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The Pectorals of Altar Q and Structure 11: An Interpretation of the Political Organization at Copan, Honduras

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

René H. Viel
René H. Viel*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology and Sociology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
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Abstract

The internal structure of Maya governing elites has been much debated over the last decade. In the perspective of that debate, I propose a model of political organization at Copán at the end of the Late Classic (A. D. 750-800) based on a reinterpretation of two monuments that depict members of the governing elite, each one wearing a pectoral. The analysis of the pectorals leads to the identification of two functional groups, priests and warriors. Sovereignty incorporates both functions and is embodied in a diarchy where a coruler is adjoined to the ruler. Rulers and corulers come from the two opposing groups who, with each succession to power, exchange these roles. The executive branch, which comprises the ruler and his coruler, four ministers and four war captains, is counterbalanced by a council of nine lords. Furthermore, there are some indications that each functional group was a corporate descent group that had its own territory in the valley and its own traditions. The relations between the two groups conditioned the history of the royal dynasty, from its foundation in A. D. 426 until its collapse in A. D. 822.

Resumen

Resumen

La estructura interna de la elite gobernante Maya ha sido muy discutida en la última década. En el contexto de tal debate, este trabajo propone un modelo de organización política para Copán al final del Clásico Tardío (750-800 d. C.) basado en una reinterpretación de dos monumentos. En estos se representan miembros de la elite gobernante, cada uno exhibiendo un pectoral distinto. El análisis de los pectorales lleva a la identificación de dos grupos funcionales, uno de sacerdotes y otro de guerreros. La soberanía incorpora las dos funciones en una diarquía en la cual un co-gobernante acompaña al gobernante. Gobernantes y co-gobernantes son de los dos grupos opuestos quienes intercambian puestos en cada sucesión. La rama ejecutiva que incluye el gobernante y su co-gobernante, cuatro ministros y cuatro capitanes, esta balanceada por un consejo de nueve señores. La estructura política que resulta del análisis iconográfico es compatible con otras líneas de evidencia como la epigráfíca, la arquitectónica, y especialmente de la organización espacial. Además, hay indicaciones que cada grupo funcional provenía de un linaje que tenia su propio territorio en el valle y sus propias tradiciones. Se propone un modelo de tensiones políticas entre los niveles más altos de la jerarquía copaneca. Las relaciones entre los dos grupos acondicionaron la historia de la dinastía real desde su fundación en 426 d. C. hasta su colapso en 822 d. C.

Type
Articles
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , December 1999 , pp. 377 - 399
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1999

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References

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