Siyah K'ak'
Encyclopedia
Siyaj K'ak' was a prominent political figure mentioned in the glyphs of Classic Period
(250-800 C.E.) Maya civilization
monuments, principally Tikal
and Uaxactun
. Epigraphers originally identified him by the nickname "Smoking Frog", a description of his name glyph, but later deciphered it as Siyaj K'ak' meaning "Fire is born." He is believed to have been the general of the Teotihuacan
o ruler Spearthrower Owl
.
or very closely allied with that city, Siyaj K'ak' was a warlord in the Maya heartland of the Petén
(modern Guatemala
) during the fourth century. In 378 and 379 he oversaw the replacing of the kings of important Maya states such as Tikal and Uaxactun with new rulers who claimed descent from Spearthrower Owl
, probably the ruler of Teotihuacan. As Smoking Frog, he caused himself to be portrayed wearing Teotihuacano battle dress. It is during his lifetime that the public architecture of the Central Mexican
capital began to be emulated in the Maya region; particularly the talud-tablero
style so characteristic of the Mexican highlands
, and so atypical of Maya building styles
.
Siyaj K'ak' remained a power in the region until his death early in the fifth century, acting as overlord to such kings as Nun Yax Ayin
(aka "Curl Nose") of Tikal. The appearance of Siyah K'ak' marks the beginning of a strong cultural influx from the Valley of Mexico
, although whether this was accomplished via peaceful interaction or military invasion is still being very actively debated.
Mesoamerican chronology
Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica into several periods: the Paleo-Indian , the Archaic , the Preclassic , the Classic , and the Postclassic...
(250-800 C.E.) Maya civilization
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
monuments, principally Tikal
Tikal
Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala...
and Uaxactun
Uaxactun
Uaxactun is an ancient ruin of the Maya civilization, located in the Petén Basin region of the Maya lowlands, in the present-day department of Petén, Guatemala. The site lies some north of the major center of Tikal...
. Epigraphers originally identified him by the nickname "Smoking Frog", a description of his name glyph, but later deciphered it as Siyaj K'ak' meaning "Fire is born." He is believed to have been the general of the Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan – also written Teotihuacán, with a Spanish orthographic accent on the last syllable – is an enormous archaeological site in the Basin of Mexico, just 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, containing some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the pre-Columbian Americas...
o ruler Spearthrower Owl
Spearthrower Owl
"Spearthrower Owl" is the name commonly given to a Mesoamerican personage from the Early Classic period, who is identified in Maya inscriptions and iconography...
.
Overview
Originally from TeotihuacanTeotihuacan
Teotihuacan – also written Teotihuacán, with a Spanish orthographic accent on the last syllable – is an enormous archaeological site in the Basin of Mexico, just 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, containing some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the pre-Columbian Americas...
or very closely allied with that city, Siyaj K'ak' was a warlord in the Maya heartland of the Petén
Petén Basin
The Petén Basin is a geographical subregion of Mesoamerica, located in the northern portion of the modern-day nation of Guatemala, and essentially contained within the department of El Petén...
(modern Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
) during the fourth century. In 378 and 379 he oversaw the replacing of the kings of important Maya states such as Tikal and Uaxactun with new rulers who claimed descent from Spearthrower Owl
Spearthrower Owl
"Spearthrower Owl" is the name commonly given to a Mesoamerican personage from the Early Classic period, who is identified in Maya inscriptions and iconography...
, probably the ruler of Teotihuacan. As Smoking Frog, he caused himself to be portrayed wearing Teotihuacano battle dress. It is during his lifetime that the public architecture of the Central Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
capital began to be emulated in the Maya region; particularly the talud-tablero
Talud-tablero
Talud-tablero is an architectural style. It consists of a platform structure, or the tablero, on top of an inward-sloping surface or panel, the talud. It may also be referred to as the slope-and-panel style.-Cultural significance:...
style so characteristic of the Mexican highlands
Mexican Plateau
The Central Mexican Plateau, also known as the Mexican Altiplano or Altiplanicie Mexicana, is a large arid-to-semiarid plateau that occupies much of northern and central Mexico...
, and so atypical of Maya building styles
Maya architecture
A unique and spectacular style, Maya architecture spans several thousands of years. Often the most dramatic and easily recognizable as Maya are the stepped pyramids from the Terminal Pre-classic period and beyond. Being based on the general Mesoamerican architectural traditions these pyramids...
.
Siyaj K'ak' remained a power in the region until his death early in the fifth century, acting as overlord to such kings as Nun Yax Ayin
Nun Yax Ayin
Yax Nuun Ayiin I was a ruler of the Maya civilization polity of Tikal in the Petén Basin, during the Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology in the late 4th century....
(aka "Curl Nose") of Tikal. The appearance of Siyah K'ak' marks the beginning of a strong cultural influx from the Valley of Mexico
Valley of Mexico
The Valley of Mexico is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly coterminous with the present-day Distrito Federal and the eastern half of the State of Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Valley of Mexico was a centre for several pre-Columbian civilizations, including...
, although whether this was accomplished via peaceful interaction or military invasion is still being very actively debated.