Четыре монумента Санта-Элены из музея Баланкан в штате Табаско, Мексика

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Introduction Four large stone monuments from the Maya site of Santa Elena are displayed in the Dr. José Gómez Panaco Museum in Balancan (Tabasco, Mexico). They look like panels and their size is comparable to stelae (Fig. 1). Their exact archaeological context is unknown, although they are said to come from the ballcourt [1. P. 37]. The monuments under discussion are labeled lápidas “stone slabs” in Spanish, additionally specified as A, I, II and III in the museum register. The photos of all four monuments were published in a recent paper by Gullermo Bernal, where he uses different numbering and calls them Lápidas 1, 2, 3 and 4 [2. P. 139-145]. Lápida A is also known as Monument 1 [3. P. 37; 4. P. 575; 5. P. 25; 6. P. 249] and Stela from Santa Elena [7. P. 107], Lápida III as Panel 4 and Lápida I as just Panel [3. P. 37]. Since there is no accepted nomenclature for all four monuments, we suggest to designate them as Monument 1 for Lápida A, and Monuments 2, 3 and 4 for Lápidas I, II, III[76]. Preliminary drawings of Monuments 1, 2 and 4 were made by Nikolai Grube [3. P. 37]. For the moment the most thorough analysis of the inscription of Monument 1 was realized by Yuriy Polyukhovych in his PhD dissertation [4. P. 575]. It also included the complete drawing that shows much more details than Grube’s sketch. Later Polyukhovych and his colleague Maksym Styuflyaev prepared an extensive study of Santa Elena dynastic history that still remains unpublished [8]. In 2019, Bruce Love visited the museum and made the night photographs of the monuments with oblique light. These photographs accompanied by the drawings by Sergei Vepretskii were published online as Volume 12 of Contributions to Mesoamerican Studies [9]. During his visit to the museum in 2024 Sergei Vepretskii took his own photos to create the 3d models using the method of photogrammetry. The new documentation revealed important and previously unrecognized details that we would like to discuss in this paper. Description The panels represent the lower parts of once larger monuments that were of rectangular shape and carved on one side. Monument 1 is 1.83 m in height and 1.96 m in width, Monument 2 is 1.80 m in height and 1.57 m in width, Monument 3 is 1.60 m in height and 1.04 m in width and Monument 4 is 1.05 m in height and 1.32 m in width. The texts are arranged in two double columns with Long Count glyphs written in larger blocks. Only the final blocks have survived from the Long Count, which makes it possible to calculate how many lines of the inscription have been lost. With the Initial Series Introductory Glyph (ISIG) the original inscription could have contained 14 rows of smaller hieroglyphic blocks. In this case the original size of each monument could have been about 4 m in height and 2 m in width (Fig. 2). Figure 2. Possible reconstruction of the original shape of Santa Elena monuments Source: Drawings by S.V. Vepretskii. Monuments 2 and 4 could be considered as palimpsests since they were both recarved and contain the remains of the earlier inscriptions. Four eroded blocks that have formed part of the older text are visible under the lower row of Monument 2 (see Fig. 1b). The erosion on Monument 4 shows vertical and horizontal lines that could be the marking lines between the earlier hieroglyphic blocks (Fig. 3). This gives a reason to suggest that all four monuments were recarved in antiquity, but in the case of Monument 1 and 3 the remains of the older inscriptions did not preserve. Figure 3. The remains of the earlier inscription on Monument 4 Source: Photograph by Bruce Love, drawings by S.V. Vepretskii. Inscriptions Each of the text started with a Long Count date, followed by the Tzolk’in, the 9-days series and Lunar Series. It is very unlikely that these dates could correspond to the events at the end of each text. Even if other supplementary series were present in the original inscriptions, there is still enough space for the other dates. All calculations related to these dates will be discussed in the next paragraph. Here we will focus on the epigraphic information written in columns C and D. Monument 1 has the largest number of preserved hieroglyphic blocks in the final part of the inscription. The Santa Elena emblem glyph in pC12 implies that the preceding blocks contained the name of a ruler. The first discernible block in the sequence is pC10 showing the logogram ˀAJ followed by a horizontal palm sign with uncertain element on top of it and the syllabogram ji below (Fig. 4a). Such palm frequently attested in the inscriptions and could represent K’AB, “hand”, if it stays without additional elements or be part of logograms K’AL, “to hold”[77], having a polished stone on top, and ?BEL, “to carry”, if there is a water lily[78]. Alexandre Tokovinine [personal communication, 2022] suggested to us that the syllable ji below the hand could indicate the rare expression K’AL-MAY-ji, k’al mayij, “gift- presentation?”, connected to some kind of ritual and attested in the inscriptions of Palenque (Fig. 4b, see [12. P. 41]). Together with the Sun God K’ihnich in pD10 most likely it refers to a nominal phrase ˀAj K’al Mayij K’ihnich. Figure 4. ˀAJ-K’AL?-MAY?-ji, Santa Elena Monument 1, pC10 - a; ˀu-K’AL-MAY-ji-ja, Palenque Temple XVIII jamb, B18 - b Source: Photograph by B. Love, 3d model and drawings by S.V. Vepretskii. The text continues with another nominal expression started with syllabogram nu followed by the head of a feline in pC11, and a damaged sign followed by the head of the Rain God Chaahk in pD11 (Fig. 5a). Simon Martin [13. P. 79-80] and Yuriy Polyukhovych [4. P. 128, 575] independently concluded that it was the name Nuˀn Hiix Lakam Chaahk, also attested in the inscription on House C hieroglyphic stairway from Palenque (Fig. 5b). Figure 5. The examples of the name Nuˀn Hiix Lakam Chaahk: a - nu-HIX- [LAKAM]-CHAK, Santa Elena Monument 1, pC11-pD11; b - nu-HIX-LAKAM-CHAK, House C hieroglyphic stairway from Palenque, G4-H4 Source: a -Drawing by S.V. Vepretskii; b - Drawing by Y. Polyukhovych [16]. Another person is mentioned in the last three blocks. pD13 is very eroded, only the syllable ne can be discerned in the final position of the block. pC14 contains yo-ˀOL-ma- ta that all together refers to a Palenque ruler ˀAjen Yoˀl Mat. This interpretation is supported by the Palenque emblem glyph K’UH-BAKˀAJAW, k’uhul Bakal ˀajaw, written in the final block [14. P. II-16; 15. P. 161; 7. P. 109; 4. P. 128, 575; 6. P. 249, 263; 16. P. 10]. The phrase expressing the connection between the Santa Elena and Palenque rulers is expected in pD12. The star element written above the eroded main sign (Fig. 6) has to relate to so- called “star war” glyph that according to the contexts designates military defeat (for the most recent overview see [6. P. 208-209; 17]). Syllable ya at the end of the block is used to spell the temporal deictic enclitic -iiy. Thus, we can assume that heavily damaged pC13 could have contained either ˀu- tooˀk’ pakal, “his army, forces”, or ˀu- ch’eeˀn, “his city”, if the glyph below the star represented a toponym. Due to the fact that the main sign in pD12 has a semi- cartouche typical for the KAB element in a full variant of the “star war” glyph the first interpretation seems more plausible. In any case it was ˀAjen Yoˀl Mat who suffered from this military defeat. Figure 6. The “star war” glyph on Santa Elena Monument 1, pD12 Source: Photograph by B. Love, 3d model and drawing by S.V. Vepretskii. The first preserved block on Monument 2 (pC11) could have contained a predicate that started with the syllable ˀi on the left and may have featured the syllable yi below. The first one is likely to the proclitic ˀi-, “then”, while the second one to the thematic suffix -VVy marking change-o f-state intransitive verbs [18. P. 40]. The next visible block pC12 contains number 9 or 7 followed by an animal head and the syllable wa below it. Some details are visible in pD12-pD13, but the major part is heavily eroded. The last two blocks contained a glyph sequence ya-ˀAJAW-wa TEˀ, yajawteˀ (Fig. 7a), the military title that is commonly written with the possessive ˀu-, “his, her, their” [19]. There are two contexts when yajawteˀ could be written in the final position of the title: following the so- called Katun- age, and in the rare title Chih Chaˀ yajawteˀ that appears on the House C hieroglyphic stairway from Palenque, Yaxchilan Lintel 21 (Fig. 7b, c; see [20. P. 130]) and the Tepeu 1 painted bowl from Namaan (Fig. 7d; see [21. P. 167]). Taking into account that the right part of the block pD13 resembles the elements of metate glyph CHAˀ [22] we incline to the second interpretation. Figure 7. The examples of Chih Chaˀ yajawteˀ title: a - …-CHAˀ? ya-ˀAJAW TEˀ, Santa Elena Monument 2, pD13-pD14; b - chi-CHAˀ-ya-ˀAJAW-TEˀ, House C hieroglyphic stairway from Palenque, G1-H1; c - chi-CHAˀ-ya-ˀAJAW TEˀ, Yaxchilan Lintel 21, D1; d - chi-CHAˀ ya-ˀAJAW TEˀ, Tepeu 1 painted bowl, L-N Source: a - Photograph by Bruce Love, 3d model and drawing by S.V. Vepretskii; b - Drawing by Y. Polyukhovych [16]; c, d - Drawing by S.V. Vepretskii. Monument 3 is the most damaged. The column D is completely lost. Nevertheless, some details of the other blocks are visible, although identifications are somehow uncertain. The elements in the right upper part of pC11 resemble the ja syllabogram that could indicate a verb, likely, passive form of CVC roots. The lines in the left part of pC12 part look like the logogram ˀAJ followed by a possible palm sign with the additional elements above and below it. The same set of glyphs is written in pC10 on Monument 1. The final visible details can be seen in pC14 where there is a possible emblem glyph with the main sign showing the head of some creature, probably a snake. The beginning of the final sentence of Monument 4 is lost. It was some action connected to a person whose name or title was written in pC12. The main sign shows a human head with an ear plug of a particular kind with a three- part element below and a mask encircling the mouth. It is preceded by the syllable ˀa functioning as initial phonetic complement to the following logogram that will be discussed below. In the following passage it is said that this event was sanctioned by Santa Elena ruler (ˀu- kabjiiy in pD12). His name is written in pC13-pD13 and could be read as WITZ’-K’IN-ni CHAK, Witz’ K’iin Chaahk (Fig. 8a). We have no data on this ruler from the other sources, but there is at least one more example of the same name connected to Santa Elena. On Piedras Negras Panel 12 the scene depicts three captives taken by Yokib lord Yaat Ahk ca. 514 CE. One of the captives is accompanied by the emblem glyph of Santa Elena and is called Witz’ K’iin Chaahk (Fig. 8b). This name has been erroneously read as K’iin Witzꞌ Chaahk in previous publications [23. P. 147; 24. P. 24]. Due to the fact that the sign K’IN is written on the panel in a ligature with WITZ’ the reading order was unclear. The new example from Monument 4 makes it possible to determine the correct reading sequence. The text ends with Santa Elena emblem glyph and bakab title. Figure 8. The examples of the name Witz’ K’iin Chaahk: a - Santa Elena Monument 4, pC13-pD13; b - Piedras Negras Panel 12 Source: a - Photograph by Bruce Love, 3d model and drawing by S.V. Vepretskii; b -Photograph by Atlas Epigráfico de Petén project, CEMYK, 2015, with the permission of National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology of Guatemala, drawing by S.V. Vepretskii Chronology The mention of ˀAjen Yoˀl Mat on Monument 1 allows to determine the approximate chronological context of these inscriptions. This Palenque king ruled for a short period from 605 till 612 CE and thus the event connected to him should have happened within this seven-y ear span. The installation of these monuments, in turn, should be sought in the first decades of the 7th century. The starting dates did not correspond to the period endings and could have been related to any event in the past, even very retrospective. They occupied more than a half of the original inscriptions and were arranged identically: the Long Count ended in pA11-pB12, the Tzolk’in day was written in pA13, 9-days series in pB13-pA14 and Lunar Series starting in pB14 and ending on the missing part of the monuments (Table 1). The following shows the results of our calculations of the starting dates, considering all available coefficients, and falling on the 6th - early 7th century. Table 1 The written coefficients of the first dates Mon. Long Count Tzolk’in 9-days Series Lunar Series 1 ?.?.?.8.10 ? [G8] 20 huliiy 2 ?.?.?.?.10 8 Ok G1 23 huliiy 3 ?.?.?.15.2 3 Ik’ G5 5 huliiy 4 ?.?.?.?.5 6 Chikchan G8 5 huliiy Source: Compiled by S.V. Vepretskii. The 9-days series helps to identify the possible month coefficients in the Long Counts, where they were not preserved. Two final coefficients of the Long Count and the Tzolk’in number will lead to the set of possible dates for each monument except Monument 1, where the Tzolk’in is eroded. The starting block of the Lunar Series shows how many days have passed since the beginning of the lunar month. Using the algorithm of calculating of the real position of the moon in the sky for each day [25. P. 337-345] it is possible to compare the result with the written data. Considering that the majority of lunar dates in Maya inscriptions coincide with the real position of the moon with a possible deviation of 1-3 days [Ian Naumenko, personal communication 2022] it is possible to reduce the number of the dates in the set. The coefficient of 10 days in the Long Count and G1 on the Monument 2 indicate two possible options for the month number - 0 or 9. The Tzolk’in day 8 Ok along with the known Long Count coefficients leads to the set of 20 possible dates on the chosen interval. The written number of the moon days 23 coincides with 5 dates in the set within the expected error from 1 to 3 days (Table 2). The date on Monument 3 contains 15 months and 2 days in the Long Count, the Tzolk’in day 3 Ik’ and 5 days from the beginning of the lunar month. It leads to a set of 11 dates, three of which coincide with the written data of the moon (Table 3). 10 days of the Long Count on Monument 4 and G8 of the 9-days series could correspond either to 6 or to 15 months. The Tzolk’in day is 6 Chikchan and the written moon day number is 5. It gives the set of 21 possible dates on the chosen period and five of them match with the moon data (Table 4). The calculation of the starting date on Monument 2. Coincidences with the Lunar Series are highlighted in bold Table 2 Long Count Calendar Round Gregorian Real moon 9.3.7.9.10 8 Ok 8 Sek 03.07.502 10 9.3.14.0.10 8 Ok 18 Kej 28.11.508 17.4 9.4.0.9.10 8 Ok 3 Wo 26.04.515 24.5 9.4.7.0.10 8 Ok 13 Ch’en 21.09.521 2.5 9.4.13.9.10. 8 Ok 3 K’ayab 17.02.528 9.6 9.5.6.9.10 8 Ok 18 Mak 10.12.540 24 9.5.13.0.10 8 Ok 3 Sip 08.05.547 1.2 9.5.19.9.10 8 Ok 13 Yax 03.10.553 8.3 9.6.6.0.10 8 Ok 3 Kumk’u 29.02.560 14.9 9.6.12.9.10 8 Ok 8 Yaxk’in 27.07.566 21.9 9.6.19.0.10 8 Ok 18 K’ank’in 22.12.572 28.9 9.7.5.9.10 8 Ok 3 Sotz’ 20.05.579 6.2 9.7.12.0.10 8 Ok 13 Sak 15.10.585 13.8 9.7.18.9.10 8 Ok 3 Wayeb 12.03.592 20.6 9.8.5.0.10 8 Ok 8 Mol 08.08.598 28.2 9.8.11.9.10 8 Ok 18 Muwan 04.01.605 5.9 9.8.18.0.10 8 Ok 3 Sek 02.06.611 13 9.9.4.9.10 8 Ok 13 Kej 28.10.617 20.6 9.9.11.0.10 8 Ok 18 Pop 25.03.624 27.1 9.9.17.9.10 8 Ok 13 Ch’en 21.08.630 5.1 Source: Compiled by S.V. Vepretskii. The calcul Coincidences ation of the starting date on Monument 3. with the Lunar Series are highlighted in bold Table 3 Long Count Calendar Round Gregorian Real moon 9.3.7.15.2 3 Ik’ 0 Sak 23.10.502 4 9.4.0.15.2 3 Ik’ 15 Yaxk’in 16.08.515 18.4 9.4.13.15.2 3 Ik’ 10 Sotz’ 08.06.528 3.3 9.5.6.15.2 3 Ik’ 5 Pop 01.04.541 17.6 9.5.19.15.2 3 Ik’ 5 Pax 23.01.554 2.3 9.6.12.15.2 3 Ik’ 0 Mak 16.11.566 16.2 9.7.5.15.2 3 Ik’ 15 Ch’en 09.09.579 0.5 9.7.18.15.2 3 Ik’ 10 Xul 02.07.592 14.6 9.8.11.15.2 3 Ik’ 5 Sip 26.04.605 29 9.9.4.15.2 3 Ik’ 5 Kumk’u 17.02.618 14 9.9.17.15.2 3 Ik’ 0 Muwan 11.12.630 28.3 Source: Compiled by S.V. Vepretskii. The calculation of the starting date on Monument 4. Coincidences with the Lunar Series are highlighted in bold Table 4 Long Count Calendar Round Gregorian Real moon 9.3.7.15.15 6 Chikchan 3 Sak 26.10.502 18 9.3.14.6.5 6 Chikchan 13 Kumk’u 23.03.509 13.8 9.4.0.15.5 6 Chikchan 18 Yaxk’in 19.08.515 21.1 9.4.7.6.5 6 Chikchan 8 Muwan 14.01.522 28.3 9.4.13.15.5 6 Chikchan 13 Sotz’ 11.06.528 6 9.5.0.6.5 6 Chikchan 3 Kej 07.11.534 13.5 9.5.6.15.5 6 Chikchan 8 Pop 04.04.541 20.5 9.5.13.6.5 6 Chikchan 18 Mol 31.08.547 27.9 9.5.19.15.5 6 Chikchan 8 Pax 26.01.554 5.5 9.6.6.6.5 6 Chikchan 13 Sek 23.06.560 12.3 9.6.12.15.5 6 Chikchan 3 Mak 19.11.566 19.6 9.6.19.6.5 6 Chikchan 8 Wo 16.04.573 25.8 9.7.5.15.5 6 Chikchan 18 Ch’en 12.09.579 3.7 9.7.12.6.5 6 Chikchan 8 K’ayab 07.02.586 10.1 9.7.18.15.5 6 Chikchan 13 Xul 05.07.592 17.5 9.8.5.6.5 6 Chikchan 3 K’ank’in 01.12.598 24.6 9.8.11.15.5 6 Chikchan 8 Sip 29.04.605 2.1 9.8.18.6.5 6 Chikchan 18 Yax 25.09.611 9.8 9.9.4.15.5 6 Chikchan 8 Kumk’u 20.02.618 16.7 9.9.11.6.5 6 Chikchan 13 Yaxk’in 18.07.624 24.3 9.9.17.15.5 6 Chikchan 3 Muwan 14.12.630 1.9 Source: Compiled by S.V. Vepretskii. The eroded Tzolk’in day on Monument 1 does not allow to use the same system of calculation, because it will lead to more than a hundred possible variations. Given the mention of ˀAjen Yoˀl Mat, the starting date is not expected to be later than 612. To reduce the set, we will consider the variants from 9.8.0.0.0. to 9.8.19.4.6 (death of ˀAjen Yoˀl Mat). The Long Count contains 8 months and 10 days, while the moon days coefficient is 20. There are 19 possible dates on the chosen time span and 4 of them correlate with the written moon data (Table 5). However, in this case one cannot be sure that the original date could not be earlier. Table 5 The calculation of the starting date on Monument 1. Coincidences with the Lunar Series are highlighted in bold Long Count Calendar Round Gregorian Real moon 9.8.0.8.10 6 Ok 13 K’ayab 10.02.594 12 9.8.1.8.10 2 Ok 8 K’ayab 05.02.595 18.1 9.8.2.8.10 11 Ok 3 K’ayab 31.01.596 23.8 9.8.3.8.10 7 Ok 18 Pax 25.01.597 29.5 9.8.4.8.10 3 Ok 13 Pax 20.01.598 5.9 9.8.5.8.10 12 Ok 8 Pax 15.01.599 11.4 9.8.6.8.10 8 Ok 3 Pax 10.01.600 16.9 9.8.7.8.10 4 Ok 18 Muwan 05.01.601 22.4 9.8.8.8.10 13 Ok 13 Muwan 31.12.601 27.9 9.8.9.8.10 9 Ok 8 Muwan 26.12.602 3.7 9.8.10.8.10 5 Ok 3 Muwan 21.12.603 9.2 9.8.11.8.10 1 Ok 18 K’ank’in 15.12.604 14.9 9.8.12.8.10 10 Ok 13 K’ank’in 10.12.605 20.3 9.8.13.8.10 6 Ok 8 K’ank’in 05.12.606 26 9.8.14.8.10 2 Ok 3 K’ank’in 30.11.607 2.5 9.8.15.8.10 11 Ok 18 Mak 24.11.608 8.1 9.8.16.8.10 7 Ok 13 Mak 19.11.609 14 9.8.17.8.10 3 Ok 8 Mak 14.11.610 20 9.8.18.8.10 12 Ok 3 Mak 09.11.611 25.6 Source: Compiled by S.V. Vepretskii. Problematic sign on Monument 4 The logogram of a human head with an ear plug of three- part element below written on Monument 4 (Fig. 9a) should be discussed separately. The same sign is attested on the Puerto Barrios Altar and on the hieroglyphic stairway from El Resbalon. On the altar this sign forms part of the personal name and is written with the additional headband that likely represents another glyph [26. P. 144]. The full name also contains the logogram K’AK’ and the syllabogram la below the human head (Fig. 9b) that could be both the final complement for the logogram under discussion and the -Vl suffix deriving adjectives from nouns. In the second case it likely relates to the word k’ahk’. In El Resbalon the sign is preceded by SAK logogram [27], but the context is unclear (Fig. 9c). Figure 9. The examples of the “mask-head” sign with a particular earring: a - ˀa-X, Santa Elena Monument 4, pC12; b - K’AK’-X+?-la, Puerto Barrios Altar, G4; c - SAK-X, El Resbalon Hieroglyphic Stairway 3, CX9 Source: a - Photograph by B. Love, 3d model and drawing by S.V. Vepretskii; b, c - Drawing by S.V. Vepretskii. There are two similar signs that can be compared with this logogram. The first shows the head with the mask and the same ear plug, but contains the additional knot element below the chin of the head. It is attested in five nominal phrases. Tonina Monument 160 mentions the death of Kanuˀl ruler in 505 CE [28. P. 96]. His name consisted of two blocks, the first of which was damaged, and the second contained the sign under discussion (Fig. 10a). The Early Classic plate from Naranjo preserved in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (K5458) mentions the mother of Naranjo ruler K’ihnich Tajal Chaahk [29. P. 160]. Her name started with ˀIX logogram and was followed by the same head glyph and XAK? logogram[79] (Fig. 10b). The same sign closes the nominal phrase of a local ruler on Mural 7 from La Sufricaya [30. P. 246] and Güija Lake plaque [31. Fig. 4]. Only the ear elements are visible in the main inscription on the plaque (Fig. 10c), however the full variant with the mask and the knot appears in the headdress of the figure depicted on the other side (Fig. 10d). The final example attested so far comes from serpentine plaque from Ethnological Museum of Berlin (Fig. 10e, see [32. Fig. 96f]). Here it is written after SIJ-ja and also has to refer to a personal name. The ear plug looks unusual in this example, although the inner lines follow the same pattern as in the other cases. The second sign similar to what we see on Monument 4 represents the head with the same mask, but without the knot or the ear plug and is attested in different contexts on two ceramic pots and the shell from private collection. It closes a sequence of titles enjoyed be Ahal Chan K’ihnich and is preceded by number 31 on the vase K1837 (Fig. 11a). Estrada-B elli and Tokovinine [33. P. 14] associated this vessel with Chochkitam and proposed that this glyph must be the proper royal title of local rulers. The same sign contains the ˀa initial complement and is followed by li- bi on K8088[80] (Fig. 11b). It also forms part of a personal name KAL-lo- ma CHAN-X, kaloˀm chaaˀn X, in the inscription on the Early Classic conch shell trumpet from the private collection [35. P. 391-392]. This example also features zigzag parallel lines in the head (Fig. 11c). Figure 10. The examples of the “mask-head” sign with the ear plug and the knot below the chin: a - …-SAK?-X, Tonina Monument 160, C29-C30; b - ˀIX-X-XAK?, the Early Classic Naranjo plate, K5458, M-O; c - Güija Lake plaque, B3.; d - Güija Lake plaque, the glyph in the headdress; e - SIJ-ja-X, Serpentine plaque from Etnologisches Museum Berlin Source: Photograph and drawings by S.V. Vepretskii. Figure 11. The examples of the “mask-head” sign: a - 20-11 X, unprovenanced vessel, K1837, M-N; b - ˀa-X li-bi, unprovenanced vessel, 8088, K-L; c - KAL-lo-ma CHAN-X, Early Classic conch shell trumpet from the private collection, A4-A5 Source: Photograph and drawings by S.V. Vepretskii. We assume that the examples discussed above represent different variants of the same logogram that could have started with ˀa. The exact reading value and the corresponding lexical meaning are unknown, but according to its clause-fi nal position on Monument 4 it likely represents a title. Discussion The information described above allows to determine general contexts of the four texts. Nuˀn Hiix Lakam Chaahk mentioned on Monument 1 has to be the same person connected to the attack against Palenque in 599 CE [15. P. 159-160; 4. P. 128; 16. P. 10]. This assault was sanctioned by Sky Witness, the lord of Kanuˀl[81], and is described on Palenque House C hieroglyphic stairway as ch’a[h]k[aj] Lakam Haˀ, “Lakam Haˀ was destroyed”. It is unclear which role the Santa Elena ruler played in this event, his name follows the sign sequence ˀi-PAS-ja ˀu-?-ˀAN, ˀi- pahsaj ˀu-? ˀaˀn, “his … image was uncovered”. In this action he was accompanied (y-ˀitaaj) by ˀItzam Kokaaj Bahlam from Yaxchilan. The exact meaning of this phrase is unclear (for the possible interpretation see [16. P. 10-11]), however, it is assumed that both rulers took part in this military campaign as allies of Kanuˀl [6. P. 265; 16. P. 10]. It should be also noted that in the inscription on Palenque stairway Sky Witness bares the title Chih Chaˀ yajawteˀ. The same title we can see on Santa Elena Monument 2 that may indicate that this text also mentions him. Some lines in pD12 resemble the shape of the nominal glyph of Sky Witness, however the poor preservation makes it difficult to be certain. It was previously proposed that sometime after this attack Santa Elena has fallen under the influence of Palenque. This was based on a different interpretation of Santa Elena Monument 1. The action connected to Nuˀn Hiix Lakam Chaahk was perceived as his possible accession under the auspices of ˀAjen Yoˀl Mat [14. P. II-16; 15. P. 161; 7. P. 109; 4. P. 128, 575; 6. P. 249, 263; 16. P. 10]. Now it became clear that the confrontation continued. The mentions of two participants in the aggression of 599 CE suggests that these Santa Elena monuments could be devoted to this particular military campaign against Palenque. We do not know when it started, but it could have been terminated in 611 CE, when Palenque was attacked by Scroll Serpent. In this case the event sanctioned by Witz’ K’iin Chaahk on Monument 4 could also have had a martial connotation connected to the same campaign. This ruler can be considered as either the predecessor or the successor of Nuˀn Hiix Lakam Chaahk in Santa Elena dynasty, however there is still a chance that he was just a representative of the royal family. Importantly, the k’uhul epithet is absent in the emblem glyph of Santa Elena, so we cannot be sure that the person who bore it was a representative of the ruling dynasty. Conclusion Redocumentation of Santa Elena hieroglyphic inscriptions from Balancan museum provides important new data on the dynastic history of this middle-r ange Maya polity of the Western region in the Middle Classic (ca. 600-650 CE). This period is generally badly known because of the scarcity of the inscriptions at Piedras Negras, Palenque and Yaxchilan and other important regional centers. The inscription on Monument 1 with the reference to the “star war” probably is the most important of all four sculptures. It demonstrates that contrary to the traditional view there was no alliance between Palenque and Santa Elena during the reign of Ajen Yoˀl Mat between 605 and 611 CE. Quite the reverse, both polities continued to be in conflict since 599 CE, and again the luck was on Santa Elena’s side. Although it is not specifically attested who was the main actor of the defeat of Palenque, we suggest that it was backed by Kanuˀl power. Given the uncertainty with the date, we cannot even exclude that it is the same 611 CE war event recorded in the text of the Temple of Inscriptions at Palenque when Lakamha was destroyed by Scroll Serpent. Good relations between Santa Elena and Kanuˀl are also confirmed by the possible mention of ‘Maguey Metate’ placename on the Monument 2. The same title appears on Palenque House C hieroglyphic stairway associated with Kanuˀl person in 599 CE, quite close to the date of Santa Elena monuments under discussion. Santa Elena dynasty is one of the less known Maya royal houses of the Classic period. It’s history is mainly known from the inscriptions of neighboring sites (Palenque, Piedras Negras, Yaxchilan and La Corona). The inscription of Monument 4 confirms the pattern of royal names with Chaahk formant noted previously by various scholars. The clear order of the elements of the nominal glyph of Santa Elena ruler on Monument 4 (WITZ’-K’IN-ni CHAK) proves the correct reading of this name that previously was transcribed as K’iin Witzꞌ Chaahk. At least five Santa Elena dynasts - Witzꞌ K’iin Chaahk I (ca. 514 CE, Piedras Negras Panel 12), Nuˀn Hiix Lakam Chaahk (ca. 600 CE, Palenque Hieroglyphic Stairway), Nuˀn Ujol Chaahk (ca. 659 CE, Palenque Temple of the Inscriptions and Palenque Hieroglyphic Stairway), … K’iin Lakam Chaahk (ca. 708 CE, Piedras Negras Stela 8) and Pay Lakam Chaahk (ca. 751 CE, Yaxchilan Lintel 16) use Chaahk theonym, probably to underline peculiar relations to Rain God or his specific version called Lakam Chaahk (“Great Chaahk”). The identification of Witzꞌ K’iin Chaahk II helps us to fill the gap in dynastic sequence in the second half of the 6th century or, more probably, in the first half of the 7th century.

Об авторах

Сергей Викторович Вепрецкий

Институт этнологии и антропологии; Российский государственный гуманитарный университет

Автор, ответственный за переписку.
Email: servepr@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2550-6799
SPIN-код: 3257-6233

кандидат исторических наук, научный сотрудник Отдела Америки, Института этнологии и антропологии РАН; младший научный сотрудник и преподаватель Мезоамериканского центра имени Ю.В. Кнорозова исторического факультета, Российский государственный гуманитарный университет

Российская Федерация, 119334, Москва, Ленинский проспект, д. 32а; Российская Федерация, 125047, Москва, Миусская площадь, д. 6, корп. 3

Дмитрий Дмитриевич Беляев

Российский государственный гуманитарный университет; Национальный исследовательский университет «Высшая школа экономики»

Email: lakamha@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6609-2302
SPIN-код: 4705-6569

кандидат исторических наук, доцент Мезоамериканского центра имени Ю.В. Кнорозова исторического факультета; старший научный сотрудник Международного центра антропологии, Национальный исследовательский университет «Высшая школа экономики»

Российская Федерация, 125047, Москва, Миусская площадь, д. 6, корп. 3; Российская федерация, 105066, Москва, ул. Старая Басманная, д. 21/4, стр. 3

Альберт Иршатович Давлетшин

Российский государственный гуманитарный университет

Email: aldavletshin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1080-5614
SPIN-код: 6568-9377

кандидат исторических наук, старший научный сотрудник Института восточных культур и античности

Российская Федерация, 125047, Москва, Миусская площадь, д. 6, корп. 3

Брюс Лав

Организация «Достижения в антропологических исследованиях» (ARC)

Email: brucelove9@gmail.com
PhD по антропологии, исследователь 29709, Литтлрок, 104 улица, Калифорния 93543, США

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