Fragment of limestone panel featuring the profile portrait of Aj Sak Teles “White Basilisk” sajal of Lakanhá, son of Yo’Nal Bahlam, who reigned from approximately 743 to 776 AD. This lord was the father of Yajaw Chan Muwaan II, the commissioner of the famous mural paintings and subsequent monuments of Bonampak

The character is in left profile and has open eyes, an aquiline nose and an open mouth. He wears a feather headdress and diadem, round earflares and a necklace with spherical beads. A scroll is visible in front of his nose.

On the upper edge is a band inscribed with five glyphs related to the time that has passed since an important event.

The monumental limestone fragment can be identified as the upper left corner of a wall panel that probably originates from the archaeological site of Lacanhá and may once have formed part of the well known “Kuná-Lacanhá Panel”, or Lacanhá Panel 1. Therefore, this panel could be part of Lacanha Panel 2. As does Panel 1, Panel 2 depicts an elaborately carved portrait of Aj Sak Teles, sajal of Lacanha, the reign of whom can roughly be estimated from AD 743 until ca. AD 776 (when his son acceded to the throne of Bonampak).

Assuming that it was carved by either the very same artist or in the process of the dedication of one and the same sculptural program or building dedication, this fragment probably also dates to this short period of time, close to the dedication of Panel 1 around AD 746.

(Krempel, Guido; Sebastian Matteo and Erik Boot, 2014)

Height: 67 cm;
Width: 72.5 cm
Thickness: 12 cm

This monumental limestone fragment can be identified as the upper-left corner of a wall panel that likely originated at the archaeological site of Lacanhá. It may have once formed part of the well-known “Kuná-Lacanhá Panel”—or Lacanhá Panel 1—suggesting that this piece could be designated as Lacanhá Panel 2. Like Panel 1, Panel 2 depicts an elaborately carved portrait of Aj Sak Teles, the sajal of Lacanhá, whose reign can be estimated to span roughly from AD 743 to ca. AD 776 (when his son ascended the throne of Bonampak).

(Krempel, Guido; Sebastian Matteo and Erik Boot, 2014)

“MAYA: RULERS OF THE RAINFOREST”
Drents Museum, Assen, Holanda (28 febrero- 4 septiembre, 2016)
Historisches Museum der Pfalz, Speyer, Alemania (2 octubre, 2016- abril 23, 2018)
Museo Arqueológico de Alicante, MARQ, España (25 mayo 2017-7 enero 2018)

“MAYAS EN SANTO DOMINGO DEL CERRO”. Centro Cultural Santo Domingo del Cerro, Antigua Guatemala (agosto 16, 2018- abril 20, 2019)

“MAYA: THE GREAT JAGUAR RISES” (1st. Tour) Canada and United States (mayo 15, 2019- octubre 20, 2021)

“MAYA: THE GREAT JAGUAR RISES” (2nd. Tour) Kansas City Union Station (agosto 2022- marzo, 2023) y California Science Center (abril-septiembre, 2023)

“MASTERWORKS BY THE PRE-COLUMBIAN ARTIST.” La Ruta Maya Foundation, Guatemala City (November 6, 2024 to May 31st, 2025)

On display in La Ruta Maya Foundation’s permanent gallery starting in June 2025.

* Krempel, Guido; Sebastián Matteo and Erick Boot, February 2014. “An Unpublished Panel Fragment in the Collection of Fundación La Ruta Maya, Guatemala City“. MEXICON XXXVI(1): 2-6. Verlag Anton Saurwein, Munich.