Dos Pilas

Dos Pilas

The Maya culture flourished in the Classic Period. This time period, ranging form AD 250-900 is considered to be the height in Maya development. The Maya region is located in Mesoamerica, which today encompasses the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, parts of Mexico, western Honduras and Guatemala. In the central area of Guatemala, what is now known as the Peten region, a limestone plateau covered with grass and lush rainforests (Lee); The Maya culture expanded mainly along the Usumacinta and Pasion rivers, which are two rivers apart of a river system network. This network of rivers played an important role as a trade route between the highland and lowland for the Maya, transporting important and precious goods, such as obsidian, jade, sea shells, pyrite (for mirrors), cacao and quetzal feathers. Along one of these rivers, the Pasion River, many Maya cities and outposts were established. These cites include Ceibal, YaxhÐ"ÐŽ, Tamarindito, Aguateca, Cancuen, El Peru, and, more importantly, Dos Pilas (Guatemalan Maya Archaeology). In this paper I will discuss history of Dos Pilas and its postion in Maya politics and its rulership.

Dos Pilas was established by the ruler of Tikal, in 645 AD, as a military outpost along midsection of the Pasion River, to allow Tikal to control the trade route system. Through war, Dos Pilas obtained about 1,500 square miles of territory and for a short time became a powerful city. Dos Pilas reined until 761 AD, during the hundred years of its rein, Dos Pilas was ruled by four known kings: Balaj Chan K'awiil, Itzamnaaj K'awiil, "Ruler 3" and K'awiil Chan K'inich. (The Magnificent Maya; 105, Carpenter, 2002). Much of the information found on the ruling dynasties, come from Stairway Glyphs recently found at Dos Pilas.

As previously stated, Dos Pilas was founded in 645 AD and reined until 761 AD. It was built as military outpost along the Pasion River, and ruled by the brother, Balaj Cahn K'awiil, of Tikal's ruler, Nuun u Jol Chaahk. At the time his ascension, K'awiil was only four years old. Dos Pilas in return adopted Tikal's emblem glyph, showing the relationship between the two cities. Balaj Chan K'awiil was born October 15, 625 AD. According to the glyphs Balaj Chan K'awiil was married to the princess of Itzan, named Ix Itzan Ajaw , indicating a marriage alliance between the northwest and Dos Pilas. Together they had a daughter, Wak Chan Ajaw, who restored the dynasty to Naranjo after it was over run, and a son Itzamnaaj K'awiil, who became the second king of Dos Pilas. There is a reference to a man named Itzamnaaj B'ahlam who parents are said to be "Lady of Itzan and Balaj Chan K'awiil," although there is not much more. Some hypothesize that it could be another name for Itzamnaaj K'awiil or that B'ahlam died at a young age before he was able to take the throne, allowing his younger brother to become king (Fahsen). Balaj Chan K'awiil lived until his early 60's and died sometime aroundÐ'....

Dos Pilas was previously thought to be a powerful state, but evidence, from the Hieroglyphic staircase, shows it was more of a pond between the two large rival states of Tikal and Calakmul. In 658 AD, when the king was in his early twenty's, Calakmul attacked and defeated Dos Pilas, that the brothers were at war. The glyphs say that Balaj Chan K'awiil, fled to the near by city of Aguateca, and then retook his throne as a Ð''puppet king" for the ruler of Calakmul. The Stairway glyphs tell us that the two brothers where at peace for many years, and it wasn't until Calakmul attack that brothers waged war, ten year war to be exact. Eventually the persistent war ended, with Dos Pilas as victor. Dos Pilas then took the royals of Tikal and sacarifced them. It is described that Balaj Chan K'awiil, along with the Calakmul Lord, performed a victory dance around the 13 skulls of Tikal elite. This is indicated on a glyph in the west section of the staircase, which is deciphered as saying "Blood flowed and skulls of the 13 peoples of the Tikal place were piled up." (Carpenter, 2002, Wilford, 2002). The finding of the glyphs allows insight to 60 years of Maya history.

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