This altar offers a look at the royal court of Yaxchilán, with a scene carved with five (5) characters among which the figure of King Itzamnaaj B’ahlam II (who reigned between 681 and 752) stands out, sitting on a throne carved in stone and holding a three-pointed weapon made of flint.

In front of him, a warrior wearing a jaguar skin cape presents a kneeling captive who touches his right shoulder with his left hand in a sign of submission. On each side of the scene, members of the nobility are portrayed carrying skulls on their backs and playing rattles embellished with feathers.

The inscription around the surface begins with the date 7 Muluk 17 Yaxk’in, equivalent to June 14, 764, which corresponds to the reign of Yaxuun Bahlam IV of Yaxchilán (752-768). The text dedicates the sculpture using the verb pehtaj “to become round”, a verb often carved in circular sculptures.

It also also names at least three (3) characters, including Itzamnaaj B’ahlam II, whose names and titles are written at the end of the text in the following way: ‘u-CHAN ‘AJ-NIK-ki ITZAM-B’AHLAM K’UH-[PA’]CHAN- ‘AJAW-wa b’a-ka-b’a, ‘ucha’n ‘ajnik Itzamnaaj B’ahlam K’uhul Pa’ Chan ‘Ajaw B’aahkab’ [the owner of ‘Aj Saak (?), Itzamnaaj B’ahlam, divine Lord of Yaxchilan, first of the Earth].”

Yaxchilan, located on the banks of the river Usumacinta, was known, during the Classic period, as Pa ‘Chan or ‘Split Sky.’ It was one of the kingdoms that constantly fought for political control over the región, as evidenced by interactions with adjacent kingdoms such as Dos Pilas, Piedras Negras and Bonampak, among others. Yaxchilan reached its highest splendor during the reign of Yaxuun B’ahlam IV (752-768), son of Itzamnaaj B’ahlam II.

(Text with the collaboration of the epigraphers Dr. Nikolai Grube and Lic. Camilo Luín)

Height: 28 cm
Diameter: 48 cm
Weight: 350 lb

“TREASURES OF THE MAYA SPIRIT”. LA Art & Antique Show. LA Convention Center, California (January 4–9, 2014)

“TREASURES OF LA RUTA MAYA”. Sala Quiroa, Paseo de los Museos, Hotel Casa Santo Domingo. Antigua Guatemala (August 30 – November 9, 2014)

“MAYA: RULERS OF THE RAINFOREST”
Drents Museum, Assen, Netherlands (February 28 – September 4, 2016)
Historisches Museum der Pfalz, Speyer, Germany (October 2, 2016 – April 23, 2018)
Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ), Spain (May 25, 2017 – January 7, 2018)

“MAYAS AT SANTO DOMINGO DEL CERRO”. Santo Domingo del Cerro Cultural Center, Antigua Guatemala (August 16, 2018 – April 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.

* “Luín, Camilo. August 2013. “Identifying the New Yaxchilán Panel” (PDF document)

* Grube, Nikolai and Camilo Alejandro Luín. April 2014. “A Drum Altar from the Vicinity of Yaxchilán“. MEXICON (Vol. XXXVI. Nr. 2), Journal of Mesoamerican Studies – Revista sobre Estudios Mesoamericanos. Germany. pp. 40 – 48.