20. Juni 2022

Nikolai Grube

Quirigua Stela C is among the best-known monuments of the Classic Maya. This is due to the much-cited account of the creation of the present world, inscribed on the east side of the monument (Freidel, Schele and Parker 1993; Looper 1995, 2003). From a historical perspective, however, the text on the opposite west side is also of interest, reporting on the reign of King Tutum Yohl K'inich, who erected a monument at Quirigua on the day 6 Ajaw 13 Yaxk'in (9.1.0.0.0, August 29, 455). The fact that this Early Classic event is mentioned on Stela C is related to the day 6 Ajaw, on which Stela C itself was erected by Quirigua's great king K'ahk' Tiliw Chan Yopaat, namely on the day 6 Ajaw 13 K'ayab (9.17.5.0.0, December 30, 775). However, in the past, little importance has been given to the two short basal texts on the front and back, each consisting of four hieroglyphic blocks.