns
2 tuns
0 winals
16 kins
5 Kib
(Glyph G7)
(Glyph F)
27 (days ago the
moon) arrived
2nd lunation
(Glyph X) his holy
name
14 Yaxkin
was born
Lady K'atun Lordess
Lady Lordess of
Namaan
0 kins 10 winals
12 tun
it happened (on)
1 Kib
14 K'ank'in
was revealed
Lady K'atun Lordess
Lady Lordess of
Namaan
she is accompanied
(by) Kinich Yonal
Ahk (Ruler 3)
10 kins 11 winal
1 tun
1 k'atun it happened
(on)
4 Kimi
14 Wo
was born
Lady Precious Turtle
Lady Sun Lordess
15 kins 8 winals
3 tun
it happened (on)
11 Imix
14 Yax
u ch'amaw
temu{l}
ix winikhaab ajaw
she grasped
the throne
Lady K'atun Lordess
E4
u-CH'AM-wa
te-mu
IX-WINIKHAB-AJAWwa
IX-na-MAN-ni AJAW
ix namaan ajaw
F4a
F4b
E5
TZUTZ-yi
u-5-tu-TUN
1-WINIKHAB la-ta
tzutzuy
u ho tuun
juun winikhaab lat
F5a
F5b
E6
F6
E7
F7
F8
F9
F10
ti-AJAW-le-{le}
yo-o
NAL-a-ku
19-4-WINIK
i-u-ti
6-AJAW
13-MUWAN
TZUTZ-yi
u-14-WINIKHAB
ti ajawlel
yo'
nal ahk
bolonlajun chan winik
i uhti
wak ajaw
uxlajun muwaan
tzutzuy
u chanlajun winikhaab
Lady Lordess of
Namaan.
gets completed
his 5th tun (and)
1 k'atun (i.e. 25 tuns)
completed
in the lordship
Yo'
Nal Ahk (Ruler 3)
19 kins 4 winals
it happened
6 Ajaw
13 Muwan
gets completed
his 14 k'atun
on legs
of seat
IK'-KAB-JANAB-NAL
ihk' kab janab nal
Black earth flower

place ?
5 Kib 14 Yaxk'in
04-Jul-674 (J.)
1 Kib 14 K'ank'in
18-Nov-686 (J.)
Lady K'atun revealed
/ adorned
4 Kimi 14 Wo
17-Mar-708 (J.)
Birth of daughter
11 Imix 14 Yax
24-Aug-711 (J.)
25th tun anniversary
of succession
6 Ajaw 13 Muwan
1-Dec-711 (J.)
Period Ending
E3a
E3b
F3
Date A:
B1-B3
9.12.02.00.16
D.N.:
0.00.12.10.00
C1-D1
Date B:
C2b-D2a 9.12.14.10.16
D.N.:
D4-C5
Date C:
D5-C6
D.N.:
E1
Date D:
E2-F2
D.N.:
F6
Date E:
F7-F8
0.01.01.11.10
9.13.16.04.06
0.00.03.08.15
9.13.19.13.01
0.00.00.04.19
9.14.00.00.00
87
Rough Translation:
On 9.12.02.00.16, 5 Kib 14 Yaxkin, July 4, 674 Lady Katun, Lordess of
Namaan, was born. Then on 9.12.14.10.16, 1 Kib 14 Kankin November 18, 698
Lady Katun Lordess of Maan was revealed / adorned (i.e. betrothed), with
Yonal, the Sun Lord (Ruler 3).
On 9.13.16.04.06, 4 Kimi 14 Wo, March 17, 708 Lady Precious Turtle, Lady Sun
Lordess, was born.
Then on 9.13.19.13.01, 11 Imix 14 Yax August 24, 711 Lady Katun the Lordess
of Namaan grasped the throne. It was the completion of 25 tuns in the Lordship
by Yonal Ahk (Ruler 3).
Then, on 9.14.00.00.00, 6 Ajaw 13 Muwan December 1, 711 the 14th katun got
completed.
Translation Notes
General Commentary: The stelae at Piedras Negras gives an unusual amount of

attention to the women in the royal family. In fact, the mention of a daughter and
her depiction on a stela is unique among Maya monuments.
D3b: We read this block as yichnal , which indicates that one person is
accompanied by another. However, the yi- syllable is not visible. In essence, it
is covered over by the chi syllable that is in front.
D3a vs. A10 & E4: Most syllabaries do not contain the smiley face at D3a.
However, by comparing it to A10 and E4, we have a perfect phonetic substitution
that allows us to confidently read the smiley face as the na syllable.
F5b-E6: Here we have the name of Ruler 3 completely spelled out, yo-o-NAL aku > yonal ahk.
Note the elaborate head variant of the o syllable at
F5b(bottom). The head variant of the letter o is a bird with heavy shading over
the eye. At E6 we also have the head variant of the syllable ku.
88
In many cases you can identity the head variants of glyphs by paying close
attention to the markings on the head and the face. For example, in this case the
head variant of ku has the grapes on the upper left and the half-circle on the
lower right just like the simple ku glyph.
C4b: Like F5b-E6, this block also reads yonal ahk . However in this case the
scribe used conflation, which is the combining of two distinct glyphs into one.
First note how the head in this block is very different from the head variant of the
o glyph at F5b. That is because in this case the o syllable (normally
recognizable by distinct cross-hatching) is conflated with the head of a turtle (i.e.
AK), giving the Rulers name glyph in much shorter form.
Seat: The glyphs written on the legs of the seat represents a place name. It
means something like Black Earth Flower Place.
89
Now consider the sides of the stela.

G
Stela 3 sides
90

G1-H2
G3
H3
G4
H4
G5
H5
G6
H6
G7
tzi-ka-HAB-(MUWAN)
9-PIK
14-WINIKHAB
0-TUN
0-WINIK
0-K'IN
6-AJAW
(Glyph G9)
(Glyph F)
17-HULI-li-ya
(ISIG)
bolon pik
chanlajun winikhaab
mih tuun
mih winik
mih k'in
wak ajaw
(Glyph G9)
(Glyph F)
wuklajun huliiy
H7
G8
H8
G9
H9
G10
H10
G11
H11
G12
(Glyph C3)
(Glyph X)
u ch'ok k'aba'
lajun k'aal
uxlajun muwaan
u tzutzuw
chanlajun winikhaab
yo' nal
ahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
H12
G13
H13
G14
H14
(Glyph C3)
(Glyph X)
u-CH'OK-{K'ABA'}
20-li?-10
13-MUWAN
2
u- tzu-wa?
14-WINIKHAB
yo-o-?-NAL
a-AK
K'UHUL-{yo-ki-bi}AJAW
?
{ya-YAL ??}
IX-?
?
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
G15
H15
G16
H16
G17
H17
G18
H18
G19
H19
G20
H20
I1
J1
I2
J2a
J2b
4-WINIKHAB?-AJAW
18-10-WINIK
7-TUN
2-WINIKHAB
SIY-ya-AJ
2-{IK'}
10-PAX
?
?
?
6-AJAW
13-MUWAN
u-TZ'AK-AJ (?)
13-3-WINIK
2-TUN
1-WINIKHAB
{i-u-ti}
chan winikhaab ajaw

waxaklajun lajun winik
wuk tuun
cha' winikhaab
siyaj
cha' ihk'
lajun pax
?
?
?
wak ajaw
uxlajun muwaan
u tz'akaj
uxlajun ux winik
cha' tuun
juun winikhaab
i uhti
?
yal
ix ?
?
itzam k'an ahk
91
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
14 k'atuns
0 tuns
0 winals
0 kins
6 Ajaw
(Glyph G9)
(Glyph F)
17 (days ago the
moon) arrived
3rd lunation
(Glyph X)
his youth name
30 days in lunation
13 Muwan
he completes
14 k'atuns
Yo' nal
Ahk (Ruler 3)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
?
child of (mother)
Lady {White Bird?}
child of (father) ?
Itzam K'an Ahk
(Ruler 2)
4 K'atun Ajaw ?
18 kins 10 winals
7 tuns
2 k'atuns (earlier)
was born (on)
2 Ik'
10 Pax
(Ruler 3)
(Ruler 3)
?
6 Ajaw
13 Muwan.
Its count is
13 kins 3 winals
2 tun
1 k'atun
it happens
I3
{13-MEN 13-UNIW}
J3
{KA'-yi u-SAK[NIK]IK-li}
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
I4
J4
I5
J5
I6
J6
I7
J7
I8
J8
I9
J9
I10
J10
I11
J11
I12
J12
I13
J13
I14
J14
I15
J15
I16
J16a
J16b
I17
J17
I18
J18
I19
J19
I20
J20
K'UHUL yo-[ki]biAJAW-wa
6-2-WINIK
i-u-ti
7-{IMIX}
19-PAX
{JOY-AJAW ?}
yo-{o}-NAL
{a-ku}
0 5-TUN
1-WINIKHAB
i-u-ti
11-{IMIX}
14-YAXSIHOM
ti-u-5-TUN
1-WINIKHAB
{ti-AJAW-le}
KOOJ? yo-NAL-a-ku
?-WINIKHAB-?
a/K'UHUL?-?
?-a-ku
KOJ
yo-[ki]bi AJAW-wa
19-4-WINIK
i?-u-ti
6-AJAW
13-MUWAN
u-14-WINIKHAB
u-K'AL-wa-TUN-ni
{yo-NAL}-a-ku
K'UHUL-yo-[ki]biAJAW-wa
?
(Jaguar Paddler)
{(Stingray Paddler)}
AJAW?
uxlajun men uxlajun

uniw
ka'iiy u sak nik ikil
itzam k'an ahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
wak cha' winik
i uhti
wuk imix
bolonlajun pax
joy? ajaw
yo'nal
ahk
mih ho tuun
juun winikhaab
i uhti
buluk imix
chanlajun yaxsihoom
ti u ho tuun
juun winikhaab
ti ajawlel
kooj yo'nal ahk
? winikhaab
?
? ahk
kooj
yokib ajaw
bolonlajun chan winik
i uhti
wak ajaw
uxlajun muwaan
u chanlajun winikhaab
u k'alaw tuun
yo'nal ahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
?
(Jaguar Paddler)
(Stingray Paddler)
ajaw?
92
13 Men 13 K'ank'in
expired his white
flower breath
Itzam K'an Ahk
(Ruler 2)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
6 kins 2 winals
it happens (on)
7 Imix
19 Pax
acceded to lordship
Yo'nal
Ahk (Ruler 3)
0 kins 0 winal 5 tuns
1 k'atun
it happened
11 Imix
14 Yax
in his 5 tun
(and) 1 k'atun
in the Lordship
Kooj Yo'nal Ahk
(Ruler 3)
? k'atun
?
Ahk
Kooj (Ruler 3)
Piedras Negras Lord
19 kins 4 winals
it happened
6 Ajaw
13 Muwan
his 14th k'atun
he wraps the stone
Yonal Ahk (Ruler 3)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
(accompanied by?)
(Jaguar Paddler)
(Stingray Paddler)
Lords?
Date F:
G3-G5
6 Ajaw 13 Muwan
1-Dec-711 (J.)
Period Ending
D.N.:
H15-H16 -0.02.07.10.18
Date G:
H17-G18 9.11.12.07.02
2 Ik' 10 Pax
29-Dec-664 (J.)
Birth of Ruler 3
Date H:
G20-H20 9.14.00.00.00
6 Ajaw 13 Muwan
1-Dec-711 (J.)
Period Ending
D.N.
J1-J2b
Date I:
I3
D.N.:
I5
Date J:
I6-j6
D.N.:
J8-I9
Date K:
I10-J10
D.N.:
J15
Date L:
J16
9.14.00.00.00
0.01.02.03.13
(from birth of Ruler 3)
9.12.14.10.15
13 Men 13 K'ank'in
17-Nov-686 (J.)
Death of Ruler 2?
7 Imix 19 Pax
2-Jan-687 (J.)
11 Imix 14 Yax
24-Aug-711 (J.)
25th Anniversary of
accession
6 Ajaw 13 Muwan
1-Dec-711 (J.)
Period Ending
0.00.00.02.06
9.12.14.13.01
0.01.05.00.00
9.13.19.13.01
0.00.00.04.19
9.14.00.00.00
Rough Translation:
On 6 Ajaw 13 Muwan December 1, 711 the 14th katun was completed by Yonal
Ahk, the Holy Lord of Piedras Negras, son of Lady White Bird and Itzam Kan
Ahk the 4 Katun Lord. On 9.11.12.07.02, 2 Ik 10 Pax December 29, 664 Ruler 3
was born. And the period ended on 6 Ajaw 13 Muwan.
Then on 9.12.14.10.15, 13 Men 13 Kankin November 17, 686 Itzam Kan Ahk
(Ruler 2) died. Then on 9.12.14.13.01, 7 Imix 19 Pax January 2, 687 Yonal Ahk
(Ruler 3) acceded.
93
And on 9.13.19.13.01, 11 Imix 14 Yax August 24, 711 it was 25 tuns in the
lordship for Yonal Ahk,, Puma Holy Lord of Piedras Negras.
Then it happened on 6 Ajaw 13 Muwan December 1, 711 (J.) on the 14th katun
Yonal Ahk the Holy Lord of Piedras Negras bound the stone. He was
accompanied by(?) the Jaguar Paddler God and the Stingray Paddler God.
Translation Notes
G10: Although difficult to see, at G10 we have a doubler which the scribes used
to indicate that a syllable should be repeated. Specifically, we have u-2tzu-wa >
u tzutzuw > he completes. As noted before, the doubler is two small dots,
usually to the upper left of the syllable that is to be doubled and denoted with the
superscript 2 before the syllable to be doubled.
This block illustrates an important grammatical structure that marks transitive
verbs in the ancient Maya script. Transitive verbs are usually marked with a uprefix and a -wa suffix. In such cases the vowel of the root is repeated in the
suffix.
G13-G15: Given the erosion of the text, this reading in the analysis above is
obviously speculative. However, if a reading is logical and at least partially
supported by the visible glyphs, it makes sense to note it, although with a ?
mark.
J3: This reading is also speculative, but on some drawings part of the KA glyph
is visible. Also, we know that this is the approximate date of the death of Ruler 2,
and at J4 we can see that the subject of the phrase is a ruler of Piedras Negras.
The date in question is two days later than the date normally given for the death
of Ruler 2 (i.e 9.12.14.10.13). This may mean that the ancient Maya used an
approximation, that they viewed death as a process that could last several days,
or that our reading is simply wrong.
I19: Although barely readable, these glyphs very probably indicate the presence
of the Paddler Gods. As explained in Chapter 1, the Paddler Gods often make
an appearance at major period endings.
94
Harris, John: Some Women from Piedras Negras, in The Codex of the
University of Pennslyvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Vol. 7,
Issue 1, October, 1998.
Hopkins, Nick and Kathryn Josserand: A Piedras Negras Sampler.
Lpez, Lus: The Maan Polity in Maya Inscriptions, 2003, posted at
http://www.ncc.up.pt/~lblopes/notes/maan/maan.pdf .
95
Chapter 13.
THE MASK OF THE PUMA
Jadeite Mask Found at Chichn Itz
The Jadeite Mask was found in the cenote at Chichn Itz. Once you have read
the glyphs, you will see that it was created to honor Ruler 3 of Piedras Negras.
You should also note that the mask itself is a representation of the childhood
name of Ruler 3, i.e. Kooj, meaning Puma. Recall that the logogram for Puma is
a large feline head with the symbol for a human in its mouth. Here we have a
96
mans head inside the mouth of a large cat and the meaning is doubtlessly the
same.
97

A1
B1
A2
B2
C1
C2
D1
E1
F1
G1
H1
I1
J1
K1
7-IMIX
14-MAK
13-TUN
ti-{AJAW-le}
TZUTZ-AJ
KOJ
{u-TZ'AK-AJ ?}
7-TUN
u-to-ma
5-IMIX
19-SAKSIHOM
TZUTZ-AJ
1-WINIKHAB
ti-AJAW-le
wuk imix
chanlajun mak
uxlajun tuun
ti ajawlel
tzuhtzaj
kooj
u tz'akaj
wuk tuun
uhtoom
ho imix
tzuhtzaj
juun winikhaab
ti ajawlel
7 Imix
14 Mak
13 tuns
in the lordship
was completed
(by) Puma (Ruler 3).
Its count (is)
7 tuns
will happen (on)
5 Imix
19 Sak
completed
1 k'atun
in the lordship
L1
M1
?
ya?-NIK-ki
?
? nik
?
? flower
7 Imix 14 Mak
24-Oct-699 (J.)
13th anniversary of
Accession
5 Imix 19 Sak
9-Sep-706 (J.)
1 k'atun anniversary of
Accession
Date A:
A1-B1
D.N.:
E1
Date B:
G1-H1
9.13.07.13.01
0.00.07.00.00
9.13.14.13.01
Rough Translation:
On 9.13.07.13.01, 7 Imix 14 Mak October 24, 699 13 tuns in the lordship of

Puma (i.e. Ruler 3) got completed. In 7 tuns it will happen on 9.13.14.13.01,
5 Imix 19 Sak September 19, 706 the 1st katun in the lordship will get
completed.
98
Translation Notes
General Note: One must use trial and error to derive the correct dates and
correct reading. This is often the case when there is no long count date, or when
it is too eroded to be read.
C2: This is the logogram for Puma, the childhood name of Ruler 3. As noted
earlier, unlike jaguars, pumas will hunt humans. Thus it is quite appropriate that
the logogram for puma is a large cat with the glyph winik, meaning man, in its
mouth.
F1: This block reads u-to-{ma} > uhtoom > it will happen. (The ma syllable
has to be reconstructed.) This is the future tense of the verb uht that we see in
familiar expressions i-u-ti > i uhti and u-ti-ya > uhtiiy.
In the ancient Maya language the future tense of a verb was formed by adding
the suffix -oom .
M1: Here we use the common reading NIK > nik for T533. The true reading
remains elusive.
99
Chapter 14.
A ROYAL FAMILY HISTORY
100
Stela 8 is a portrait of the royal family of Ruler 3. By the time this monument was
built, Ruler 3 was an older man at the end of a long reign. By telling us which
events in his life Ruler 3 thought were most important, Stela 8 tells us about the
man himself.
The text starts with the birth of Ruler 3 and names his mother and father. It then
jumps to the events surrounding his marriage to Lady Katun and the death of his
father, events that occurred at about the same time. Upon the death of his
father, Ruler 3 accedes to rulership. This was no doubt a time of great drama
and change within the royal family.
The text goes on to mark a period ending, Ruler 3s first katun anniversary in
power, and his third katun birthday. Finally the text ends with another probable
period ending and a capture event. This last event is important because it shows
that Piedras Negras had gained some success against its old enemy, Yaxchilan.
101
102

A1-A2
A2
B2
A3
B3
A4
B4
A5
B5
A6
{tzi-ka-HAB-(PAX)}
9-PIK
11-WINIKHAB
12-TUN
7-WINIK
2-K'IN
2-IK'
(Glyph G9)
(Glyph F)
6 HULI-li-ya
(ISIG)
bolon pik
buluk winikhaab
lajcha' tuun
wuk winik
cha' k'in
cha' ihk'
(Glyph G9)
(Glyph F)
wak huliiy
B6
A7
B7
A8
B8
A9
B9
A10
B10
(Glyph C5)
(Glyph X)
u-CH'OK-K'ABA'
20-10
10-PAX
SIY-ya-AJ
CH'OK[ko]AK?
KOJ
ya-YAL
K'UHUL-IX
IX-SAK-(Bird)
u-MIJIN-na ?-ko
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
(Glyph C5)
(Glyph X)
u ch'ok k'aba'
lajun k'aal
lajun pax
siyaj
ch'ok ahk?
kooj
k'uhul yokib ajaw
k'uhul yokib ajaw
B15
?-e?-li?-ya?
CH'OK[ko]
ya-(BAT)-na
A16
B16
A17
B17
KOJ-ji
CH'OK
9 3-WINIK
2-TUN 1-WINIKHAB
A18
B18
A19
B19
A20
B20a
i-u-ti
9-CHUWEN
9-UNIW
ma-AK-AJ-ji-ya
IX-li?-K'IN-ni-AJAW
u-KAB-ji-ya
kooj
ch'ok
bolon ux winik
cha' tuun juun
winikhaab
i uhti
bolon chuwen
bolon uniw
mahkjiiy
ixil k'in ajaw
u kabjiiy
A11
B11
A12
B12
A13
B13
A14
B14
A15
yal
k'uhul ix
ix sak (bird)
u mijin ?
itzam k'an ahk
?
ch'ok
k'uhul yokib ajaw
?
103
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
11 k'atuns
12 tuns
7 winals
2 kins
2 Ik'
(Glyph G9)
(Glyph F)
6 (days ago the moon)
arrived
5th lunation
(Glyph X)
his youth name
10 Pax
was born
youth Ahk
Puma
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
child of
Holy Lady
Lady White Bird
child of
Itzam K'an Ahk (Ruler
2)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
? (verb?)
youth
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
(parentage statement)
Puma
youth
9 kins 3 winals
2 tun 1 k'atun
it happened (on)
9 Chuwen
9 K'ank'in
was enclosed
Lady Sun Lordess.
He oversaw it
B20b
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
itzam k'an ahk
A21
chan winikhaab ajaw
B23
4-WINIKHAB-AJAWwa
3-la-ta
{12-HIX}
12-UNIW
KA'-u-SAK{[NIK]?}IK'-il
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
A24
B24
C1
D1
C2
D2
C3
yo-[ki]bi AJAW-wa
3-la-ta
2-KABAN
15 UNIW
na-wa-AJ
IX-WINIKHAB
yi-chi-NAL-la
yokib ajaw
ux lat
cha' kaban
holajun uniw
nahwaj
ix winikhaab
yichnal
D3
C4
D4
C5
D5
?
ya-AT-na
KOJ-ji
CH'OK-ko
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW-wa
{4-he-wa}
{6-IMIX}
19-UNIW
?-AJ
CHAK?[K'AN]-?
?
yataan
kooj
ch'ok
k'uhul yokib ajaw
B21
A22
B22
A23
E1
F1
E2
F2
E3
F3
G1
H1
G2
H2
G3
H3
I1-J1?
I2-N1
M2
N2
M3
N3
M4
N4
M5
N5
O1
4-WINIKHAB-AJAW
?
{2-WINIK}
7 IMIX
19 PAX
JOY-AJ
ti-{AJAW}-le
?
?
a-ku
u?-5-?-ya
i-u-ti
8-AJAW
8-IK'AT
TZUTZ-yi
13-WINIKHAB
?
ux lat
lajcha' hix
lajcha' uniw
ka' u sak nik ik'il
itzam k'an ahk
chan hew
wak imix
bolon lajun uniw
?
chak ? k'an ?
chan winikhaab ajaw
?
cha' winik
wuk imix
bolon lajun pax
joyaj
ti ajawlel
?
?
ahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
?
i uhti
waxak ajaw
waxak ik'at
tzutzuy
uxlajun winikhaab
?
104

2)
4 K'atun Lord .
3 kins later (on)
12 Hix
12 K'ank'in
expired his white flower
breath (he died)
2)
Piedras Negras Lord .
3 kins later (on)
2 Kaban
15 K'ank'in
was revealed/adorned
Lady K'atun.
She was in the
presence of
(god name / Ruler 3?) .
(She is) wife (of)
Puma
youth
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
4 kins
6 Imix
19 K'ank'in
(verb?-burial?)
Chak Itzam K'an Ahk
(Ruler 2)
4 K'atun Lord.
(Its count is)?
2 winals
7 Imix
19 Pax
succeeded
to the lordship
(Ruler 3)
?
Ahk
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
5 kins?
it happened (on)
8 Ajaw
8 Wo
gets completed
13 k'atuns
?
P1
O2-P2
Q1
R1
Q2
R2
S1
T1
S2
T2
U1
V1
U2
V2
W1-W2
X2
W3-X7
W8
X8
W9
X9-X10
W11
X11
W12
X12
W13
X13
W14
X14
W15a
W15b
X15
W16
X16
W17a
W17b
X17
W18
X18
W19
X19
W20a
W20b
X20
KOJ
?
u-TZ'AK-AJ
1 13-WINIK
{14}-TUN
i-u-ti
5-IMIX
19-SAKSIHOM
tzu-tzu-AJ
u-1-WINIKHAB
ti-AJAW-wa-le
yo-o-NAL
AK
?
?
?
7-TUN i-u-ti
kooj
?
u tz'akaj
juun uxlajun winik
chanlajun tuun
i uhti
ho imix
tzutzaj
u juun winikhaab
ti ajawlel
yo'nal
ahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
6-?
7-?
?
K'UHUL-BAK-laAJAW-wa
{yi-chi-NAL}
hi-?-? yo-o-NAL
3 1-WINIK
9?-TUN i-u-ti
wak ?
wuk ?
?
k'uhul bakal ajaw
6-AJAW
5/10? YAXK'IN
?-?-AJ
?-PAT?-ta?
?
yo-?-o-NAL
u-KAB-ji-ya
?
?
10-15-WINIK-?-ya
i-u-ti
9-IK'
10-K'ANJALAB
TZUTZ-AJ
u-3-WINIKHAB
tu-SIY-AJ?-li
wak ajaw
ho/lajun yaxk'in
?
pat?
?
yo'nal
k'uhul yokib ajaw
?
?
?
wuk tuun i uhti
yichnal
? yo'nal
k'uhul yokib ajaw
ux juun winik
bolon tuun i uhti
u kabjiiy
?
?
lajun holajun winik
i uhti
bolon ihk'
lajun k'anjalab
tzutzaj
u ux winikhaab
tu siyajil
105
Puma
?.
Its count is
1 kin13 winals
14 tuns
it happened (on)
5 Imix
19 Sak
is completed
his first k'atun
in the lordship
Yo'nal
Ahk (Ruler 3)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
? (D.N.?)
(verb?)
?
7 tuns, it happened
(on)
6 (Tzolk'in day)
7 (Haab month)
?
Holy Bak Lord
accompanied by
? Yo'nal
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord
3 kins 1 winal
9? tuns it happened
(on)
6 Ajaw
5/10 Yaxk'in
?(verb?)
formed?
? (direct object?)
Yo'nal (Ruler 3)
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
He oversaw it
? (god name/foreign
overseer ?)
10 kins 15 winals
it happened (on)
9 Ik
10 Pop
was completed
his 3rd k'atun
(since) his birth
W21
KOJ-ji-yo-?-NAL-AK
kooj yo'nal ahk
X21
W22
X22
W23
chu/a?-?
?-SAK-NAH-ye-ke
yo-NAL-AK
4-WINIKHAB-AJAWwa
18-K'IN-ni
{10-WINIK 7-TUN ?}
?
? sak nah yek
yo'nal ahk
chan winikhaab ajaw
waxaklajun k'in
lajun winik wuk tuun ?
18 kins
(10 winals 7 tuns until
9.15.00.00.00)?
Y1
Y2
Y3-Y4
Y5
4-K'AN
17-SUTZ'
?
14 1-WINIK
chan k'an
wuklajun suutz'
?
chanlajun juun winik
4 K'an
17 Sotz'
?
14 kins 1 winal
Y6
Y7
Y8
Y9
Y10
Y11
Y12
Y13
Y14
Y15
8-TUN
4-WINIKHAB
i-u-ti
11-ETZ'NAB
16-IK'AT
chu[ku]
SAK?-?-ti
u-sa-ja-la
u-cha-CHAN
AJ-NIK-ki
waxak tuun
chan winikhaab
i uhti
buluk etz'nab
waklajun ik'at
chuk
sak ?
u sajal
u chan
aj nik
8 tuns
4 k'atuns
it happened
11 Etz'nab
16 Wo
capture
(personal name)
(He is) sajal (of)
(he) whose prisoner (is)
He of Nik
Z1
A'1
B'1
C'1
?-AJAW
u-KAB-ji-ya
yo-NAL-AK-?
4-WINIKHAB-AJAW
? ajaw
u kabjiiy
yo'nal ahk
chan winikhaab ajaw
? Lord
He oversaw it
Yo'nal Ahk (Ruler 3)
4 K'atun Lord
2 Ik' 10 Pax
29-Dec-664 (J.)
Birth of Ruler 3
D.N.:
A17-B17 0.01.02.03.09
Date B:
B18-A19 9.12.14.10.11
9 Chuwen 9 K'ank'in
13-Nov-686 (J.)
Lady K'atun enclosed
D.N.:
0.00.00.00.03
B21
Date C:
A22-B22 9.12.14.10.14
12 Hix 12 K'ank'in
16-Nov-686 (J.)
Ruler 2 dies
X23a
X23bX24
Puma Yo'nal Ahk

(Ruler 3)
? (verb?)
? Sak Nah Yek ?
Yo'nal Ahk (Ruler 3)
4 K'atun Lord
Date A:
A2-A4
D.N.:
B24
Date D:
9.11.12.07.02
0.00.00.00.03
106
C1-D1
D.N.:
E1
Date E:
F1-E2
9.12.14.10.17
2 Kaban 15 K'ank'in
19-Nov-686 (J.)
Lady K'atun
revealed/adorned
6 Imix 19 K'ank'in
23-Nov-686 (J.)
Burial (?) of Ruler 2
0.00.00.00.04
9.12.14.11.01
D.N.:
H1
Date F:
G2-H2
9.12.14.13.01
7 Imix 19 Pax
2-Jan-687 (J.)
Date:
M4-N4
9.13.00.00.00
8 Ajaw 8 Wo
15-Mar-692 (J.)
Period Ending
0.00.00.02.00
D.N.:
R1-Q2
Date:
S1-T1
9.13.14.13.01
5 Imix 19 Sak
19-Sep-706 (J.)
accession
Date:
X9-W10
6?7?
9 Ik' 10 Pop
18-Feb-724 (J.)
3 k'atun birthday of
Ruler 3
D.N.:
W18
Date:
W19X19
0.00.14.13.01
0.00.00.15.10
9.14.12.07.02
D.N.:
X23W24
Date:
X24
9.15.00.00.00
4 Ajaw 13 Yax
18-Aug-731 (J.)
Period Ending
Date:
Y1-Y2
9.10.06.07.04
4 K'an 17 Sotz'
20-May-639 (J.)
?event?
11 Etz'nab 16 Wo
10-Mar-726 (J.)
Capture Event
D.N.:
Y5-Y7
Date:
Y9-Y10
0.00.07.10.18
0.04.08.01.14
9.14.14.08.18
107
Rough Translation:
On 9.11.12.07.02, 2 Ik 10 Pax, 29 December 664 was born the youth Puma,

Holy Lord of Piedras Negras, son of Holy Lady White Bird and Itzam Kan Ahk
(Ruler 2) Holy Lord of Piedras Negras. Holy Young Lord of Piedras Negras.
(parentage)... young Puma
Then on 9.12.14.10.11, 9 Chuwen 9 Kankin, 13 November 686 Lady Katun
was enclosed. Itzam Kan Ahk (Ruler 2) the 4 Katun Lord oversaw it.
Three days hence on 12 Hix 12 Kankin, November 16, 686 Itzam Kan Ahk
(Ruler 2) died.
Three days later on 2 Kaban 15 Kankin, November 19, 686 Lady Katun was
revealed/adorned in the presence of She is the wife of young Puma the Holy
Piedras Negras Lord.
Four days later on 9.12.14.11.01, 6 Imix 19 Kankin, November 23, 686 Ruler 2
the 4 Katun Lord was buried(?).
Two winals later on 9.12.14.13.01, 7 Imix 19 Pax, January 2, 687 Ruler 3
acceded to the Lordship
on 8 Ajaw 8 Wo March 15, 692 Ruler 3, the Holy Piedras Negras Lord got
completed the 13th katun.
. Holy Lord of Bak, accompanied by Yonal (Ruler 3)then on? was
dedicated? .by Yonal Holy Lord of Piedras Negras. It was overseen by ?.
On 9 Ik 10 Pop, February 18, 724 the 3rd katun since the birth of Puma Yonal
Ahk was completed. Then? Yonal Ahk the 4 katun Lord.
It was 7 tuns, 10 winals, and 18 kins to the period ending 4 Ajaw 13 Yax,
9.15.00.00.00 .
On 4 Kan 17 Sotz, 9.10.06.07.04, (event)?.
On 11 Etznab 16 Wo, 9.14.14.08.18, March 10, 726 was captured (person), the
vassal of he whose prisoner is He of Nik.
He oversaw it, Yonal Ahk, the 4 Katun Lord.
108
Translation Notes
A11-B13: In this section we have fairly clear parentage statements for Ruler 3.
As is normally the case, the mother is named first, and then the father. In the
box below, you will find glyphs for the most common familial relationships found
in the glyphs.
B9: This glyph block reads CHOK[ko] > chok > youth. The ko syllable is
infixed in the ear of the animal (and thus the square brackets in the
transliteration). In this case the scribe goes one step further, he creatively
reshapes to normal ko glyph to have the shape of a turtle shell, the symbol of
the Piedras Negras dynasty.
B19: Although not common, scribes would occasionally use a logogram as a
syllable, i.e. purely for its phonetic value and not standing for a word. Such is the
case in this glyph block.
The desired verb root is mak > to enclose. Here the scribe spells the root
ma-AK. Normally, AK stands for turtle, but not in this case. It is purely used
for its sound. However, there is no doubt that the scribe wanted to amuse the
reader with his clever use of the logogram AK which, as noted, is a symbol of the
Piedras Negras dynasty.
B21: In several places the dates for events on this stela are one day later than
on other monuments. However, the dates given do agree mathematically and
concur with the Shells found in Burial 5 (see Chapter 15).
A23: Although not totally legible, this block very probably reads KA-uSAK[NIK]-IK-li > ka u sak nik ikil > (It) expires his white flower breath, i.e. his
spirit departs, he dies. Such euphemisms for death are not uncommon in the
Maya glyphs.
This block also demonstrates a common feature of ancient Maya grammar.
Many (although certainly not all) nouns take the suffix il when they are
possessed. Thus, the word for breath is ik , but when possessed it becomes
ikil.
A24: Note that Ruler 2, now deceased, no longer carries the title Kuhul.
W20: The many variants of hands in the script can be confusing, to say the
least. However, reading is made somewhat easier if you keep in mind that the
way the hand and fingers are held is usually more important than the hands
orientation or whether it is a right hand or a left hand.
109
In this glyph block we have a good example of this principle. From context we
know this block has to be TZUTZ-AJ > tzutzaj > was completed. However,
rather then the normal glyph of a horizontally held hand with the fingers to the
right, we have an upwardly oriented hand with the fingers to the left. However,
the fingers are, as usual, curled and holding a tassel.
W23: Note here that the number of katuns used in the Rulers title refer to his
years in rulership, not his age. As usual, 4 Katun Lord means he is in his 4th
katun as lord, having completed only 3 katuns in that post.
Also note that the title does not refer to the number of distinct katuns in the Maya
calendar in which he has ruled.
X23: This glyph block is clearly reconstructed, although the bar and dots for 8
seem visible. This reconstruction conforms to the norm of counting to the next
period ending, and it works mathematically.
Y13-Y15: These blocks read u-sa-ja-la u-cha-CHAN AJ-NIK-ki > u sajal u
chan aj nik > his underlord (is) the captor of He of Nik. In other words, the
captor of the man from Nik is the sajal (underlord) of Ruler 3.
We know from monuments at Yaxchilan (Stela 12 and Lintel 45) that the captor
of He of Nik is someone from Yaxchilan. In this stela we see that the captor is
himself an underlord of Ruler 3 of Piedras Negras. Thus, we learn that at least at
this point in time, Piedras Negras dominates its ancient enemy Yaxchilan.
110
Relationship Glyphs
yu-ne
yune{n}
child of father
u-MIJIN(?)
umijin?
child of father
u-1-TAN-na
ujuntan
child
ya-AL
yal
child of mother
su-ku-WINIK-ki
suku{n} winik
elder brother
yi-cha-ni
yichaan
maternal uncle
yi-tzi-ni
yitzin
younger brother
ya-AT-na
yatan
spouse?
111
Chapter 15.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE STATE
Shell Plaques from PNG Burial 5
There are several possible readings of the Shell Plaques from Burial 5.
However, every possibility leads to a fascinating story about the royal family
during a crucial period in their history.
By the end of his long reign, Ruler 3 was without a male heir. He was old and in
poor health. This was a crisis for Piedras Negras, and for the royal family.
One possible reading of the Shells tells an incredible story of how the family, and
Lady Katun in particular, made tremendous personal sacrifices to try to assure
an orderly transition of power. The glyphs provide us the only record of this
drama.
Two of the Shells from Burial 5
112
113

Piedras Negras Shell Plaques from Burial 5
ho kib
chanlajun yaxk'in
siyaj
ix winikhaab ajaw
ix ? ajaw
holajun bolon winik
lajcha' tuun
uhtiiy
i pas
bolon chuwen
bolon uniw
mahkaj
ix
namaan ajaw
u kabjiiy
itzam k'an
chan winikhaab ajaw
k'uhul yokib ajaw
H1
H2
I1
I2
5-KIB
14-YAXK'IN
SIY-ya-AJ
IX-WINIKHAB-AJAW
IX-?-AJAW
15-9-WINIK
12-TUN
u-ti-ya
i-PAS
9-CHUWEN
9-UNIW
ma-ka-AJ
IX
na-MAN-AJAW
u-KAB-ji-ya
ITZAM[K'AN]
4-WINIKHAB-AJAW
K'UHUL yo-{[ki]}biAJAW-wa
6-la-ta
2-KABAN
15-UNIW
na-wa-AJ
J1
J2
K1
yi-YICHNAL-NAL
IX-AJ-bi-ka?-la
0-4-WINIK 3-TUN
yichnal
ix aj bikal?
mih chan winik ux tuun
L1a
L1b
K2a
K2b
L2a
cha' winikhaab
i pas
juun kaban
ti haab yaxk'in
nahwaj ?
L2a
L2b
2-WINIKHAB
i-PAS
1-KABAN
TI-HAB-YAXK'IN
na-wa-AJ ye-?
-orna-? CHOK-?
ka'-li
K3
L3a
L3b
K4
IX-ma-ta-wi ?-SUTZ'
u-KAB-ji
IX-?-MAN_AJAW
yi-chi-NAL
ix matawiil ? suutz'
u kabiij
ix ? maan ajaw
yichnal
L4
KOJ-ji yo-?-NAL
kooj yonal
K5a
K5b
L5a
a-ku
yo-ki-bi AJAW-wa
4-WINIKHAB
ahk
yokib ajaw
chan winikhaab
A1
A2
B1
B2
C1
C2
D1
E1
D2
E2
D3
E3
F1
G1
F2
G2
F3
G3
wak lat
chan kaban
holajun uniw
nahwaj
? chok ?
k'aal
114
5 Kib
14 Yaxk'in
was born
Lady K'atun Lordess
Lady ? Lordess
15 kins 9 winals
12 tuns
it happened
it dawned
9 Chuwen
9 K'ank'in
was enclosed
Lady
Naman Lordess.
He oversaw it
Itzam Kan
4 K'atun Lord
Holy Piedras Negras
Lord.
6 kins later
(on) 2 Kaban
15 K'ank'in
was revealed/
adorned
in the company of
Lady of Bikal?
0 kins, 4 winals, 3
tuns
2 k'atuns
it dawned
1 Kaban
0 Mol
was revealed/
adorned
? scattered ?
enclosure? -orroom?
Lady Matawil Sutz.
She has overseen it
Lady ? Man Lordess
She was
accompanied by
Puma Yonal (Ruler
3)
Ahk
Piedras Negras Lord
4 K'atun
L5b
K'IN-ni AJAW
k'in ajaw
Sun Lord .
5 Kib 14 Yaxk'in
4-Jul-674 (J.)
9 Chuwen 9 K'ank'in
13-Nov-686 (J.)
Lady K'atun
enclosed
2 Kaban 15 K'ank'in
(1 day later than
normal?)
19-Nov-686 (J.)
Lady K'atun
revealed/adorned
1 Kaban 0 Mol
26-Jun-729 (J.)
adorning / revealing
/enclosing
of Lady Matawil
Sotz'
Date A:
A1-A2
D.N.:
C2-D1
Date B:
9.12.02.00.16
0.00.12.09.15
9.12.14.10.11
D.N.:
H1
Date C:
0.00.00.00.06
9.12.14.10.17
D.N.:
K1-L1a
Date D:
K2
0.02.03.04.00
9.14.17.14.17
Rough Translation:
On 9.12.02.00.16, 5 Kib 14 Yaxkin, July 4, 674 Lady Katun was born. Then, on
9.12.14.10.11, 9 Chuwen 9 Kankin, November 13, 686 the Lady of Naman was
enclosed. It was supervised by Itzam Kan Ahk (Ruler 2), the 4 Katun Lord, Holy
Lord of Piedras Negras.
Six days later on 9.12.14.10.17, 2 Kaban 15 Kankin, November 19, 686 Lady
Katun was revealed/adorned in the presence of the Lady of Bikal.
Then on 9.14.17.14.17, 1 Kaban Seating of Mol, June 26, 729 Lady Matawil Bat
was revealed / adorned (in the enclosure?). The Lady of Man (Lady Katun)
oversaw it, accompanied by Puma Yonal Ahk, the 4 Katun Lord of Piedras
Negras.
115
Translation Notes
Piedras Negras Shell Plaques from Burial 5
General Commentary: Since the glyphs had to be scratched onto shell rather
than carved in stone, they appear like line drawings rather than the full bodied
glyphs that we are used to. Also, in the drawings you will see 12 solid circles.
These are not part of the glyphs; they are just the holes that were drilled into the
shells.
Reading order is the first thing that must be determined. But as is frequently the
case, dates and syntax help us determine the proper order. For example, on the
first shell, we see we must read one column at a time so that the two halves of
the Calendar Round fit together. Similarly, on the second shell, we have to go
back to reading paired columns so that we get the normal uhtiiy + ipas + C.R.
structure.
E1: This glyph block is not clear. The vertical line and loops of the u syllable
are not visible. Similarly the fine lines that normally top the ti syllable can not
be seen. However, from context we can be sure this block reads uhtiiy.
D3: This date does not look like the normal Kankin, but if we read ahead a little
we see that it is the date for the enclosure of Lady Katun and is thus a date we
know from other monuments. A similar looking Kankin appears at I1.
J1: We have seen this logogram before at Piedras Negras (S1 of Panel 2).
K2b: This collocation reads TI-HAB-YAXKIN , which means on the edge of
(or) at the end of Yaxkin, i.e. the Seating of Mol. This is not the normal way to
write the seating of a month, but it does occur at other sites as well.
L2a: In this block, the na and ja are easy to see, but the middle syllable, wa is
more difficult. However from context, we can be fairly sure it reads na-wa-aj >
nahwaj > revealed/adorned, i.e. betrothed.
K3: The crux of events turns on the identity of the lady in this glyph block, Lady
Matawil Sutz. Who was she? If she was a new wife for Ruler 3, was she a
young women who they hoped could produce a male heir? Or could she have
been the mother of the adult soon-to-be Ruler 4, whom the royal family hoped to
legitimize with the marriage of his mother to the ruling monarch?
__________________________________________
There is little doubt the final shell tells us of a wedding and, as noted earlier,
Ruler 3 had no male heir as he approached the end of his life. It thus appears
116
that Ruler 3 takes on a new wife at this late date in hopes of producing a male
heir, and thus avoiding a crisis of succession. Alternatively, the new wife could
have been the mother of Ruler 4. *
If this interpretation is correct, the most extraordinary part of the story is the
apparent participation and approval of Lady Katun: She oversaw it, the Lady of
Man. This would no doubt have been a tremendous personal self sacrifice for
the good of her family and for Piedras Negras.
* We do not know for sure who Lady Matawil Bat was. A different interpretation is that she was
the daughter of Lady Katun and Ruler 3 and that the final shell was carved to commemorate her
wedding, not the wedding of Ruler 3 to a new wife.
117
Chapter 16.
TOMB OF THE MATRIARCH
118
With Stela 40 we move on to the works commissioned by Ruler 4, the leader of

Piedras Negras after Ruler 3. In the extraordinary carving on the face of the
stela, we see Ruler 4 sprinkling incense into a psycho-duct for the deceased
female ancestor shown in the tomb below. At the ancient Maya site of Palenque
in Mexico archaeologists have found such a psycho-duct built into the tomb of a
ruler.

PNG Stela 40
A1-B2
A3
B3
A4
B4
A5
B5
A6
B6
A7
{tzi-ka-HAB-(PAX)}
9-PIK
15-WINIKHAB
14-TUN
9-WINIK
13-K'IN
11-BEN
(Glyph G)
(Glyph F)
10 HUL-li-ya
(ISIG)
bolon pik
holajun winikhaab
chanlajun tuun
bolon winik
uxlajun k'in
buluk ben
(Glyph G)
(Glyph F)
lajun huliiy
B7
A8
B8
A9
B9
A10
B10
A11
B11
A12
B12
A13-A14
B14
A15
B15
A16
B16
A17
B17
(Glyph C4)
(Glyph X)
u-CH'OK-K'ABA'
(Glyph A)
16-PAX
?
?-IX
?-ku-ya
1?-K'UK'-MO'
?-?-ti
u-BAAH?-hi?
?
?-CHOK-ji
?-WINIKHAB
XOK?-ni
17?-AJAW?
xu-ni
u-k'o-ji
[na][K'AN]AK
(Glyph C4)
(Glyph X)
u ch'ok k'aba'
(Glyph A)
waklajun pax
?
? ix
? kuy?
juun k'uhk' mo'
?
u baah
?
? chokiij
? winikhaab
xok? ni
wuklajun ajaw (?)
?
u k'ooj
na k'an ahk
A18
B18
A19
KUCH-?-la
ya-xu-?
ti-5-TUN-NAH
?
?
ti ho tuun naah
B19
C1
9-AJAW
18-TZIKIN
bolon ajaw
waxaklajun tzikin
119
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
15 k'atuns
14 tuns
9 winals
13 kins
11 Ben
(Glyph G)
(Glyph F)
10 (days ago the
moon) arrived
4th lunation
(Glyph X)
its youth name
(Glyph A)
16 Pax
(verb? burial?)
Lady ? (female title)
? Kuy?
Jun K'uhk' Mo
? .
(It is) her image (?)
?
scattered
? k'atun
Xok ?
17th Lord (?)
?
his mask?
Na Kan Ahk (Ruler
4)
?
?
in the 5 stone house
?
9 Ajaw
18 Xul
D1
C2
D2
C3
D3-D8
C9
D9
C10
D10
C11
D11
C12
D12
C13
D13
C14
D14
C15
D15
C16
D16
C17
D17
C18
D18
on
pedestal:
Left
Right
WI'-5-TUN
u-TZ'AK-AJ
3-he?-wa
9-?
?
K'UHUL-yo-{[ki]}biAJAW-wa
?
WINIK-?
AJ-?
AJ-TUL-TUN-ni
?
4-?-MO'
?
SAK-{TUN?}-NAHhi?
#-(TZOLK'IN)
18-TZIKIN
?
u-k'o-ji
?
a-ku
?
{[na][K'AN]}AK
wi' ho tuun
u tz'akaj
ux hew
bolon ?
?
k'uhul yokib ajaw
?
winik ?
aj ?
aj tul tuun
?
chan ? mo'
?
sak tuun naah
(tzolkin date)
waxaklajun tzikin
?
u k'ooj
?
ahk
?
na k'an ahk
5 tuns lacking .
Its count is
3 kins
9?
?
Holy Lord of Piedras
Negras
?
k'atun ?
He of ?
He of La Mar
?
4 ? Mo
?
White Stone Place ?
?
?-AJAW
KALOMTE ??
?
? ajaw
kaloomte'
(Tzolkin date)
18 Xul
?
his mask?
?
Ahk
?
Na Kan Ahk (Ruler
4)
?
? Lord
Kalomte ?
9-(TWO FOOT
PRINTS)-te?
?-ya-{(TWO FOOT
PRINTS)-te?
bolon ?
9?
Date A:
A3
9.15.14.09.13
11 Ben 16 Pax
13-Dec-745 (J.)
Event ?
Date B:
B19-C1
9.15.15.00.00
9 Ajaw 18 Xul
29-May-746 (J.)
Period Ending
120
Rough Translation:
On 9.15.14.09.13, 11 Ben 16 Pax, December 13, 745 Lady ? Kuy? Jun? Kuhk
Mo (did something). scatteredkatun17Lord.
It is the mask?? of ? Kan Ahk (Ruler 4)in the Five Stone Place(?).
On 9.15.15.00.00, 9 Ajaw 18 Xul 9, May 29, 746 the half period was ended.
Then 3 kins and 9 winals later it happened
.Holy Piedras Negras LordkatunHe of La Mar
White Stone Place??...his maskRuler 4LordKalomte(?).
Translation Notes
PNG Stela 40
General Commentary: Due to the erosion, this is a difficult text. However,

together with the figures on the face of the stela, it offers an interesting vignette
of Ruler 4 and his loyalty to a female ancestor, probably his mother.
B10a: The upside down vase is a standard female title. We do not know how
to read it.
C11: The Rabbit Stone glyph collocation is known to denote the Maya site now
known as La Mar.
121
Chapter 17.
THE LIFE OF RULER 4
PNG Altar 2 Supports
The supports of Altar 2 relate the most important events in the life of Ruler 4 up
to the stone-binding at the major period ending 9.16.00.00.00.
The text is simple, yet stated in an elegant and poetic form. As you read the
glyphs keep in mind that most Maya texts are very carefully planned and
represent the best literary traditions of their time. As you will see, in terms simple
and beautiful, each support tells of one key event in the Rulers life.
Support 1 (South Corner)

A
Support 2 (East Corner)
122
Support 3 (North Corner)

G
Support 4 (West Corner)

I

South:
A1
B1
A2
B2
A3
B3
C1
C2
C3
East:
D1
{7-MEN}
18-UNIW
SIY-ya-AJ
?
a-ku
CH'OK-ko
18 6-WINIK
8-TUN
1-WINIKHAAB
wuk men
waxaklajun uniw
siyaj
?
ahk
ch'ok
waxaklajun wak winik
waxak tuun
juun winikhaab
7 Men
18 K'ank'in
was born
?
Ahk
Youth
18 kins 6 winals
8 tun
1 k'atun
i-PAS
i pas
dawned
123
E1
D2
E2
ti-7-BEN
16-UNIW
JOY-AJ-ti-AJAW-le
ti wuk ben
waklujun uniw
joyaj ti ajawlel
D3
E3
F1
F2
T267-na-a-ku
u-HA'
[K'AN]AK
7 14-WINIK
? ahk
u ha'
k'an ahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
wuk chanlajun winik
7 Ben
16 K'ank'in
acceded in the
lordship
? Na Ahk
U Ha
Kan Ahk (Ruler 4)
Holy Lord of
Piedras Negras
7 days 14 winal
1-TUN
4-AJAW
13-YAXK'IN
juun tuun
chan ajaw
uxlajun yaxk'in
1 tun
4 Ajaw
13 Yaxk'in
H2
G3
u-15-WINIKHAB
u-YAX-K'AL-TUN-ni
u holajun winikhaab
u yax k'al tuun
H3
[na][K'AN]AK
na k'an ahk
I1
K'UHUL-yo-[ki]biAJAW-wa
0 0-WINIK
0-TUN
k'uhul yokib ajaw
his 15'th k'atun

his first stone
binding
Na K'an Ahk (Ruler
4)
Holy Lord of
Piedras Negras
0 kins 0 winals
0 tuns
1-WINIKHAB
i-PAS
ti-2-AJAW
13-KASEW
TZUTZ-li
u-16-WINIKHAB
u-K'AL-TUN-ni
{[na][K'AN]}-AK
juun winikhaab
i pas
ti chan ajaw
uxlajun kasew
tzutzil
u waklajun winikhaab
u k'al tuun
na k'an ahk
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW
k'uhul yokib ajaw
F3
North:
G1
H1
G2
I2
I3
West:
J1
K1
J2
K2
J3
K3
L1
L2
L3
mih mih winik

mih tuun
1 k'atun
dawned
on 2 Ajaw
13 Sek
the ending
his 16th k'atun .
he stone binds
Na K'an Ahk (Ruler
4)
Holy Lord of
Piedras Negras
Date A:
A1-A2
9.13.09.14.15
D.N.:
C1-C3
Date B:
E1-D2
9.14.18.03.13
D,N.:
F3-G1
0.00.01.14.07
7 Men 18 K'ank'in
16-Nov-701 (J.)
Birth of Ruler 4
7 Ben 16 K'ank'in
7-Nov-729 (J.)
Accession of Ruler
4
0.01.08.06.18
124
Date C:
H1-G2
D.N.:
I2-J1
Date D:
J2-K2
9.15.00.00.00
4 Ajaw 13 Yax
16-Aug-731 (J.)
Period Ending
2 Ajaw 13 Sek
05-May-751 (J.)
Period Ending
0.01.00.00.00
9.16.00.00.00
Rough Translation:
On 9.13.09.14.15, 7 Men 18 Kankin, November 16, 701 the youth Ahk (Ruler 4)
was born.
One katun, 8 tuns, 6 winals, and 18 kins later on 9.14.18.03.13,
7 Ben 16 Kankin, November 7, 729 Na Ahk U Ha Kan Ahk, Holy Lord of
Piedras Negras, acceded to the lordship.
One tun, 14 winal, and 7 kins later on 4 Ajaw 13 Yax August 16, 731 it was the
15th katun and the first stone binding of Na Kan Ahk, Holy Lord of Piedras
Negras.
One katun later on 2 Ajaw 13 Sek May 5, 751 it was his 16 katun. Na Kan Ahk
the Holy Lord of Piedras Negras bound the stone.
Translation Notes
General Commentary: As always, the first job is to determine the reading order.
With only three columns on each support, we cannot read each support totally as
paired columns. As you will see, reading the first two columns as a pair, then the
straight down the third column gives the only sensible reading.
Note that in this text distance numbers follow directly after each clause and are
not introduced by a Distance Number Introductory Glyph (DNIG). Introductory
glyphs are not necessary as long the meaning is clear, and in short texts such as
appears on these columns, introductory glyphs are often omitted.
125
D3: Note the little bat that appears in the name of Ruler 4. While bats are not
rare in the glyphs, this tiny creature has its own T-Number, T-267. As we
explain in the box below, most glyphs can be identified by their T- Numbers.
E2: These glyphs illustrate an important aspect of ancient Maya writing known as
underspelling. Underspelling is when the text does not spell out every letter or
sound of the word in question. In this case, the whole word is ajawlel, meaning
rulership, but it is spelled without any indication of the final letter l .
E3: This block is a good example of something we often see in the glyphs. A
head, frequently similar to the one shown here, serves as a blank for the glyph
that fills the cranium. In this case, the glyph is HA, the logogram for ha which
means water. However, the reading and meaning does not in any way depend
upon the face underneath. Thus, for example:
= HA, and
= HA
= KAB, and
= KAB .
G1: YAX, or yax, has several meanings. Here it means first. In other contexts
it refers to the Maya color blue-green.
H2: Here we have u-15-WINIKHAB followed by the name of the ruler (at H3). In
cases like this when we have u + (number) + (noun) + (name of person or
god), the number should be read as an ordinal. That is, as in this case, we
translate the number as 15th (not just 15).
126
T-NUMBERS
T-Numbers refer to a number assigned to each main sign and each affix by J.
Eric S. Thompson in his Catalog of Maya Hieroglyphs published in 1962.
T-Numbers are a convenient way to identify glyphs since they are independent
of any reading or meaning ascribed to the glyph. Thus, using T-Numbers we
can identify glyphs as pure signs without any implied notion about what they
mean or how they are pronounced.
T-Numbers for most glyphs can be found at the following link:
http://www.famsi.org/mayawriting/thompson/index.html .
In those cases where we cannot read a glyph and do not know its meaning, it
makes sense to put the T-Number in the transcription so that we can locate that
glyph later in case we find it on another monument.
We can also use T-numbers to describe the placement of glyphs within a glyph
block. For example, T1.T2 means that T1 appears to the left of T2 in the block.
If we write T1:T3 it means that T1 appears above T3. We can use parentheses
to describe more complex structures. Thus, for example, if we write
T1:(T2.T3):(T4.T5) it means the glyphs are place as follows:
T1
T2 T3
T4 T5
Further refinements include:
T1;T2 means that T2 is infixed within T1.
{T1} means that the glyph is unreadable, but can be inferred as T1.
T1|T2 means that the glyph is unclear and that both T1 and T2 are possible
readings.
[T1] indicates that T1 is the dominant glyph in the glyph block.
127
An alternative to T-Numbers used by Macri, Looper, and Vail uses a system of

letters and numbers to identify glyphs. In many ways this system is easier to use
than T-Numbers. Also, being newer, it classifies many glyphs that Thompson did
not include.
The books by these epigraphers are very useful for identifying glyphs and for
researching their readings and meanings.
The books that detail this system are
Macri, Martha and Matthew Looper: The New Catalogue of Maya Hieroglyphs
Volume One (The Classic Period Inscriptions). University of Oklahoma Press,
2003.
Macri, Martha and Gabrielle Vail: The New Catalogue of Maya Hieroglyphs
Volume Two (The Codical Texts). University of Oklahoma Press, 2009.
128
Chapter 18.
PALACE LIFE
Many Mayanists consider Piedras Negras Panel 3 one of the masterpieces of

Maya art. It gives us a rich picture of the life of Ruler 4 through the prism of the
most important royal events of his life. Additionally, the secondary text reveals
the behind the scenes lives of vassals, ambassadors, scribes, sculptors, and
servants.
Panel 3 also illustrates many grammatical structures that rarely appear in other
glyphic texts. This panel is thus a great learning tool.
129

PNG Panel 3 (Primary Text)
A1-B2
A3
B3
A4
B4
A5
B5
A6
B6
A7
B7
A8
B8
C1
D1
C2
D2
tzi-ka-HAB-(PAX)
9
PIK
15
WINIKHAB
18
TUN
3
WINIK
13
K'IN
5-BEN
(GLYPH G1)
(GLYPH F)
9-HULI-ya
(GLYPH C1?)
(Glyph X)
(ISIG)
bolon
pik
holajun
winikhaab
waxaklajun
tuun
ux
winik
uxlajun
k'in
ho ben
(Glyph G1)
(Glyph F)
bolon huliiy
(Glyph C1)
(Glyph X)
130
(ISIG)
9
baktun
15
k'atun
18
tun
3
winal
13
kins
5 Ben
(Glyph G1)
(Glyph F)
9 (days ago the moon) arrived
1st? lunation
(Glyph X)
E1
F1
E2
F2
G1
H1
G2
H2
I1
J1
u-CH'OK[ko]-K'ABA'
20-10
16-IK'SIHOM
2
tzu-AJ
u-1-WINIKHAB la-ta
ti-AJAW-le
T267-na a-ku
[{na}][K'AN]-AK
K'UHUL-yo-[ki]bi-AJAW
yi-la-ji
u ch'ok k'aba'
lajun k'aal
waklajun ihk'sihoom
tzutzaj
u juun winikhaab lat
ti ajawlel
?-na ahk
? k'an ahk
k'uhul yokib ajw
yilaaj
(is) its youth name

16 Ch'en
was completed
his 1st k'atun completed
in the lordship
? Na Ahk
? K'an Ahk (Ruler 4)
Holy PNG Lord .
He witnessed it
I2
J2
K1
SAK-JUKUB
BALAM-YOPAT
K'UHUL PA'-CHAN
AJAW
2-la-ta
7-MEN
18-IK'SIHOM
AK-ta-JA
ti-EM?-MO'
[na][K'AN]AK
K'UHUL-yo-[ki]bi AJAW
ti-YIK'IN-ni
u-UK'-ni
ti-ka-la
2
ka-wa
sak jukub
bahlam yopat
k'uhul pa' chan ajaw
Sak Jukub
Yopat Balam (YAX Ruler)
Holy YAX Lord
cha lat
wuk men
waxaklajun ihksihoom
aktaj
ti em mo'
?-na k'an ahk
k'uhul yokib ajw
ti yik'in
uk'un
tikal
kakaw
2 kins later (on)

7 Men
18 Ch'en
danced
with descending Macaw
Na Kan Ahk (Ruler 4)
Holy PNG Lord .
At twilight

warm-chocolate-drank
-ordrank chocolate to drunkeness
Na Kan Ahk
Sun Lord
it happened
(at place name?)
2 (kins) 8 winals
8 tuns
it happened
it dawned
7 Kaban
Seating of Pax
expired
{his spirit} died
Na Kan Ahk
Holy PNG Lord .
3 kins later
10 Ajaw
3 Pax
was buried
(at) 5 Flower Mountain .
3 K'atun Lord .
1 kin, 12 winals, 4 tuns
L1
K2
L2
M1
N1
M2
N2
O1
P1
O2
P2
or
P2
Q1
R1
Q2
R2
S1
T1
S2
T2
U1
V1
U2
V2
U3
V3
U4
V4
U5
V5
U6
V6
U7
V7
[na][K'AN]AK
K'IN-AJAW-wa
u-ti-ya
?
2 8-WINIK-ji-ya
8-TUN
u-ti-ya
i-PAS
7-KABAN
CHUM-PAX
K'A-yi
?
[na][K'AN]AK
K'UHUL-yo-[ki]bi-AJAW
3-la-ta
10-AJAW
3-PAX
mu-ka-JA
5-JANAB-WITZ
3-WINIKHAB-AJAW
1 12-WINIK 4-TUN-ya
1-WINIKHAB-ya
?-na k'an ahk

k'in ajaw
uhtiiy
?
cha waxak winikjiiy
waxak tuun
uhtiiy
i pas
wuk kaban
chum pax
kaay
?
?-na k'an ahk
k'uhul yokib ajw
ux lat
lajun ajaw
ux pax
muhkaj
ho janab witz
ux winikhaab ajaw
juun lajcha' winik chan
tuuniiy
juun winikhaabiiy
131
1 k'atun
U8
V8
i-PAS
12-IMIX 19-CHAKAT
U9
V9a
V9b
U10
V10
U11
V11
U12
V12
i?-EL?-wa/NAH?
u-?
(Ruler 4)
3-WINIKHAB-AJAW
u-[KAB]ji-ya
AJ-1-?
na-ku
ya-(TOOTH)-AK
K'UHUL-yo-[ki]bi AJAW
i pas
lajcha' imix bolonlajun
chakat
?
?
(Ruler 4)
ux winikhaab ajaw
u kabjiiy
aj juun ?
naak
? ahk
k'uhul yokib ajw
dawned
12 Imix 19 Sip
(verb - fire entering?)
(his tomb??)
(Ruler 4)
3 K'atun Lord.
He oversaw it
Aj Jun ?
Naak (youth name of Ruler 7)
? Ahk (Ruler 7)
Holy PNG Lord .
Date A:
A3-B7
5 Ben 16 Ch'en
27-July-749 (J.)
reign of Ruler 4
7 Men 18 Ch'en
29-July-749 (J.)
Ruler 4 drank ceremonial
chocolate
7 Kaban 0 Pax
26-Nov-757 (J.)
Ruler 4 dies
10 Ajaw 3 Pax
29-Nov-757 (J.)
Burial of Ruler 4
9.17.11.06.01
12 Imix 19 Sip
24-Mar-782 (J.)
Fire entering?
Date F:
E'6-F'6
2 Kawak 2 Muwan
?
(No known corresponding event)
Date G:
H'4-G'15
9.16.06.09.16?
5 Kib 19 Mak
20-Oct-757 (J.) ?
D.N.:
L1
Date B:
K2-L2
D.N.:
S1-T1
Date C:
U1-V1
D.N.:
U-4
Date D:
V4-U5
D.N.:
U7-V7
Date E:
V8
9.15.18.03.13
0.00.00.00.02
9.15.18.03.15
0.00.08.08.02
9.16.06.11.17
0.00.00.00.03
9.16.06.12.00
0.01.04.12.01
132
Rough Translation:
On 9.15.18.03.13, 5 Ben 16 Chen, on 27 July 749 the one katun anniversary of

Kan Ahk Ruler 4 in the Lordship was completed. It was witnessed by Sak Jukub
Yopat Balam, Holy Lord of Yaxchilan.
Two days later on 9.15.18.03.15, 7 Men 18 Chen, July 29, 749 the Holy Lord of
Piedras Negras danced with the Descending Macaw. On that day the Sun Lord
drank ceremonial hot chocolate. It happened at (place name?).
Eight tuns, eight winals, and 2 kins later on 9.16.06.11.17, 7 Kaban Seating of
Pax, November 26, 757 the Holy Lord of Piedras Negras died.
Three days later on 9.16.06.12.00, 10 Ajaw 3 Pax, November 29, 757 the 3
Katun Lord was buried at Five Flower Mountain.
On 12 Imix 19 Sip, 9.17.11.06.01, March 24, 782 dawned, and the tomb of
Ruler 4 the 3 Katun Lord was rededicated with fire. Ruler 7, the Holy Piedras
Negras Lord oversaw it.
Translation Notes
PNG Panel 3 (Primary Text)
A3: This glyph is a beautiful representation of Yax Balam (or Xbalanqu, one of
the Hero Twins from the Popol Vuh) as the number 9. Note the YAX logogram in
front of the forehead and the characteristic jaguar spots on the cheek. Also, as is
often the case, he is shown with facial hair.
A3-A5: Although parts of the Long Count are unreadable, we can read ahead to
the event (the 1 katun anniversary of Ruler 4s accession to leadership), and
thereby calculate what the date has to be.
A7: Here we have an avian version of the head glyph for the number 13.
F2: Note the two small doublers to the upper left of the tzu syllable. Doublers
also appear at P2.
133
N1: It is dificult to see in the drawing we have here, but experts who have
analyzed the monument up close read this as descending macaw. On the left
you may be able to see a small figure that appears to be falling head-first.
P1: Although highly stylized in this case, the main sign is a head with the glyph
HA, for water in the mouth. This is the verb UK, which means to drink.
Also in this glyph block we have the suffix Vn, (i.e. vowel + n), or in this case
in (spelled with the syllable ni). When attached to a verb, this ending marks an
anti-passive verb. In this case, the object chocolate is essentially incorporated
into the verb, thus obviating the need for an explicit object. The passage can
thus be read He warm-chocolate-drank. This was of course part of a royal
ceremony.
V10: Here we have the head variant of the syllable ji. The KAB logogram is
denoted by the infixed markings on the face of the animal.
U11-V11: From Throne 1 (Chapter 22) we know that this is the youth name of
Ruler 7.
The secondary text of Panel 3 below gives us an unusual portrait of palace life. It
also provides many grammatical forms that rarely appear in the extant ancient
Maya texts.
The order in which we read this part of the text is probably not important. You
should think of the interior views and persons as a palace scene. The glyphs are
labels describing the actions and the people present. Some glyphs dont make
much sense to us, but would have been clear to viewers of the time.
134
Upper most glyphs:

W
X
Glyphs below:
C
Bottom glyphs in drawing above

K
135
P Q
F G

PNG Panel 3 (Secondary Text)
W1
W2
W3
X1
Y1
X2
.
Z1
A'1
B'1
B'2
.
C'1
C'2-C'4
.
D'1
D'2
D'3
.
E'1
F'1
E'2
F'2
E'3
F'3
E'4
F'4
E'5
F'5
E'6
F'6
E'7
F'7
G'1
H'1
G'2
H'2
G'3
H'3
G'4
H'4
G'5
H'5
G'6
H'6
ha-a
ta-ka
{CHAN}-nu
17-yo-o
WINIKHAAB-ya
wa-ya-la-wa

haat ka chan
wuklajun yo
winikhaabiiy
wa' yalaw

you (are) our guardian
(since) 17
k'atuns ago
says
K'INICH
k'u-k'o-te
u?-ja-?-na
AJAW
k'inich
k'uhk'? k'ot
?
ajaw
K'inich
K'uk' K'ot ?
?
Ajaw
AJ-?
?
aj ?
?
He of ?
?
IL?-AK-te
CH'OK-ko
PA'-CHAN-AJAW-wa
il ahk te
ch'ok
pa' chan ajaw
He witnessed? it, Ahk Te

youth
YAX Lord
hi
a-ha
na-NAL
a-xu[ku?]
bi-ji
u-KAB-ji-ya
a-MAM
ya-xu-ni
BALAM
?-ni-ya
2-KAWAK
2-MUWAN
u-ti
ni-?
3?-ja-ji-ya
JOY-ji-ya
ti-AJAW-le
ya-xu-ni
BALAM
u-KAB-ji-ya
ITZAM-[K'AN]AK
5-KIB
19-MAK
ha[i]
tzu?-li?-ya
a-?

hia a ha'nal
?
biij
u kabjiiy
a mam
yaxuun
bahlam
?
cha' kawak
cha' muwan
uhti
?
?
joyjiiy
ti ajawlel
yaxuun
bahlam
u kabjiiy
itzam k'an ahk
ho kib
bolonlajun mak
haa
?
?
? your?/of hanal
?
road ?
He has overseen it
your grandfather
--->
Bird Jaguar
?
2 Kawak
2 Muwan
happens?
?
?
acceded
to the lordship

Bird Jaguar .
He has overseen it
Itzam K'an Ahk
5 Kib
19 Mak
he
?
?
2(?)
136
G'7-H'7
.
I'1
J'1
I'2
J'2
I'3
J'3
I'4
J'4
I'5
J'5
I'6
I'7
I'8
.
K'1-K'3
.
L'1
L'2
L'3
.
M'1
N'1
M'2
N'2
O'1
O'2
P'1
Q'1
P'2
Q'2
.
R'1
S'1
.
T'1
U'1
V'1
.
W'1
X'1
Y'1
.
Z'1
A''1
B''1
.
C''1
D''1
wa-ja-ta
na-cha-ki
AJ-bi-KI'-la
ba-u-xu[lu]
bo?-o/le
po-le?
xu
pa??-e?
ya-ja-wa
KALOMTE
ha-o
bi AJ-u
xu-lu
-
waj tan chahk
aj bik'iil
bah uxul
?
pol
xu
?
yajaw
kaloomte'
-
Waj Tan Chak ?
He of Bik'il
first of the scuptors
?
sculptor
?
?
vassal of
the Kalomte

haoob aj uxul
they are the sculptors
a-wi-na
ke-na
yo-JANAB?-TE/NAL
--->
a winaken
? janab te/nal
--->
I am your man (i.e. servant)
? flower tree/place ?
T'UL
chi-{ki}
CH'OK[ko]
yo-[ki]bi-AJAW
MO-AK
CH'OK[ko]
ja-sa-wa
CHAN-na
K'AWIL
AJ-KUH-na
--->
t'ul chiik
ch'ok
yokib ajaw
mo' ahk
ch'ok
jasaw
chan
k'awiil
aj k'uhuun
--->
T'ul Chiik
Youth.
Piedras Negras Lord
Mo Ahk {Chak}
Youth.
Jasaw
Chan
K'awil
Worshipper
?-AJAW
a-na-bi
?
anab
? Ajaw
(unknown title)
K'UCH?-?-lo-?
yi-?-ka-na
sa-ja-la
?
?
sajal
?
?
vassal
tz'u-nu-TE'
K'AN-MO'-TE'
ba sa-ja-la
tz'unun te'
k'an mo' te'
bah sajal
Hummingbird Tree
K'an Mo' Te'
First Vassal
ICH'AK HIX
xa-?
SAK-TI'?-?
hix ihch'aak
?
?
Jaguar Claw
?
?
ya-ka-?
AJ-bi-KI'-la
?
aj bik'iil
?
He of Bik'il
137
E''1
.
F''1
G''1
sa-ja-la
sajal
vassal
ITZ'AT
mu-xu-ka-na
itz'aat
mux? kan
sage ??
? Kan (Snake)
9.16.06.10.19 ?
2 Kawak 2 Muwan
8-Nov-757 (J.) ?
9.16.06.09.16 ?
5 Kib 19 Mak
16-Oct-757 (J.) ?
Date A:
E6-F6
Date B:
H4-G5
Rough Translation:
(Upper Left):
You are our guardian these 17 katuns, says...
(direct quote)
Kinich Kuk Kot ? Lord

He of ?
He witnessed it, Ahk Te young Yaxchilan Lord
(Left of Throne):
? your/of Hanal ? road?. Your grandfather Bird Jaguar oversaw it. On 2 Kawak
2 Muwan (8-Nov-757 (J.) ?) it happened ? (direct quote)
? Bird Jaguar acceded to the lordship. Itzam Kan Ahk authorized it
5 Kib 19 Mak (20-Oct-757 (J.) ?)
(Right of Throne):
Waj Tan Chak of Bikil was the head sculptor...?...vassal of the Kalomte.
They are the sculptors
138
I, Yo Janab Te(?), am your servant. (direct quote)

Tul Chik the young Piedras Negras Lord.
Youth Mo Ahk (Chak).
Jasaw Chan Kawil Worshipper.
(Lower Registers):
? Ajaw Anab (title, carver?)
Kuch Lo ?
?? vassal.
First Vassal Tzunuun Te Kan Mo Te (Hummingbird Yellow Macaw Tree).
Jaguar Claw ??.
? the vassal from Bikil.
? Kan, the sage?.
Translation Notes
PNG Panel 3 (Secondary Text)
General Comments: For notes on pronouns and how they were used in the
ancient Maya texts, see the Grammar Notes below.
W1-W2a: Together these glyphs spell the 2nd person independent pronoun haat.
X2: The verb here is the transitive al > to say. The prefixed wa- syllable
serves as a progressive maker.
F1: Instead of using the normal prefix AJ- to mean he of the scribe used a
simple a- . This usage is less common, but has the same meaning.
E4: Here we have a-MAM > a mam meaning your grandfather. This
represents the rare 2nd person possessive pronoun a and constitutes part of a
direct quote: Bird Jaguar was your Grandfather.
139
J2: In this context, bah means first.

I5-J5: The term yajaw means vassal. Since it is followed by the logogram for
Kalomte, it means the Kalomtes vassal.
I6-I7a: Together these read ha-o-bi, giving the rarely seen independent 3rd
person plural pronoun haob, meaning they.
I7b-I8: Frequently the agentive AJ- is used to show where someone is from,
He of (place name). In this context however, it tells the profession of the
persons involved: AJ-xu-lu > ajxul > they of carvings, i.e. sculptors.
L1-L2: This is one of the most interesting and revealing of Maya glyphs. Here
we have a noun with the 2nd person ergative pronoun a- , together with a 1st
person absolutive pronoun -en. These glyphs can thus be translated as your
servant I or I am your servant. (The noun winak is normally translated as
man, but in this context means servant.)
In this case, we can clearly see the declension of the noun winak, which with the
suffix -en, indicates the first person singular noun, I. Normally nouns are
unmarked for person because they refer to the 3rd person. See Grammar Notes
below for more on this topic.
F1: This logogram is often translated as sage or wise man. However this
translation is not certain.
The author would like to thank Alex Tokovinine for his help in reading sections of the secondary
glyphs of Panel 3.
140
Grammar Notes
PRONOUNS IN THE GLYPHIC TEXTS
In these notes we examine the three types of pronouns found in the ancient
Maya glyphs. These are known as ergative, absolutive, and independent
pronouns.
Ergative pronouns are used as prefixes

(1) before all possessed nouns and agrees with the possessor, and
(2) before all transitive verbs and refers to the agent (i.e., the subject of
the transitive verb).
Absolutive pronouns are used as suffixes
(1) after most nouns (except proper names and agentives),
(2) after all intransitive verbs and refer to the subject, and
(3) after all transitive verbs and refer to the patient (i.e., the direct
object).
Independent pronouns stand alone
(1) to emphasize the subject in some stative sentences, or
(2) to emphasize the subject before some antipassive verbs.
You may find it convenient to think of the ergative pronouns as the prefix
pronouns and the absolutive pronouns as the suffix pronouns.
The
independent pronouns are the stand alone pronouns.
In all cases, the pronouns correspond in person (1st, 2nd or 3rd) and number
(singular or plural) to the nouns to which they refer.
3rd Person Pronouns:

First, lets consider the 3rd person pronouns since the glyphic texts are almost
always in the 3rd person.
The 3rd person ergative has two forms: u- before a word starting with a
consonant, and y- before a word starting with a vowel. We often see these
pronouns before possessed nouns, meaning his, hers, its. We also often see
141
u- or y- as the 3rd person pronoun prefix before transitive verbs (denoting that
he, she, it is the agent).
The letters u- and y- are very often used for the 3rd person plural as well as 3rd
person singular pronouns, although at times the suffix ob is used to specifically
mark the plural. The meaning is then their when used before possessed nouns,
or they when used before transitive verbs.
All these uses of u-, u--ob, y-, and y--ob are referred to as 3rd person
ergative pronouns.
We also very frequently encounter 3rd person absolutive pronouns in the glyphs.
The 3rd person absolutive pronoun is null, meaning that it was unpronounced in
speech and unwritten in the texts.1 When epigraphers analyze glyphic texts the
null 3rd person absolutive pronoun is often written as just to show that it
exists, although it is unmarked in the written glyphs and unpronounced in
speech. In other words, the fact that there is no written ending in fact
demonstrates that it is a 3rd person pronoun.
The 3rd person absolutive pronoun follows intransitive verbs and denotes the
subject of the verb (he, she, it). When an absolute pronoun follows transitive
verbs, it denotes the direct object, or the patient, of the transitive verb.
The same absolutive pronouns follow all nouns (except proper names and
agentive expressions) and correspond to the noun in question. However, if we
could replace the noun with he, she, or it, the noun will be followed by the null
unwritten 3rd person absolutive pronoun.2
As strange as this seems, we have the same grammatical structure in English, but in reverse.
For example:
I walk, you walk, we walk, and they walk. But he walks.
rd
The verb is marked for 3 person singular with an s, but the verb suffix is null, i.e. unspoken and
unwritten, for all other cases.
2
When attached to the end of nouns, absolutive pronouns very often are part of stative
rd
sentences. For example, a text might read simply captive. Adding the unwritten 3 person
absolutive pronoun, we can think of this as captive he. Finally, knowing that the ancient Maya
did not explicitly use the verb to be, the full translation becomes He is the captive.
142
When we do not see a pronoun following a verb or a noun, it is easy to think that
the text does not give us a pronoun. But that is just not the case. Usually the
lack of a written pronoun tells us very clearly that the pronoun in question is the
3rd person absolutive pronoun. This means we should think and translate
him/he, her/she, or it in almost every case where the pronoun is not explicitly
written after the verb.
Thus, when analyzing verbs and nouns, you should assume that a pronoun is
almost always there. If you cant find it, then the text is very probably telling us
that it is the 3rd person absolutive pronoun.
Finally, from time to time we see the independent 3rd person pronoun ha or haa
(often spelled ha-i) in stative sentences or before antipassive verbs. This simply
means he, she, or it and reiterates the subject.
PRONOUNS
Ergative Pronouns
Singular
Pre-consonantal/Pre-vocalic
Plural
1st Person
in-
ka- / kaw-
2nd Person
a- / aw-
i- / iw(unattested)
3rd Person
u- / y-
u-...-ob /
y--ob
Pre-consonantal/
Pre-vocalic
Singular
Plural
1st Person
-en
(unattested)
2nd Person
-at
(unattested)
3rd Person
-
(null)
-ob
Singular
Plural
Absolutive Pronouns
Independent Pronouns
1st Person
hin (?)
2nd Person
haat
(unattested)
3rd Person
ha
haob
143
(unattested)
1st and 2nd Person Pronouns:

Now, lets consider the 1st and 2nd person pronouns. In the box above, you will
find a list of all the known pronouns from ancient texts.3 The 1st and 2nd person
pronouns function grammatically in exactly the same way as the 3rd person
pronouns:
1st and 2nd person ergative pronouns come before transitive verbs and before
possessed nouns, and refer to the agent of the verb, or the possessor of the
noun.
1st and 2nd person absolutive pronouns come after verbs and after nouns. After
intransitive verbs they refer to the subject and after transitive verbs they refer to
the object. After nouns, they refer to the pronoun that corresponds to the noun in
question.
Finally, 1st and 2nd person independent pronouns can be used to emphasize the
subject in stative constructions or in sentences with antipassive verbs.
Pronouns of Interest in Panel 3

In several places in the secondary text of Panel 3 we encounter the relatively
rare 1st and 2nd person pronouns. Also, we encounter some of the unusual
independent pronouns.
First, lets look at the unusual ergative and absolutive pronouns on the secondary
text of Panel 3. At E4 on the main text to the left of the throne, we have a-MAM
, a mam, your grandfather, where a is the 2nd person possessive pronoun.
st
nd
Since 1 and 2 person pronouns are so rare, it is impossible to know for sure the form used in
the ancient Maya language. The pronouns listed here follow those proposed by David Stuart, but
without indicating vowel length.
144
The fact that there is no written absolutive pronoun following the noun mam tells
us that a 3rd person (he) is the grandfather in question. We can also write the
expression as a-mam-, where the sign explicitly marks the unwritten 3rd
person reference.
An even more interesting example occurs between the sixth and seventh figures
seated at the bottom of the scene. These glyph blocks read a-wi-na-ke-na, a
winaken, or your servant (am) I. Here we again have the 2nd person ergative
possessive pronoun a , but we also have the 1st person absolutive pronoun -en
to denote that the servant in question is not some other person, but the speaker
himself.
The secondary text of Panel 3 also displays some uncommon independent
pronouns. Starting in the upper left corner, we have ha-a-ta, haat, meaning
you.
Then, at the beginning of the panel to the left of the throne, we have simply hi.
(The a that follows is probably the agentive for the place name that follows).
From context, we can assume this stands for ha, meaning he.
Near the bottom of the glyph panel to the right of the throne, we have ha-o-bi ,
haob, meaning they.
145
Chapter 19.
ROYAL ARTISTS
Stela 14 is a typical monument that tells of Ruler 5s accession and parentage.

However, the monument displays a beautiful set of artists and sculptors
signatures.
As this monument demonstrates, many artists could share in the creation of a
Maya work of art. The artists frequently had distinct professional titles, no doubt
indicating the fact that different individuals played different roles in the creating of
the monument and/or had different levels of skills. In this and other monuments
we see titles such as sculptor, polisher, stone-cutter, and chief sculptor.
Often many artists were allowed to sign the monument.
Artists signatures and designations show how important artists / scribes were in
the ancient Maya world, unlike the low status of artists in most other world
societies at the same time in history.
As you become more adept at looking at Maya monuments, you may begin to be
able to distinguish the various design and carving styles of various artists. Look
for variations in the way a given glyph looks on different parts of the monument to
find evidence of different artists.
Below we present three different drawings of the primary text of Stela 14. You
should consult all three drawings to do your readings. As these drawings
demonstrate, it is frequently productive to consult several drawings. Different
modern artists and epigraphers working at different points in time see different
forms in eroded monuments. And the fact is modern scholars sometimes make
mistakes and see in a monument what they think is there, but in fact is not.
146
147
148

PNG Stela 14
A1-B2
A2-B2
A3-B3
A4-B4
A5-B5
A6-B6
A7
B7
A8
B8
A9
B9
A10
B10
A11
B11
{tzi-ka-HAB-(WO)}
9-PIK
{16}-WINIKHAB
{6}-TUN
{17}-WINIK
1-K'IN
7-IMIX
(Glyphs G8 + F)
6-20
HULI-li-ja-ya?
(Glyph C2)
(Glyph X)
u-CH'OK-K'ABA'
20-10
19-IK'AT
JOY-AJ ti-AJAW
(ISIG)
bolon pik
waklajun winikhaab
wak tuun
wuklajun winik
juun k'in
wuk imix
(Glyphs G8 + F)
wak k'aal
huliiy
(Glyph C2)
(Glyph X)
u ch'ok k'aba'
lajun k'aal
bolonlajun ik'at
joyaj ti ajaw
A12
B12
A13
B13
A14
B14
A15
B15
u?-T538-wa?
NAH-CHAN
IK'-NAH-CHAK
yo-{o}-NAL-[la]AK
u-K'AL-HUN
K'ABA'
ya-AL-la
K'UHUL-IXIK
?
nah chan
ik' nah chahk
yonal ahk
u k'al huun
k'aba'
yal
k'uhul ixik
(ISIG)
9 baktuns
16 k'atuns
6 tuns
17 winals
1 kin
7 Imix
(Glyphs G8 + F)
26 (days ago)
arrived (the moon)
2nd lunation
(Glyph X)
its youth name
19 Wo
acceeded to
lordship
?
Nah Chan
Ihk Nah Chak
Yonal Ahk (Ruler 5)
--->
his accession name
child of (mother)
Holy Lady
C-D
yu-xu[lu]
yuxul
2
3
4
ko-to-lo
tz'i-ba
{po-lo}
kotol
tz'ihb
pol
(It is) the carving

(of)
Kotol
scribal
sculptor
yu-xu[lu]
yuxul
6
7
8
9
10
to-AJAW
TI'-K'AWIL
CH'OK[ko]
ho-la?
to-chu?
to ajaw
ti' k'awiil
ch'ok
hol
toch
11
yu-xu[lu]
yuxul
12
6-K'UHUL?-yo?
wak k'uhul yo
149
(It is) the carving

(of)
the To Lord ?
Ti' K'awil
Youth
Hol ?
Toch ?
(It is) the carving
(of)
Wak K'uhul Yo
chan k'awiil
Chan K'awil
14
CHAN-na
K'AWIL/CHAK
mo-chu?
moch
Moch?
15
yu-xu[lu]
yuxul
16
17
18
(Fringed CrossBands)-ya-si
CHAK?
ku-K'UK'-MO
(It is) the carving

(of)
?
chahk
k'uhk' mo'
Chak?
Quetzal Macaw
19
yu-xu[lu]
yuxul
20
21
22
a-K'AWIL?-la
?-lu?-?
?
a k'awiil
?
?
(It is) the carving

(of)
? K'awil
?
?
23
yu-xu[lu]
yuxul
24
25
26
?-te-NAH
?
AJ-u?-PET?-?
?
?
?
13
(It is) the carving

(of)
?
?
He of ?
Date A:
A2-B6
9.16.06.17.01
7 Imix 19 Wo
10-Mar-758 (J.)
accession of Ruler
5
Rough Translation:
On 9.16.06.17.01, 7 Imix 19 Wo, March 10, 758 Ruler 5 acceded to the
leadership. He was the son of Divine Lady
It is the carving of Kotol the scribe and sculptor.
It is the carving of To Lord Kawil Fire Mouth Youth Hol? Toch?.
It is the carving of Six? Holy? ? Sky Kawil Moch?.
It is the carving of ? Chak? ? Quetzal Macaw.
It is the carving of A? Kawil ?
It is the carving of Wite? ? ?.
150
Translation Notes
PNG Stela 14
General Commentary: This text contains many beautiful artists signatures. But,
like many ancient Maya names, many are not repeated elsewhere and so some
glyphs cannot be read.
A8: Without additional information, it is impossible to tell if this glyph, which
denotes the number of days since the moon arrived, is 6+20 or 8+20. In these
cases, we resort to a computer program that will tell us the correct number,
provided we know the Long Count date or the European date. (In this case, we
do know the date since it is the accession date of Ruler 5, an event we know
from other monuments.) See references below for a downloadable calendric
program that has this capability.
B13: On the left, the glyph is NAH, and on the right it is a head variant of CHAN
(T1058). Nah Chan is believed to be the name of a vision serpent, but in this
case it is probably part of an elaborate name and title sequence for Ruler 5.
A14-B14: These glyphs appear to read his accession name. This is derived
from the KAL HUN glyphs meaning to seize the headband, a well-known act of
accession, coupled with the usual KABA logogram meaning name. The
interior glyph appears to be an a, serving as a phonetic compliment for kaba.
This reading is, however, tentative.
A15-B15: These glyphs begin a child of mother expression. We can assume
that the now illegible opposite side of the stela completed the parentage
statement and named Ruler 5s father. Many experts believe that Ruler 4 was
Ruler 5s father.
151
The face of Stela 14
152
Harris, Marc and John Harris: Mayan Calendrics - computer program for
calculating Maya dates. Downloadable without charge from:
http://wayeb.org/resourceslinks/wayeb_calendar.php
Harris, John: Inscribed Maya Monuments in the Mesoamerican Gallery of the
University of Pennslyvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology I: Piedras
Negras Stela 14, in The Codex of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of
Archaeology and Anthropology, February, 1999.
Stuart, David: Unusual Signs 2: The Fringed Crossed-Bands Logogram, Maya
Decipherment blog, September 16, 2009.
153
Chapter 20.
AN UNFORTUNATE END
La Pasadita Lintel 1
To continue the story of Piedras Negras, we now turn to the site of La Pasadita, a
satellite of Yaxchilan, the arch-enemy of Piedras Negras. On this monument we
learn of the ultimate fate of Tul Chik, whom we first saw as a youth in the royal
court on Panel 3 of PNG.
Like many other royal persons in the ancient world, he ultimately becomes a
victim of war.
A
154

PSD Lintel 1
A1
A2
A3
A4
B1
9-ETZ'NAB
11-YAXK'IN
chu-ka-ja
t'u-lu-chi-ku
K'IN-ni-AJAW
bolon etz'nab
buluk yaxk'in
chuhkaj
t'ul chik
k'in ajaw
9 Etznab
11 Yaxk'in
is captured
T'ul Chik
Sun Lord
C1
B2
ye-e-te
3-WINIKHAABAJAW
ya-XUN?-BALAM
a-K'AL-BAAK
K'UHUL-?-AJAW
K'UHUL-PA-CHANAJAW
ye't
ux winikhaab ajaw
(It is) his work

3 K'atun Ajaw
yaxuun? bahlam
a k'aal baak
k'uhul ? ajaw
k'uhul pa' chan ajaw
Bird Jaguar IV
he of 20 captives
Holy Lord of YAX
Holy Lord of YAX
ti-lo-ma
sa-ja-la
tilom
sajal
Tilom
Sajal
9 Etz'nab 11 Yaxk'in
10-Jun-759 (J.)
capture event
C2
B3
C3
B4
D1
D2
Date A:
A1-A2
9.16.08.03.18
Rough Translation:
On 9 Etznab 11 Yaxkin, 9.16.08.03.18, June 10, 759 Tul Chik, the Sun Lord,
was captured. It was the doing of the 3 Katun Lord, Bird Jaguar, he of 20
captives, the Holy Yaxchilan Lord.
Name and title of figure on the left:
Tilom the vassal
155
Translation Notes
PSD Lintel 1
C1: This glyph block is very difficult to read in the drawing we have, but it can be
translated as (It is) his work. This secondary clause operates in the same way
as the more common secondary phrases he oversaw it, he was accompanied
by, or he witnessed it.
D2: The syllable sa was probably on the left of the glyph block, but is now
eroded away. Also, the block appears to end with the syllable ya. However,
this is probably mis-drawn. A final syllable of -la is much more likely. The
reading should be sa-ja-la, sajal, vassal. It is well known from other texts that
Tilom was the ruler of La Pasadita and a very important vassal of Bird Jaguar IV
of Yaxchilan.
As you read more and become more adept, you may find drawings that you
believe to be in error. Especially on eroded glyphs, a single line omitted or
included can change the potential reading of a passage. Always keep an open
mind. After all, even the experts make mistakes.
La Pasadita Lintel 1
156
Chapter 21.
RULER 6
We dont know as much about Ruler 6 as other late rulers of Piedras Negras. In
fact, it has been debated whether he was in fact a ruler, or just a vassal (sajal).
We know of no dramatic events during his reign. Stela 23 is one of the few
remaining monuments of his time and tells of his succession as well as a ritual
event that involved burning.
From Stela 23, we know that Ruler 6s father was probably Ruler 4. We also
believe Ruler 7s father was Ruler 4. Thus, Rulers 5, 6, and 7 were brothers, or
at least half-brothers. As will become apparent on Throne 1 from Piedras
Negras, these men were very probably more competitors than brothers.
157
158

PNG Stela 23
A1-B2
A3-B5
A6
B6
A7
{tzi-ka-HAB-(?)}
?
(Glyph G9?)
(Glyph F)
10-HULI-li
{(ISIG)}
?
(Glyph G9?)
(Glyph F)
lajun huli
B7
A8-A20
B20
A21
B21
A22-A23
B23
A24-B25
C1-F5
E6
F6
E7
(Glyph C6)
?
3-he?-wa?
{?-WINIK}
13-TUN
?
?-BALAM
?
?
?-? u-bi?-ki-la
?
wa-e?-ni ti-?lu?-K'AN
CH'OK-ko ba?K'IN-ni
KAN-na?
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW
4 13-WINIK-ji-ya
(Glyph C6)
?
ux hew
? winik
uxlajun tuun
?
? bahlam
?
?
?
?
?
{(ISIG)}
?
(Glyph G9?)
(Glyph F)
10 kins (ago the moon)
arrives
(Glyph C6)
?
3 kins
? winals
13 tuns
?
? Jaguar
?
?
?
?
?
ch'ok ba k'in
Youth --->
kan
k'uhul yokib ajaw
Ba K'in Kan
Holy Piedras Negras Lord
chan uxlajun winikjiiy
4 kins 13 winals
?
3-{K'IN?} 2WINIKHAB
?
3 8-WINIK-ji-?
?
10-AJAW
18-CHAKSIHOM
?
(DN?)
?
(DN?)
?
ux waxak winik
?
lajun ajaw
waxaklajun
chaksihoom
puluy
u?
?
aj ? tuun
?
3 kins 8 winals
?
10 Ajaw
18 Keh
?
lajun ?
buluk ?
?
? xook?
?
u mijinil
? ahk ?
?
10 ?
11 ?
?
? Xok? (Ruler 6)
?
child of (father)
Ruler 4
F7
E8a
E8b
F8
G1-G3
H3
G4-H5
G6
H6
G7
H7
G8
H8
I1
J1
I2-J2
I3
J3
I4
J4
I5-J5
I6
J6
pu-lu-yi
u-tz'i/sa-ti-li
?
AJ-mo-?-lu
TUN?-ni?
?
10-(Tzolk'in)
11-(Haab)
?
?-ka XOK?-ki?
?
u-MIJIN-li
?-AK?
159
got burned
?
?
He of ? Stone
k'uhul yokib ajaw
bakab
uxlajun
buluk winikjiiy?
i pas
(ISIG)
Bakab .
13 days
11 winals
it dawned
(ISIG)
?
? winik
? tuun
wuk k'an
wuklajun k'anjalab
joy ti ajaw ?
?
? winal
? tuns
7 K'an
17 Pop
succeded to the ajawship
?
i uhti
?
juun ?
?
?
waklajun
holajun winik
lajcha' ?
?
{Ruler 6}
it happens
?
1?
?
?
16 kins
15 winals
12 ?
?
Date A:
9.17.04.13.00?
G7-H7
10 Ajaw 18 Keh
20-Sep-775 (J.)
burning event
Date:
K16-L16
7 K'an 17 Pop
14-Feb-767 (J.)
accession
K3-L14
K15
L15
K16
L16
K17
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW
ba-ka-ba
13
11-WINIK-ji?-ya
i-PAS
tzi-ka-HAB(POP)
?
?-WINIK
?-TUN
7-K'AN
17-{K'ANJALAB}
JOY-ti-AJAW-?
L17-L19
K20
L20
K21
L21
K22-L23
K24a
K24b
L24
K25-L25
?
i-u-ti
u-?
1-?
#?-?
?
16
15?-WINIK
12-?
?
I7
J7
I8a
I8b
J8
K1-L2
9.16.16.00.04
Rough Translation:
? ? ?.
On 9.17.04.13.00, 10 Ajaw 18 Keh, September 20, 775 there was a ritual
burning.
?? Ruler 6, child of Ruler 4, Holy Piedras Negras Lord and Bakab.
? ? ?.
Then on 9.16.16.00.04, 7 Kan 17 Pop, February 14, 767
Ruler 6 acceded to the rulership.
160
Translation Notes
PNG Stela 23
General Commentary: This monument is much eroded and at best we get only
scraps of information from it.
However, sometimes scraps provide key
information, in this case the parentage of Ruler 6.
A Wall Panel from the Piedras Negras area
161
Chapter 22.
A MASTERPIECE OF MAYA ART
Piedras Negras Throne 1
Throne 1 from Piedras Negras is a masterpiece of Maya art. Although

deliberately broken in ancient times by one of Piedras Negras enemies, it has
been largely reconstructed.
Throne 1 was commissioned by Ruler 7 and contains glyphs on its seat, back,
and legs. The glyphs mention the founding of Piedras Negras by an ancient
Maya king. We also learn the fate of Ruler 6. Additionally, there are wars and
rituals, as well as the normal parentage statements and an accession event.
Throne 1 from Piedras Negras
162
163

PNG Throne 1
A1
A2
A3
A4
yu-xu[lu]
K'IN-ni LAKAM-ma
CHAK-ki
AJ-bi-k'i
yuxul
k'in lakam
chahk
aj bik'iil
(It is) his carving

Sun Great / Large
Chak
He of Bik'il
B1
C1
D1
E1
juun may
mo
chahk?
t'ul tuun ajaw
One Deer
Macaw
Chak
La Mar Ajaw
pepe'm tuun ajaw /

pe' tuun ajaw
yuxul
? laj
k'awiil
moch?
Pepem Tun Lord
F1
F2
F3
F4
1-ma-ya
MO?-mo-o
CHAK?
T'UL TUN-ni AJAWwa
-or2
pe?-TUN-ni AJAWwa
yu-xu[lu]
PAT?-te-[la]ja
K'AWIL
mo-chu?
G1
H1
?
(T550)
?
?
I1a
I1b
TAN-CH'EN
(PAW)-TUN-ni
tahn ch'en
? tuun
J1
K1
k'inich ? ahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
L1
M1
N1
O1
P1
Q1
R1
K'INICH ya-?-AK
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW-wa
#?-tu-TUN
u-15-WINIKHAB
i-PAS
12-MANIK
5-SUTZ'
SIY-ya-AJ
AJ-1-?-na-ku
? tuun
u holajun winikhaab
i pas
lajcha' manik
ho suutz'
siyaj
aj juun ? na'ak
S1a
S1b
T1a
T1b
U1
CH'OK-?
WAY-AJAW-wa
ya-la?
K'UHUL-?-IX
?-ja-(bird)
ch'ok
way ajaw
yal
k'uhul ? ix
?
?
to establish, found,
set
center cave (place)
PNG place, or
ceremonial center
at PNG
K'inich ? Ahk
Holy Piedras
Negras Lord
? tuns
its 15 katuns
it dawned
12 Manik
5 Sotz'
was born
Aj Jun ? Naak
(youth name of
Ruler 7)
Youth
Way Lord
child of
holy ? Lady
"Lady Bird"
E1
164
(It is) his carving

?
K'awil
Moch?
Z1
ta-YIK'IN?-ni
ta yik'in
at twilight
Z2
Z3
AJ-TAN?-wa?
HA'-K'IN-XOK-ki
?
ha' k'in xook
Z4
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW
k'uhul yokib ajaw
?
Ha Kin Xok (Ruler
6)
Holy Piedras
Negras Lord
Z5
Z6
ya-ka-ta-ji
a-AJAW-la (PAW)TUN-ni
yaktaj
ajawlel ? tuun
he abandons
the ajawship of Paw
Stone .
A'1
B'1
C'1
D'1
A'2
B'2
C'2
D'2
A'3
B'3
C'3
D'3
A-4-B'4
C'4-D'4
A'5
B'5
C'5
D'5
E'1
u kuchuw
ikitz
t'abay
lam naah
lajun mih winik
juun tuun
i pas
ux imix
chan suutz'
hul?
?
?
u kabiij
aj juun ? na'ak
ch'ok
wayal ajaw
?
ha' k'in xook
k'uhul yokib ajaw
E'2
E'3
E'4
E'5
E'6
F'1
F'2
F'3
F'4
u-[ku]chu-wa
i-ki-tzi
T'AB{[yi]}
LAM-NAH
10 0-WINIK
1-TUN
i-PAS
3-IMIX
4-SUTZ'
HUL?-?
?
li-hi-ba?
?-u-KAB-ji
AJ-1-?-na-ku
CH'OK-ko
WAY[la]-AJAW-wa
?-ta-?
HA'-K'IN-XOK-ki
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW
u-ti-ya
mih-hi-NAH
ba/ma-hi-li
?-hi-?
?-tu-(WAR)-yi-la
TAN-CH'EN
(PAW)-TUN-ni
ta-YIK'IN?-ni
(T550)
F'5
F'6a
F'6b
(CELT)-ba-hi
TAN-CH'EN
(PAW)-TUN-ni
? baah
tahn ch'een
? tuun
He carries
burden / office
goes up to
Lam House
10 kins no winal
1 tun
it dawned
3 Imix
4 Sotz'
arrived ??
?
?
he authorized it
Aj Jun ? Naak
Youth
Way Lord
?
Ha Kin Xok
Holy Piedras
Negras Lord .
It happened
at Mihnah?
?
?
war on?
center cave (place)
Paw Stone (PNG?)
at twilight
to establish, found,
set
jade? image
center cave
Paw Stone (PNG?)
.
G'1
H'1
I'1-J'1
G'2-H'2
I'2-J'2
{3-he}-wa
3-WINIK
i-PAS
1-K'AN
7-YAXK'IN
ux hew
ux winik
i pas
juun k'an
wuk yaxk'in
uhtiiy
mih nah
?
?
?
tahn ch'een
? tuun
ta yik'in
?
165
3 kins
3 winals
it dawned
1 K'an
7 Yaxk'in
G'3
H'3
I'3-J'3
G'4
H'4
I'4-J'4
G'5-H'5
I'5
J'5
K'1
K'2
K'3
K'4
K'5
K'6
JOY[AJ]
ti-AJAW-le-le
AJ-1-?-na-ku
K'INICH
?-AK
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW
16 8-WINIK
4-TUN
i-u-ti
5-AJAW 3-MUWAN
wi-ho-TUN-ni
EL-K'IN-NAH
cha-hu-ku-NAH
yo-OTOT-ti-u?
ya-?-AK
joyaj
ti ajawlel
aj juun ? na'ak
k'inich
? ahk
k'uhul yokib ajaw
waklajun waxak winik
chan tuun
i uhti
ho ajaw ux muwaan
wi ho tuun
el k'in naah
chahuk naah
yotoot ?
ya? ahk
acceeded
to the lordship
Aj Jun ? Naak
K'inich
Ruler 7
Holy Piedras
Negras Lord .
16 kins 8 winals
4 tuns
it happens
5 Ajaw 3 Muwan
5 tuns lacking
fire enters
Lightning House
the house of
Ruler 7
Working Backwards:
Date A:
O1-P1
Date A:
O1-P1
Date B:
K'1
D.N.:
G'4-I'4
Date C:
G'2-I'2
D.N.:
G'1-H'1
Date D:
B'2-A'3
D.N.:
A'2-B'2
Date E:
9.15.18.16.07
12 Manik 5 Sotz
7-April-750 (J.)
birth of Ruler 7
9.17.15.00.00
5 Ajaw 3 Muwan
2-Nov-785 (J.)
period ending
1 K'an 7 Yaxk'in
31-May-781 (J.)
accession of Ruler
7
9.17.10.06.01
3 Imix 4 Sotz'
29-Mar-781 (J.)
arrival? of
someone?
- 1.00.10
9.17.09.05.11
10 Chuwen 19 Sip
24-Mar-780 (J.)
abdication of Ruler
6
4.08.16
9.17.10.09.04
3.03
166
Rough Translation:
It is the carving of Sun Great Chak, he of Bikil.
It is One Deer Parrot Chak, Lord of La Mar.
It is the craving of Patlaj Kawil Mooch.
Was founded the place of Paw Stone by the Sun Lord Turtle Tooth, Lord of
Piedras Negras. Then about 300 years later, 12 Manik 5 Sotz dawned,
9.15.18.16.07, April 7, 750 and the youth Ruler 7 was born, son of Lady Bird.
In the night (of March 24, 780 9.17.09.05.11) Ha Kin Xok, Ruler 6, Lord of
Piedras Negras abandoned the Lordship of Paw Stone place.
He carried the burden (of office?) up to Lam House.
One tun, no winals, and 10 days later 3 Imix 4 Sotz dawns and ?
He caused it, the youth Ruler 7, ?, Ruler 6 Holy Piedras Negras Lord.
It happened ? ? war Paw Stone place. At night the celt image? of Paw Stone
was established.
Three kins and 3 winals later 1 Kan 7 Yaxkin dawned. Ruler 7 acceded to the
lordship.
Then on 5 Ajaw 3 Muwan the 15 tun ending 9.17.15.00.00 November 2, 785.
Fire entered the Lightning House of Ruler 7.
167
Translation Notes
PNG Throne 1
H1: This glyph, T550, means to establish, to found, to set, but we do not know
the reading. This glyph is also in the eroded part of Panel 4 (G1a) in reference to
the establishment of La Mar. (See Chapter 6.)
I1a: The TAN-CHEN collocation is a locative marker and tells us that the glyphs
than follow denote a place name. The literal translation is in front of the cave /
spring of.
I1b: These are the paw stone glyphs, formed by a logogram denoting a paw,
and the common glyph for tuun. These glyphs refer to the city of Piedras Negras
as a place and/or may denote a specific ceremonial site or monument at Piedras
Negras.
It was quite common for a ruling Maya city to have a name for the polity, or
political unit, that it ruled, as well as a name for the city itself. The name of the
polity was the name that appeared on the emblem glyph. For example, the city
we call Palenque was known in ancient times as Lakam Ha (Big Waters), while
the political unit it ruled was known as Baak. The analogy here is Yokib (the
polity) and Paw Stone (the city).
Finally, make sure you see the difference between the glyph for paw and the
more common glyph for claw, read as ichaak. (You can see an example of
ichaak in Chapter 18 on Panel 3 at Z1.)
J1: This looks like the glyph of the Turtle Tooth ruler we saw in the early days of
Piedras Negras, and like the glyph of Ruler 7, but it is not either of those rulers.
From the distance number of over 300 years at L1-M1, we know that it must be
another ruler with a similar name. We do not encounter this ruler anywhere else
in the glyphic record.
K4: The upended frog glyph here resembles the logogram SIY (to give birth),
but is the syllable hu. The difference is usually apparent from the fact that SIY
usually has a string of pearls that the syllable hu lacks.
168
An Ancient Glyph in 3-Dimensions

In the center of the principal plaza of Piedras Negras there is a large stone
monument. It appears to represent a 3-Dimensional glyphic spelling of Paw
Stone. (See photos above and below.)
The horizontal part of the monument has curls and undulations much like a
feline paw and looks very much like the logogram Paw in the texts. The
supports of the monument are very clearly 3-dimensional head variants of the
glyph for tuun, complete with the stone markings one would expect on such
glyphs.
Although in 3-dimensional space rather then the normal 2 dimensions, the
monument itself clearly spells Paw Stone, the place name for the city of
Piedras Negras and/or its ceremonial center.
169
Houston, et al: In the Land of the Turtle Lords Archaeological Investigations at

Piedras Negras, Guatemala, 2000. downloadable from www.famsi.org .
Stuart, David: The Paw Stone: The Place Name of Piedras Negras, Guatemala,
in The Pari Joural, Vol. IV, No. 3, Winter 2004.
170
Chapter 23.
A PERIOD ENDING FOR RULER 7
Much of Stela 15 is eroded, but fortunately enough is preserved for us to see a

typical period ending stela. Like many other works of Maya art, we have a
number of signatures of scribes and sculptors.
A
171

PNG Stela 15
{tzi-ka-HAB(YAXKIN)}
{9}-PIK
17-WINIKHAB
{10}-TUN
{9}-WINIK
{4}-KIN
{(ISIG)}
{(ISIG)}
bolon pik
wuklajun winikhaab
lajun tuun
bolon winik
chan k'in
B1
B2
JOY[AJ] ti-AJAW-wa
AJ-1-?-na-ku
joyaj ti ajaw
aj juun ? na'ak
9 baktun
17 k'atun
10 tuns
9 winal
4 kins
(probably rest of the
calendrics)
succeeded to lord
Aj Jun ? Naak
B3
B4
B5
B7
B8
B9
B10
B11a
K'INICK ya-?-AK
{16-K'IN}
{8-WINIK}
4-TUN
i-PAS
5-{AJAW} 3-MUWAN
WI-5-TUN-ni
u-K'AL TUN-ni
k'inich ? ahk
waklajun k'in
waxak winik
chan tuun
i pas
ho ajaw ux muwaan
wi ho tuun
u k'al tuun
B11b
K'INICH ya-?-AK
k'inich ? ahk
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7-A14
172
Ruler 7
16 kins
8 winal
4 tuns
it dawned
5 Ajaw 3 Muwan
5 tuns lacking
he wrapped the
stone
Ruler 7
k'uhul yokib ajaw
B12b
B13a
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW
pi-ma-te
yi-ta-ji
B13b
B14
u-KUH-li
(Paddlers)
u kuhul
(Paddlers)
Holy Piedras
Negras Lord
?.
He was
accompanied by
his gods
the Paddlers.
C1
5-?-?
D1
D2
D3
D4
1-na-ta
o-mo-tzi
AJ-bi-k'i
AJ-u-xu[la]
juun nat
omootz
aj bik'iil ?
aj uxul
Jun Nat
Omootz
He of Bik'il ?
he of carving,
sculptor.
E1
E2
E3
E4
yu-xu[lu]
4-CH'OK-ko
wa-WAY[bi]
xo-{ko}-ki
yuxul
chan ch'ok
wayib
xook
(It is) the carving of

Chan Ch'ok
Wayib
Xok
F1
F2
F3
F4
a-sa-na
wi-WINIK
tu-ba
AJ-u-xu[lu]
asan
winik
tuub
aj uxul
Asan
Winik
Tuub
sculptor .
G1
G2
G3
G4
yu-xu[lu]
5-CHAN-TE
pa?-ta-?
?
yuxul
ho chan te
?
?
(It is) the carving of

5 Sky Tree
?
?
On
Crotch
5-AJAW
ho ajaw
5 Ajaw
1 K'an 7 Yaxk'in
May-31-781 (J.)
accession or Ruler
7
5 Ajaw 3 Muwan
2-Nov-785 (J.)
B12a
?
yitaj
Date A:
A2-A6
D.N.:
B5-B7:
Date B:
B9
{9.17.10.09.04}
4.08.16
9.17.15.00.00
173
Rough Translation:
On 9.17.10.09.04, 1 Kan 7 Yaxkin, May 31, 781 Ruler 7 acceded to the
Lordship. Then 4 tuns, 8 winals, and 16 kins later the day 5 Ajaw 3 Muwan
dawned. It was the 15 tun period ending. Ruler 7 bound the stone. He was
accompanied by his gods, the Paddlers.
Names of artists - sculptors:
5 ? ?.
Jun Nat Omootz of Bikil, sculptor.
It is the carving of Chan Chok Wayib Xok.
Asan Winik Tuub, sculptor.
It is the carving of Ho Chan Te ? ?.
Translation Notes
PNG Stela 15
General Commentary: This stela is a great exercise in filling in the blanks. The
initial date and the distance number are almost completely eroded. And yet, from
the events described we can be all but certain of what the missing date
components were.
A4-14: The long count and supplemental series are missing, but at B1-B3 we
see that the event in question is the accession of Ruler 7. From other
monuments, this is a date we know. Thus, we can fill in the missing parts of
column A.
B5-B7: Although now largely eroded, from B7 and the overall syntax of the text
we know that these blocks were very probably a Distance Number. From B9 and
B10 we can see that the event is a 15 tun period ending with a Calendar Round
of 5 (Tzolkin Day Name?) 3 Muwan. And of course, we know this occurred
during the reign of Ruler 7. Using a Maya date calculator it is not hard to find that
the date we want is 5 Ajaw 3 Muwan, 9.17.15.00.00.
B13: Here we have glyphs that show that Ruler 7 is accompanied by a divine
presence on the period ending. As is often the case, the divine entities are the
Paddler Gods (shown in B14). At B13b we have u-KUH-li, where the li suffix
denotes a possessed noun (his gods). Note that the noun is not marked as a
174
plural. This is often the case. Occasionally, kuh > god or gods is written as
kuhob > gods to specifically mark the plural form.
D4 & F4: Note how the word for sculptor, carver is formed with the agentive
prefix AJ-. Literally, the blocks read he of carvings, i.e. carver.
Grammar Notes
The Vl Suffix
You will find that many words in the glyphic texts end with the suffix Vl
(spelled lV, where V stands for a variable vowel). This suffix has many
possible (and confusing) uses. The four most common uses are as follows:
(1) As we have seen several times at Piedras Negras, -li may be attached
to some nouns to show they are possessed. Example: a-KUH-li > a
kuhil > your god.
(2) We also see the -lV suffix used to generalize a noun. A unbiquitous
example is AJAW-le > ajawlel. Ajaw means lord and so ajawlel
means lordship. (This is an example of underspelling, which is why
the final -l is not in the spelling.)
(3) Another productive use for the Vl suffix is to create adjectives from
nouns. For example, KAK > kahk means fire and we form the
adjective firey by adding Vl : KAK-la > kahkal > firey.
(4) Finally, we can use the suffix to form a verbal noun, i.e. a noun formed
from a verb: Chum is the verb to sit, but CHUM-li > chumul means
sitting or seating, which are nouns.
175
Chapter 24.
THE POMONA WARS
176
Stela 12 is a remarkable stela that exhibits the triumph over Pomona by Piedras
Negras. The cities fought two wars and in each case Piedras Negras received
help from their vassals from La Mar. The primary aid came from Parrot Chak of
La Mar, whom we saw on both Panel 3 and Throne 1.
On Stela 12 we are given the names of some of the prisoners captured in the
wars with Pomona. Also, as we have seen before, several sculptors / artists sign
the work of art.
177

PNG Stela 12 Primary Text
A1-B2
A3-B3
A4-B4
A5-B5
A6-B6
A7-B7
A8
B8
A9
B9
A10
B10
A11
B11
A12
B12
A13
B13
A14a
A14b
B14a
B14b
A15a
A15b
B15a
B15b
A16a
A16b
B16
A17a
A17b
or
B17
A18
B18
A19a
A19b
B19a
B19b
A20a
A20b
A20c
{tzi-ka-HAB(KEH)}
{9-PIK}
{18-WINIKHAB}
{5-TUN}
{0-WINIK}
{0-K'IN}
4-AJAW
{(Glyphs G & F)}
3-20-ji-ya HUL-liya
(Glyph C6)
(Glyph X6)
u-CH'OK-ko
K'ABA
WINIK-ki-10
13-CHAKSIHOM
NAH-5-TUN-ni
u-K'AL-TUN-ni
K'INICH ya-?-AK
AJ-SAK?-BAK
K'UHUL?-wa?WAY
yi-ta-ji
u-K'UH-OB?
(Jaguar Paddler)
(Stringray
Paddler)
CHUWEN-na/IK'
1 3-WINIK
8-TUN
u-ti-ya
1-KAWAK
12-SAKSIHOM
chu[ku]-ji-ya
te-ni-bi-wi /
te-ch'a-bi-wa
AJ-?-K'IN-ni
K'UHUL-lu to-k'o
u-ya-ja-wa/K'AK'
K'AK'-?-MUWAN?
wa-(BIRD)-AJAW
?-TE?
ya-?-AK
13
1-WINIK
10-MANIK'
{(ISIG)}
{(ISIG)}
bolon pik
waxaklajun winikhaab
ho tuun
mih winik
mih k'in
chan ajaw
{(Glyphs G & F)}
ux k'aaljiiy huliiy
(Glyph C6)
(Glyph X6)
u ch'ok k'aba'
9 baktuns
18 k'atuns
5 tuns
0 winals
0 kin
4 Ajaw
(Glyphs G & F)
23 kins (ago the moon)
arrived
6th lunation
(Glyph X6)
its youth name
winik lajun
uxlajun chaksihoom
nah ho tuun
u k'al tuun
k'inich ? ahk
aj sak? baak
k'uhul way
13 Keh
the 1st hotun .
he wrapped the stone
Ruler 7
He of white bones ?
Holy Way .
yitaj
u k'uhob
(Jaguar Paddler)
(Stingray Paddler)
He was accompanied by
his gods
Jaguar Paddler
Stringray Paddler
chuwen
juun ux winik
waxak tuun
uhtiiy
juun kawak
lajcha' saksihoom
chuhkjiiy
?
?
aj ? k'in
k'uhul took'
u yajaw k'ahk'
k'ak' ? muwaan
? ajaw
?
? ahk
uxlajun
juun winik
lajun manik'
Artist
1 kin 3 winals
8 tuns
it happened
(on) 1 Kawak
12 Sak
was captured
?
?
priest ?
Holy Flint
U Yajaw K'ak' (title)
Kak Muwan
St. Elena Lord
prisoner of
Ruler 7 .
13 kins
1 winal
10 Manik'
178
B20a
B20b
A21a
A21b
B21a
B21b
C1
D1a
D1b
C2
D2a
CHUM-SAKSIHOM
TZUTZ??-ji-ya
u-6-tu-TUN
u-1-WINIKHAB
si-SIY-na
ya-?-AK
{7-IK'} 10-SUTZ'
?-(star war)-KAB
pa-ka-bu
?
u-tz'a-ka-wa-te
cham chaksihoom
tzuhtzjiiy
u wak tuun
u juun winikhaab
siyan
? ahk
wuk ik' lajun suutz'
?
pakab
?
u tz'akaw te
D2b
AJ-JANAB?-chi-hi
aj janab chih
C3a
C3b
D3a
D3b
C4
?
AJ-?-SUTZ'?
SAK-SUTZ'
AJ-K'IN-ni ye-te
k'e-{cha-AT-ta
TOK}
AJ-SAK-ka-ba
K'AN-na-9
?
ka-lu-ma AJ-K'ana
?
K'UHUL yo-[ki]bi
AJAW
18?-he-wa
?-WINIK
16-TUN
11-WINIKHAB
u-ti-ya
2/3 K'UMK'U
/WAYEB
T'AB-ya
pa-ka-bu
?
CHAN-na
TZ'AM?-SUTZ' AJIK SUTZ
?
AJ-? wa-WAY[la]
AJAW
?
yi-YICHNAL-NAL
KUCH?-K'INBALAM-?
?
1-TUN-ya
i-u-ti
?
?
aj ? suutz'?
sak suutz'
aj k'in yet
k'ech aat took
0 Sak
was completed
his 6th tun (plus)
his 1st k'atun (26 tuns)
(since) was born
Ruler 7
7 Ik' 10 Sotz'
star war
Pomona
?
He counted the staffs (i.e.
the prisoners):
Aj Janab Chih (He of deer
flower)
?
He of Sotz?
Sak Sotz'
Aj K'in Yet (title)
K'ech At Tok
aj sak kab k'an bolon
Aj Sak Kab K'an Bolon
?
kalum aj k'ana
?
Kalum Aj K'ana
?
k'uhul yokib ajaw
waxaklajun hew
? winik
waklajun tuun
buluk winikhaab
uhtiiy
?
?
.
18 kins
? winals
16 tuns
11 k'atuns
it happened
?
t'abay
pakab
?
chan
tz'am suutz' aj ihk
suutz
?
aj ? wayal ajaw
offered at
Pomona
?
Celestial
Bat Throne, He of Black
Bat
?
He the Way Lord
?
yichnal
kuch k'in bahlam ?
?
in the company of
Kuch Kin Balam
?
juun tuuniiy
i uhti
?
?
1 tun
it happens
?
D4
C5
D5
C6
D6a
D6b
C7a
C7b
D7a
D7b
C8
D8a
D8b
C9a
C9b
D9
C10
D10
C11
D11a
D11b
C12a
D12a
D12b
C13
179
D13a
D13b
C14
D14a
D14b
C15
D15a
D15b
C16
D16a
D16b
C17
D17a
D17b
C18
D18a
D18b
C19a
C19b
D19
C20
D20a
D20b
C21
D21a
D21b
2-(WAR)-KAB-?
pa-ka-bu
?
AJ-?-BAK
K'UHUL WAY{[la]}
AJAW-wa
?
AJ-K'IN-ni ye-te
k'e-{cha-AT-ta}
?
AJ-K'AN-TE
u-sa-ja[la]
?
?-TE'-?
ya-?-AK
?
AJ-JANAB-chi-hi
TZ'AM SUTZ'
9-?
?
9-K'AN 7-?
?
pa-ka-bu
?
?
1-TUN
?
cha' ? kab ?
pakab
?
aj ? bak
k'uhul wayal ajaw
war again (against)

Pomona
?
He of ? prisoners
Holy Way Lord
?
aj k'in yet
k'ech aat
?
aj k'an te
u sajal
?
?
? ahk
?
aj janab chih
tz'am suutz'
bolon ?
?
bolon k'an wuk ?
?
pakab
?
?
juun tuun
?
?
Aj K'in Yet (title)
K'ech At
?
Aj K'an Te
the vassal of
?
prisoner of
Ruler 7
?
He of Deer Flower
Bat Throne
9?
?
9 K'an 7 ?
?
Pomona
?
?
1 tun
?
Date A:
{9.18.05.00.00}
A3-B7
D.N.:
- 08.03.01
B15
Date B:
A16b-B16 9.17.16.14.19
4 Ajaw 13 Keh
11-Sep-795 (J.)
period ending
1 Kawak 12 Sak
23-Aug-787 (J.)
capture event
D.N. (from Date A):

A20a
- 01.13
Date C:
A20b-B20 9.18.04.16.07
10 Makik' 0 Sak
9-Aug-795 (J.)
26th Birthday
Date D:
C1
Date E:
C8:
9.18.01.09.02
7 Ik 10 Sotz
1-Apr-792 (J.)
war on Pamona
9.06.05.01.04
-or9.06.05.00.04
13 K'an 2 Wayeb
18-Mar-559 (J.)
6 K'an 2 K'umk'u
26-Feb-559 (J.)
180
Rough Translation:
On 9.18.05.00.00, 4 Ajaw 13 Keh, September 11, 795 it was his first 5 tun
period ending and Ruler 7 tied the stone. He was accompanied by his gods, the
Jaguar Paddler and the Stingray Paddler.
Earlier on 1 Kawak 12 Sak, 9.17.16.14.19, August 23, 787 (name?) He of Sun?
Holy Flint, Fire Lord Muwan of St. Elena was captured. He is the prisoner of
Ruler 7.
1 winal and 13 days before (the period ending) on 10 Manik Seating of Sak,
9.18.04.16.07, August 9, 795 it was the 26th tun since the birth of Ruler 7.
On 7 Ik 10 Sutz, 9.18.01.09.02, April 1, 792 war was waged on Pomona. ? ?.
He enumerates the prisoners:
Aj Janab Chih? Sak Sutz He of Sun Kech AtAj Sak Kab Kan
BolonKalum Aj Kanathe Holy Piedras Negras Lord.
Then 11 katunes, 16 tun, ? winal, 18 kins, it happened (on Calendar Round
date) went up to / offered at Pomona (name of building)Bat ThroneHe of the
Black Bat
accompanied byKuch Kin Balam.
? and 1 tun after/before it happened? a second war on Pomona?....Holy
Spirit Companion Lord.
He of the Sun,,?, vassalprisoner of Ruler 7Aj Janab Chih Bat
ThronePomona Lord
181
Translation Notes
PNG Stela 12 Primary Text
General Commentary: This stela is quite difficult. Not only is it highly eroded in
places, it also contains many names which are unique in the glyphic texts.
A1-B8: As noted when we discussed Stela 15, eroded dates can often be
inferred as long as we can read the event that occurs on the date in question and
we know the date of that event from other monuments. This is the case with the
opening date on this stela since it refers to NAH-5-TUN-ni, that is to the first five
tun period ending during the reign of Ruler 7.
A14a: Here we postulate the adjective god-like, holy, derived from the noun
KUH, meaning god. See box in Chapter 23.
B14a: As on Stela 15, we have the expression He is accompanied by his gods.
However, in this case, the plural is possibly marked by the suffix -ob. This plural
suffix could be three small balls as we see below the normal logogram for
KUH, or god.
B14b-A15a: Here we have the symbolic forms for the Paddler Gods. The sign for
the Jaguar Paddler is a cartouche containing AKAB meaning darkness, and
often having the affix na. The sign for the Stingray Paddler is a cartouche
containing KIN meaning sun, and often having the affix ti.
B19a: This sign is used to connect the name of a prisoner to his captor, or at
least, to the ruler who has overseen the war. The glyph includes a te, but we
are not sure of the full reading. On other monuments it may also include a yaprefix and/or a sufix of ja or je.
A20a: This unusual half-shaded face is a logogram for winik > winal.
B20b: From context, this bat appears to read the same as the usual upsidedown bat logogram TZUTZ, meaning to end, to complete.
D1b: The shading is now eroded on this face, but it is the familiar pa syllable.
The glyphs read pa-ka-bu > pakab > Pomona. The bu glyph, although unclear
in this block is repeated at D13 where it is easier to see.
D2: We often see the verb tzak before a count relating to a Distance Number.
Here the context is different. Also, one has to know that te, staffs, in this
context is a term for soldiers, or in this case, prisoners of war.
182
D8: We often see the verb tab in reference to a building dedication and it often
has the connotation of taking something up into the building. Here, the verb may
refer to an offering / dedication, or may simply mean to go up to in the sense of
going to a place.
D11a: We have seen this glyph before (Piedras Negras Panel 2, S1). It means
he is accompanied by.
D13a: The two dots on top constitute a rare use meaning again. In this case, it
means war was waged again on Pomona.
D18: This name also occurs at D2 where it is much easier to see the details.

PNG Stela 12 Secondary Text
1
2
3
4
yu-xu[lu]
1-na-ta
o-mo-tzi
AJ-bi-k'i-la
yuxul
juun nat
omootz
aj bik'iil
(It is) his carving

Jun Nat
Omootz
He of Bik'il
5
6
7
8
mo-CHAK?
AJ-10-BAK
T'UL-TUN-ni-AJAW
ba-ka-ba
mo chahk
aj lajun baak
t'ul tuun ajaw
bakab
Parrot Chak
He of 10 prisoners
La Mar Lord
Bakab
9
10
11
12
yu-xu[lu]
wa-?-NAL / ?-wa-NAL
CHAK?-{ki}
AJ-bi-k'i-la
yuxul
?
chahk
aj bik'iil
(It is) his carving

?
Chak
He of Bik'il
13
14
u-SAK?-ka?-TE'
?
u sak te'
?
? White Tree ?
?
15
16
17
18
yu-xu[lu]
KIN-ni LAKAM-ma
CHAK-ki
AJ-bi-ki-la
yuxul
kin lakam
chahk
aj bikiil
(It is) his carving

Sun Great
Chak
He of Bikil
19-20
21
22
23
AJ-JANAB-chi-hi
TZ'AM SUTZ'
sa-ja[la]
aj janab chih
tz'am suutz'
sajal
He of Deer Flower
Bat Throne
Vassal
183
24
25
26
yu-xu[lu]
CH'OK[ko]
xa?-tza-ma-la
yuxul
ch'ok
?
(It is) his carving

Youth
?
27
28
29
yu-xu-lu
ya-ja-wa
KALOMTE'
yuxul
yajaw
kaloomte'
(It is) his carving

the vassal of
the Kalomte
30
31
32
cho-ko
pi-tzi-la
sa-ja[la]
chok
pitzil
sajal
Chok
Ballplayer
Vassal
33
34
SAK-SUTZ'
sa-ja[la]
sak suutz'
sajal
White Bat
Vassal
35
36
37
38
yu-xu[lu]
CHAK-KUCH-?-lo
u-ko-o-ma
po-le / po-lo
yuxul
chak kuch? ?
u ko'om
pol
(It is) his carving

Great Kuch ?
U Koom
sculptor
39
40
41
yu-xu[lu]
?
?
yuxul
?
?
(It is) his carving

?
?
42
43
44
yu-xu[lu]
4-chi-wo-jo
po-le / po-lo
yuxul
chan chiwoj
pol
(It is) his carving

Four Tarantula
sculptor
45
46
AJ-u-tzi-li
ne-to / WAY-to
aj utzil
?
He of Goodness ?
?
47
48
CHAK-u-KAB
JOL-mi
chahk ukab
joloom
Chak Ukab
Jolom
49
50
pa-pa
SUTZ'
pap
suutz'
Pap
Bat
51
52
ye-ta? AT-TOK'
sa-ja[la]
yet aat took'

sajal
Yet At Tok'
Vassal
53
54
tu?-bu? na-ja
ba-che-bu
tub? naj
ba chehb
Tub? Naj
Head quill / head
artist
184
Rough Translation (Artists Signatures from page 177):

It is the carving of Jun Nat Omootz, he of Bikil.
It is Parrot Chak, he of 10 prisoners, La Mar Ajaw, the Bakab.
It is the carving of ? Chak, he of Bikil.
? White Tree ?
It is the carving of Sun Great Chak, he of Bikil.
?
He the vassal of the Deer Flower Bat Throne.
It is the carving of young ?.
It is the carving of the vassal of the kalomte.
The vassal Chok the ballplayer.
The vassal White Bat.
It is the carving of the Great Kuch? UKoom, sculptor.
It is the carving of ?.
It is the carving of Four Tarantula, the sculptor.
He of goodness ?.
?
Chak Ukab Jolom.
Pap Bat.
Yet At Tok, the vassal.
Tub? Naj, head scribe / artist.
185
Translation Notes
PNG Stela 12 Secondary Text
General Commentary: Be sure to note that many of the artists and carvers of this
stela also worked on other stela we have seen from Piedras Negras. It should
also be apparent that the place Bikil was a center for such workmen.
5-8: We also saw this ajaw on Throne 1 and Panel 3.
45: For this reading we are relying on the fact that in the ancient Maya language
nouns denoting a general concept (in this case, goodness) can be created from
an adjective (good) by adding the suffix -il. The adjective in question for good
is utz. (See Grammar Notes at the end of the previous chapter.)
54: In this context, bah means first, head, chief. The literal meaning of cheb is
quill, brush but in this case it refers to the artist.

Houston, Stephen, et al: 2000, In the Land of the Turtle Lord. Mexicon 22:97110.
Houston, Stephen: A Classic Maya Bailiff? posting on
decipherment.wordpress.com, March 10, 2008
186
Chapter 25.
THE END OF THE LINE
Yaxchilan Lintel 10
The final chapter comes not at Piedras Negras, but at Yaxchilan, the ancient
enemy of Piedras Negras. There, at the very end of a long text listing prisoners
of the Yaxchilan Lord, we see a reference to Ruler 7. While the capture of a ruler
is devastating in any period, at this time much of the Maya world was on the
verge of collapse. Thus, the capture of Ruler 7 is the final chapter in the story of
Piedras Negras.
Here we are concerned only with glyph blocks E8-F8.
187

YAX Lintel 10 (E8-F8)
E8a
K'INICH ya-?
k'inch ?
E8b
F8a
u-ba-ki
u-cha-CHAN AJ-{ku?}lu
MO-o pa-CHANAJAW
u baak
u chan akul
K'inich (Ruler 7 of
PNG)
he is the captive of
the captive of Akul
mo pa chan ajaw
Mo, YAX Lord
F8b
Rough Translation:
Kinich ? (Ruler 7) is the captive of Akul Mo, Lord of Yaxchilan.
Translation Notes
YAX Lintel 10
E8a: Here we can see enough of the name glyph to surmise that this is very
probably Ruler 7 of Piedras Negras.
E8b & F8a(top): u baak and u chan are common expressions linking a captive to
his captor.
188
189
Appendix 1.
General References and Study Guides
Boot, Erik
Classic Maya- English, English Classic Maya Vocabulary of Hieroglyphic
Readings
- A dictionary of Maya words and expressions. Very useful.
www.mesoweb.com/resources/vocabulary
Calvin, Inga
Maya Hieroglyphics Study Guide
- A series of very good guides for the Maya glyphs. Full of drawings with
translations.
http://www.famsi.org/mayawriting/calvin/index.html
190
Coe, Michael D. and Mark Van Stone

Reading the Maya Glyphs
- Very good for learning the glyphs. Many drawings with translations. Thames &
Hudson, publisher
Grube, Nikolai
La Escritura Maya
- Distributed for his workshops in Antigua Guatemala, in Spanish
Kettunen, Harri and Cristophe Helmke

Introduction to Maya Hieroglyphs
- A wide-ranging work that covers everything from the history of decipherment to
grammar to the calendar. Also contains a dictionary.
http://www.wayeb.org/resourceslinks/wayeb_workbook.php
Macri, Martha and Matthew Looper

The New Catalog of Maya Hieroglyphs - Volume One The Classic Period
Inscriptions.
- A useful catalog with which one can look up glyphs according to their
appearance. Very good when one has no idea what a glyph stands for.
University of Oklahoma Press
Martin, Simon and Nikolai Grube

Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens
- A very informative book covering the dynasties of 11 ancient Maya cities.
Thames and Hudson publisher
Montgomery, John
Dictionary of Maya Hieroglyphs
- A useful dictionary. Full of drawings, but with some old readings.
The book: Hippocrene Books publisher
On line: http://www.famsi.org/mayawriting/dictionary/montgomery/mainindex.htm
but cannot be downloaded.
Pitts, Mark
Maya Glyphs A Non-technical Introduction
- An introduction to the Maya glyphs that explains the basics in a non-technical
manner.
http://www.famsi.org/research/pitts/index.html
191
Maya Numbers and the Maya Calendar

A non-technical introduction to the mathematics and calendar of the ancient
Maya.
http://www.famsi.org/research/pitts/index.html
Stuart, David
Mayan Languages and the Basics of Grammar
- A thorough treatment of the rules of grammar used by ancient Maya scribes.
Contains a brief dictionary.
Texas Maya Meetings 2007 Sourcebook (and some earlier years)
Appendix 2.
References Specific to Piedras Negras
Clancy, Flora Simmons

The Monuments of Piedras Negras
- A useful book on the monuments, although more focused on iconography than
epigraphy.
University of New Mexico Press
Martin, Simon y Nikolai Grube

Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens (Chapter on Piedras Negras)
- Essential for studying Piedras Negras. Thames and Hudson, publisher
Teufel, Stefanie
Die Monumentalskulpturen von Piedras Negras, Petn, Guatemala
- An in depth analysis of the glyphic texts of Piedras Negras. In German.
http://hss.ulb.uni-bonn.de/diss_online/phil_fak/2004/teufel_stefanie/teufel.htm
192
Sources of Illustrations
Title Pages, Table of Contents, and Introductory Material

PNG emblem glyph from Inga Calvin: Titles, Emblem Glyphs, and
Dieties, available for download from www.famsi.org
Drawing by Tatiana Proskouriakoff (negative image)
Miscellaneous Sculptured Stone 16 by John Montgomery
Maya Athletes by John Montgomery adapted by the author
u-KAL-TUN-ni from The Inscriptions of Copan from Texas Maya
Meetings - 2007 workshop
PNG Stela 5 by John Montgomery
Chapter 1 : Mythical Kings and the Maya Story of Creation PNG Altar 1
Fragment B
PNG Altar 1 by John Montgomery, illustration downloaded from
www.famsi.org, adapted by the author
In the Paddler God box:
Facing Paddler Gods top - Copan Note No. 29, modified by author
Tikal Canoe with Paddlers and Corn God by Linda Schele
IMG0096 from www.famsi.org.
Glyph for Paddler Gods - by Linda Schele - IMG0016 from
www.famsi.org
Jaguar and Stingray Paddlers bottom right Copan Note No. 29,
modified by author
Photos for Five-Flower Places by Justin Kerr
193
Chapter 2 : Ruler A and Ruler B of Piedras Negras Yaxchilan Lintels 49 and 37

Yax L49 by Ian Graham in Corpus of Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions,
Volume 3, Part 2.
Yax L37 by Ian Graham in Corpus of Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions,
Volume 3, Part 2.
Chapter 3 : Turtle Tooth and His Overload PNG Panel 2 and the Alvaro
Obregon Box
Panel 2 section by David Stuart
Alvaro Obregon Box upper and middle drawings by Peter Mathews,
lower portion by Marc Zender.
Stela 9 from Piedras Negras by John Montgomery
Chapter 4 : Ruler C The Major Events of his Reign PNG Panel 12

Panel 12 by John Montgomery
Captives of Panel 12 box:
EG for Lakamtun by John Montgomery
Section on Yax: Grube & Martin
EGs for Santa Elena:
#1 Arqueologa Vol XI, issue 61, pp. 44, Illustration Digital Races
#2 Martin & Grube, p.19
#3 Houston, Stephen and David Stuart, TheyAccomplished the Matter
Betwixt Them: Rediscovered Stucco Fragments from Palenque, Mexicon,
November 2008.
Photo of PNG Panel 12 by David Stuart from internet blog:
http://decipherment.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/the-captives-on-piedrasnegras-panel-12
Chapter 5 : The Accession of Ruler 1 Piedras Negras Stela 25

Stela 25 by Barbara Page
194
Stela 25 (glyphs only) by Peter Mathews

Detail of Stela 25 by Stefanie Teufel.
Five and Fifteen Tun glyph tables by Eric Thompson
Chapter 6 : Ruler 1: War and Ritual PNG Panel 4 (I1-P3)

Panel 4 by John Montgomery
Stela 10 by John Montgomery
Drawing of censing glyph by David Stuart in The Fire Enters His House.
Chapter 7 : Ruler 2 - Boy King Piedras Negras Stela 33

Drawing of Stela 33 from Stefanie Teufel
Chapter 8 : Ruler 2 An Ancient Ritual Piedras Negras Panel 2

Panel 2 drawings by David Stuart
Glyphs of 13.00.00.00.00 by Schele (from www.famsi.org)
Chapter 9 : A Tribute to Ruler 2 Piedras Negras Stela 36

Chapter 10 : The Conquests of Ruler 2 Piedras Negras Panel 15

Panel 15 drawing by Stephen Houston, from Land of the Turtle Lords
from www.famsi.org.
Panel 15 photo by Mark Philbrick, BYU Magazine, Winter 2003.
Chapter 11 : Lady Katun, Queen of Piedras Negras Piedras Negras Stela 1

Stela 1 front and sides by John Montgomery from www.famsi.org
195
Chapter 12 A Royal Maya Family Piedras Negras Stela 3

Stela 3 front and sides by John Montgomery (from www.famsi.org)
Chapter 13 : The Mask of the Puma Jadeite Mask Found at Chichn Itz
Photos and drawings by Tatiana Proskouriakoff
Chapter 14 : A Royal Family History Piedras Negras Stela 8

Drawings of Stela 3 by David Stuart and Ian Graham in Corpus of Maya
Hieroglyphic Inscriptions Vol. 9 Part 1
Relationship Glyphs (box) by Harri Kettunen in Introduction to Maya
Hieroglyphs
Chapter 15 : For the Good of the State Shell Plaques from PNG Burial 5
Photo from University of Pennslyvania Museum of Archaeology and
Anthropology
Drawing of shells by David Stuart in The Inscriptions on Four Shell
Plaques from Piedras Negras, Guatemala from www.mesoweb.com
Chapter 16 : Tomb of the Matriarch PNG Stela 40

Chapter 17 : The Life of Ruler 4 - PNG Altar 2 Supports

Altar 2 supports by John Montgomery
HA and KAB glyphs by Montgomery
Chapter 18 : Palace Life PNG Panel 3

Photo by Justin Kerr
Drawings of Panel 3 by Alexander Safronav
196
Chapter 19: Royal Artists PNG Stela 14

Drawing by John Montgomery
Drawing by Stefanie Teufel
Chapter 20: An Unfortunate End La Pasadita Lintel 1

Lintel 1 drawing by J. Klausmeyer after I. Graham
Lintel 1 photo by Grube and Guida, 2006
Chapter 21: Ruler 6 PNG Stela 23

Drawing of stela 23 from Stefanie Teufel
Wall panel drawing by John Montgomery
Chapter 22: A Masterpiece of Maya Art Piedras Negas Throne 1

Throne 1 photo by Justin Kerr
Drawings of glyphs from Stefanie Teufel
Photos of Altars from the Corpus of Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions
Archive
Chapter 23: A Period Ending for Ruler 7 PNG Stela 15

Drawings of stela and details of glyphs from Stefanie Teufel
Chapter 24: The Pomona Wars PNG Stela 12

Drawings of stela and details of glyphs from Stefanie Teufel
Chapter 25: The End of the Line Yaxchilan Lintel 10

Drawing of Lintel 10 by Ian Graham from the Corpus of Maya Hieroglyphic
Inscriptions, Volume 3, Part 1
197
Drawing of Stela 11 by Linda Schele
Appendix 1: General References and Study Guides:

Drawing by Tatiana Proskouriakoff (negative image)
198

Pitts Piedras Negras History

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A Brief History of Piedras Negras

As Told by the Ancient Maya

Night in Piedras Negras 1300 years ago

A Brief History of Piedras Negras

This book is dedicated to John F. Harris.

Please send corrections, comments, and suggestions to the author at

A Brief History of Piedras Negras

1. MYTHICAL KINGS AND THE MAYA STORY OF CREATION

2. RULER A AND RULER B OF PIEDRAS NEGRAS

3. TURTLE TOOTH AND HIS OVERLORD

4. RULER C THE MAJOR EVENTS OF HIS REIGN

5. THE ACCESSION OF RULER 1

6. RULER 1 WAR and RITUAL

7. RULER 2 BOY KING

8. RULER 2 AN ANCIENT RITUAL

129. A TRIBUTE TO RULER 2

10. THE CONQUESTS OF RULER 2

11. LADY KATUN - QUEEN OF PIEDRAS NEGRAS

12. A ROYAL MAYA FAMILY

13. THE MASK OF THE PUMA

14. A ROYAL FAMILY HISTORY

15. FOR THE GOOD OF THE STATE

16. TOMB OF THE MATRIARCH

17. THE LIFE OF RULER 4

18. PALACE LIFE

19. ROYAL ARTISTS

20. AN UNFORTUNATE END

22. A MASTERPIECE OF MAYA ART

23. A PERIOD ENDING FOR RULER 7

24. THE POMONA WARS

25. THE END OF THE LINE

Sculpted Stone from Piedras Negras

THE HISTORY OF PIEDRAS NEGRAS

Athletes from Piedras Negras

Formal Analysis of Maya Glyphs

Consider this common glyph block:

The three steps are:

He bound the stone.

Connecting European and Maya Dates

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

Stela 5 from Piedras Negras

According to Maya traditions, time moves in great cycles of 13 baktuns, or

Analysis of the Text

k'uhul yokib ajaw

(the Paddler Gods)

Its count (is)

The Paddler Gods

The glyph for the Paddler Gods

The Jaguar Paddler and Stingray Paddler

General Commentary: This text demonstrates a common discourse pattern

Ancient Maya Month Names

Other References to Five Flower Places

B1-A2: Five-Flower Mountain

B1: Five-Flower Mountain

B3: Five-Flower Place

B2: Five-Flower Place

God D Court Vessel:

C1: Five-Flower Place

Then, on Yaxchilan Lintel 37 another Piedras Negras ruler is mentioned. This

Yaxchilan Lintel 37 (detail)