At a Glance
- Reign
- AD 681–742, 61 years.
- Wives
- Lady Kʼabʼal Xook and Lady Sak Bʼiyaan — shown letting blood on Lintels 24–25.
- Wars
- Captured kings of Lacanha, Hix Witz, Piedras Negras nobles.
- Buildings
- Temples 23, 33, 44 — the lintel temples over the Usumacinta.
I. Overview
Shield Jaguar seized Yaxchilánʼs throne after an interregnum and held it 61 years. His sculptors carved his queens drawing blood — rope through tongue, thorns through lips — to conjure gods before battle. Lintel 26 shows his wife presenting him a jaguar helmet; Lintel 25 shows her pulling a thorned rope through her tongue while a two-headed serpent rears (WHE, Yaxchilan).
II. Timeline
The Long Reign
Took power 681 aged ~30s, allied to Piedras Negras by marriage, warred up and down the Usumacinta. Captured Aj Nik of Lacanha, kings of Hix Witz and Motul. Died 742 aged 90+; 10-year interregnum followed before son Bird Jaguar took throne.
Lintels of Blood
Temple 23ʼs three lintels show Lady Xookʼs three bloodlettings and Shield Jaguar preparing for war. Finest low-relief carving in Maya art — now in the British Museum. They taught the world that Maya queens bled as bravely as kings fought.
III. Gallery
IV. Watch
V. Sources
Sources
- WHE — Yaxchilan.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Yaxchilan/ - British Museum — Yaxchilan Lintels.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection
She let her blood; the serpent rose; the king went to war.— after Lintel 25