Ancient Edzná and the Blood Queen

With its large plazas, enormous temples, well-preserved stelae, and opulent decoration, Edzná has long been recognized as one of Campeche’s most impressive archaeological sites. The story surrounding the great Maya city has usually been dominated by its later history. In the 9th century C.E., the Itzá conquered the city, making it a regional capital and second only in importance to Chichén Itzá.

Enclosed plaza featuring five-level pyramid containing dozens of chambers and cross-shaped sanctuary within its highest level.

However, recent excavations of Edzná have begun to illuminate a history that predates the arrival of the Itzá by at least a millennium.

One of the most interesting discoveries highlighted in recent years is evidence of the Queenship of Ixb’aah Pahk’, better known as the Blood Queen, who ruled Edzná during the 7th century, its most ambitious expansion era.  Epigraphic evidence suggests that one of Edzná’s famous surviving stucco masks corresponds to the Blood Queen herself.

Possible likeness of the Red Queen features her cross-eyed, a trait much desired among Mesoamerican nobles.

One of the most notable aspects of the Blood Queen is that she ruled as Kaloomtéwhich means she was a leader in her own right, not as a regent or placeholder. Though the rule of queens was by no means unheard of, it did seem to be an exception exemplified by Wac-Chanil-Ahau or Lady 6 Sky, who was the last in a dynasty of female queens in the city of El Naranjo and even brought the mighty El Caracol to its knees.

One of the other most exciting revelations unearthed during the most recent round of research at Edzná is just how much more ancient the city is. Surrounding the main plaza, archaeologists have been able to unearth constructions dating back as far back as the 4th to the 1st century B.C.E.

It is believed that monumental architecture built during this time was erected by Maya, who migrated north from Calakmul in the Petén. While some of these structures were unearthed with large layers of sediment and vegetation, others were uncovered within more recent constructions.

Structure 501. The complex shows evidence of elaborate stucco masks and motifs that reference rain and fertility deities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While reconstructing ancient architecture “from scratch” is an enormous undertaking, uncovering even more ancient structures from the remains of others is even more complicated and requires enormous planning and strategizing.

The task is even more complicated when, like in the case of Edzná’s House of the Moon, restoration work has already been done without following a proper methodology.

Extensive hieroglyphic writing appears on facades and steps of several temples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and adventure leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.  Article and photos by Carlos Rosado van der Gracht.  https://akumalnow.com/ancient-edzna-and-the-blood-queen/

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