Read The Visionary Mayan Queen: Yohl Ik'Nal of Palenque for Free Online
Authors: Leonide Martin
brow to crown. He offered the K'awiil scepter into her right hand, and placed the K'in Ahau shield on her left arm. Although both were heavy, she bore them without apparent effort.
The K'awiil scepter was made of carved obsidian as long as her forearm, portraying the Triad Deity Unen K'awiil who was patron god of the ruling lineage. A smoking knife protruded from a mirror on his forehead, and one leg became a serpent that represented his uay (animal spirit). K'awiil was the serpent-footed lightning god, who connected the sky and earth, gods and humans, and whose vision was infinite. He gave power to the K'uhul Ahau – Holy Lord, the god-ruler, for visioning and communicating with deities.
The K'in Ahau shield featured the face of the sun god with square eyes and swirling pupils, long nose and a forehead mirror, placed on a four-petaled flower that was the sun glyph. Maya rulers were the embodiment of Father Sun, K'in Ahau-Sun Lord, for they maintained proper relations with solar forces and sunlight.
The Holy B’aakal Lord was the only person who normally could touch these accoutrements of office. It was a high honor for Yohl Ik'nal to carry them, and she trembled inside. It was not fear, but the magnitude of what she was about to do. Next she would walk the entire periphery of the plaza, carrying the K'awiil scepter and K'in Ahau shield, displaying these powerful symbols of rulership to the people of B’aakal. It would mark her forever as someone apart, different, not simply noble but of the sacred lineage descended from the gods. Through her body and blood, future rulers might be born. It signified her role as priestess and visionary, as holder of the memories. The people would respect her at a distance, elders would consult with her, and nobles would come to her for spiritual guidance and dream interpretations. Her future was being set, and it would not be ordinary.
She had passed over a threshold. The ritual had indeed transformed her and she felt the difference. Strength and confidence soared through her, evaporating fears and doubts. She turned slowly, feeling jolts of lightning coursing up her arms from the symbols of rulership. Her body felt ablaze with power. Catching her father’s eyes, she rejoiced in his obvious joy.
“This is your gift.” Her eyes held his like an embrace. “I have done this for you.”
The drums took up a brisk tempo, joined by lilting flutes and accented by mournful wails of long wooden horns. Yohl Ik'nal lifted her head high, making feathers of her headdress sway and bobble, and descended the platform stairs to the plaza floor. Her parents and the High Priest and Priestess followed. Eyes straight ahead, she walked the plaza at the crowd's edge, holding the symbols so they were clearly visible.
From the nobles’ platform, two different pairs of eyes watched her closely with new feelings—one with admiration and the other with jealousy. Both were young men, not much older, and both were distant relatives. The eyes of Hun Pakal observed her as if he had never noticed her before, which in fact he hardly had. Busy with the physical training of young men involving mock combat, races, ball games, hunting and contests of strength, his path seldom crossed that of the palace women. He did know who she was and might even have exchanged a few words at social gatherings. But she certainly had not made much of an impression. Today all that changed. He was struck, taken by her graceful movements, strong presence, and radiant beauty. Why had he never noticed this before? Her irresistible mix of strength and gentleness captivated him.
The other young man’s response was completely opposite. The eyes of Ek Chuuah narrowed as he observed the high ritual, a ritual he coveted for himself. His family also claimed sacred bloodlines, but not pure enough to give him rights as a lineage holder. From early childhood, however, he had yearned for power and position. He observed the Holy B’aakal Lord with
The K'awiil scepter was made of carved obsidian as long as her forearm, portraying the Triad Deity Unen K'awiil who was patron god of the ruling lineage. A smoking knife protruded from a mirror on his forehead, and one leg became a serpent that represented his uay (animal spirit). K'awiil was the serpent-footed lightning god, who connected the sky and earth, gods and humans, and whose vision was infinite. He gave power to the K'uhul Ahau – Holy Lord, the god-ruler, for visioning and communicating with deities.
The K'in Ahau shield featured the face of the sun god with square eyes and swirling pupils, long nose and a forehead mirror, placed on a four-petaled flower that was the sun glyph. Maya rulers were the embodiment of Father Sun, K'in Ahau-Sun Lord, for they maintained proper relations with solar forces and sunlight.
The Holy B’aakal Lord was the only person who normally could touch these accoutrements of office. It was a high honor for Yohl Ik'nal to carry them, and she trembled inside. It was not fear, but the magnitude of what she was about to do. Next she would walk the entire periphery of the plaza, carrying the K'awiil scepter and K'in Ahau shield, displaying these powerful symbols of rulership to the people of B’aakal. It would mark her forever as someone apart, different, not simply noble but of the sacred lineage descended from the gods. Through her body and blood, future rulers might be born. It signified her role as priestess and visionary, as holder of the memories. The people would respect her at a distance, elders would consult with her, and nobles would come to her for spiritual guidance and dream interpretations. Her future was being set, and it would not be ordinary.
She had passed over a threshold. The ritual had indeed transformed her and she felt the difference. Strength and confidence soared through her, evaporating fears and doubts. She turned slowly, feeling jolts of lightning coursing up her arms from the symbols of rulership. Her body felt ablaze with power. Catching her father’s eyes, she rejoiced in his obvious joy.
“This is your gift.” Her eyes held his like an embrace. “I have done this for you.”
The drums took up a brisk tempo, joined by lilting flutes and accented by mournful wails of long wooden horns. Yohl Ik'nal lifted her head high, making feathers of her headdress sway and bobble, and descended the platform stairs to the plaza floor. Her parents and the High Priest and Priestess followed. Eyes straight ahead, she walked the plaza at the crowd's edge, holding the symbols so they were clearly visible.
From the nobles’ platform, two different pairs of eyes watched her closely with new feelings—one with admiration and the other with jealousy. Both were young men, not much older, and both were distant relatives. The eyes of Hun Pakal observed her as if he had never noticed her before, which in fact he hardly had. Busy with the physical training of young men involving mock combat, races, ball games, hunting and contests of strength, his path seldom crossed that of the palace women. He did know who she was and might even have exchanged a few words at social gatherings. But she certainly had not made much of an impression. Today all that changed. He was struck, taken by her graceful movements, strong presence, and radiant beauty. Why had he never noticed this before? Her irresistible mix of strength and gentleness captivated him.
The other young man’s response was completely opposite. The eyes of Ek Chuuah narrowed as he observed the high ritual, a ritual he coveted for himself. His family also claimed sacred bloodlines, but not pure enough to give him rights as a lineage holder. From early childhood, however, he had yearned for power and position. He observed the Holy B’aakal Lord with