As you might guess, archaeological evidence for ephemeral theatrical performances is sometimes difficult to obtain. In the elaborate plaza area of Copán are found enormous carved stone stelae, constructed by rulers to illustrate themselves clothed in various costumes. The costumes seen in the stelae are rich with details like feathered backracks and elaborate headdresses, masks, jade pectorals and shell belts. Although there are other types of ruler portraits found on murals within the walls of the temples, they typically do not show the elaborate costumes of these found on the plaza grounds.
This tall stela is called Stela H, and like most of the stelae at Copán, Stela H is a portrait of the 13th ruler of Copán called 18 Rabbit or Waxaklahun Ubah K'awil, who ruled Copán between AD 695 and 738. Stela H is one of two paired stelaes (actually there were several). H is paired with A, and in H, curiously enough, 18 Rabbit appears to be dressed in the traditional royal jaguar skin kilt; and a long skirt typical of the representation of women. Stela A has 18 Rabbit in more traditional male costume, and has a small stone chamber in front of it that had pottery and other offerings stored there. Stela A was dedicated in AD 731.
Information and sources:
This tall stela is called Stela H, and like most of the stelae at Copán, Stela H is a portrait of the 13th ruler of Copán called 18 Rabbit or Waxaklahun Ubah K'awil, who ruled Copán between AD 695 and 738. Stela H is one of two paired stelaes (actually there were several). H is paired with A, and in H, curiously enough, 18 Rabbit appears to be dressed in the traditional royal jaguar skin kilt; and a long skirt typical of the representation of women. Stela A has 18 Rabbit in more traditional male costume, and has a small stone chamber in front of it that had pottery and other offerings stored there. Stela A was dedicated in AD 731.
Information and sources:
- The Role of the Plaza in Maya Festivals, more on the project by Takeshi Inomata
- Copan, a bit more about the site
- Takeshi Inomata. 2006. Plazas, perfomers and spectators: Political theaters of the Classic Maya. Current Anthropology 47(5):805-842
- John S. Henderson. 1997. The World of the Ancient Maya. Cornell University Press, Ithaca.
