24 hrs ago·edited 22 hrs agoLiked by Jeanine Kitchel
This is more than history. What you’re doing is peeling back the cover of an empowerment story.
It seems important AF, Jeanine.
I hope it’s reaching the women of Mexico, especially. I don’t mean to say you should be writing it in Spanish, but just that I hope someone is telling the Yucatecan and Quintana Rooenses: You are resourced and powerful.
Thanks so much for your input, Damon. There was such a lapse of time, from height of Classic- mid 850s CE- to when explorers John Lloyd Stephen’s and Catherwood toured the region (since the Spanish, mid 1500s). By the time they arrived, locals knew nothing about who built or left the now covered in jungle mounds. The Lacandon Maya (roughly 400 or so) are the last link to their ancient ancestors that supposedly fled the sites, as did everyone, and retained the knowledge. So, with that in mind and since the code was only broken in 1976 (thanks to those early Spanish priests burning all but 4 codices—this is in a nutshell ) at Palenque Rountable with 40+ archaeologists, students, scholars, after breaking code and with a magnitude of pyramid sites, there is much work to be done. I’ll of course write on all this, it’s my passion, but there’s so much to be said. I’m just glad Peter Mathews, who was a teen at the round table and budding iconologist, picked up on ‘the clothes that they wore.’ He and Reese-Taylor taught at same college and also collaborated on at least one paper and on Naachtun. Thanks for coming along for the ride!!
Thank you for this in-depth research on Maya queen warriors. I also wish there was a way to know more about women's day-to-day lives, but perhaps there will be more discoveries in the future. Do you know if there are any songs or poetry that somehow may have been passed down/descended from this time?
For those excavating the tombs, which that and the hieroglyphs are the closest remnants of the minds of the ancient Maya (along with astounding pyramids and observatories in the jungle of course) hundreds of paperbark books Or codices were burned by Spanish priests 1562. Four remaining assisted archaeologists in 1970s to decipher the Maya code. These remaining 4 show scientific and astronomical data and more basic knowledge, they are not journals of daily life/ male or female. Thank the gods they survived. The stela show important functions: births, deaths, wars. 1400 years ago is a long time. We’re lucky they recorded on the limestone pyramids as jungle humidity ruins paper. Their remaining ‘books’ up to 12 feet long, were on paperbark. So, no. My Oct. 4 post is on another of the most famous Queen warriors. Do subscribe, if not already, to not miss, and thanks for reading!!
Fantastic essay! Seeing the often-overlooked stories of Maya warrior queens brought to light is inspiring. Kathryn Reese-Taylor's research truly redefines our understanding of Maya history. Thank you for sharing it, Jeanine.
I wish there was Clarice. No way. 1400 years is long ago and scribes were used to write in the codices and assume workers simply transferred the hieroglyphics onto the stela I assume. There are only 4 remaining codices as hundreds if not more were burned by Father de Landa in 1562. The closest to knowing who Lady Yohl Ik’nal was is that she’s pictured twice on Palenque’s greatest ruler’s sarcophagus lid—near trees. One was an avocado and that had great meaning to the Maya. We only know she was highly revered.
Nicely researched and written, as usual Jeanine! The role of women in civilizations that pre-date our own sort of shows us just how far we've failed to evolve as a society. Thank you for highlighting this facet of Mayan civilization.
Thanks Mike. Eventually I guess the Maya queen warriors would be known—just that it was only the 70s when the code was broken. So amazing. Stalled due of course to Spanish conquest firstly, and one determined archaeologist who thought his way was the only way. But, maybe it’s always that way. And takes an outlier to break the bonds. Ojala as the Maya say. Thanks for your comments.
I had no idea! I got really into the beauty standards of the Mayans when I visited Chichen Itza and just slipped down a fascinating rabbit hole... Thanks for bringing me a new one to dive into!
Thankfully there are dedicated passionate people like Kathryn Reese-Taylor that unravels tge secrets and mysteries covered up by time. Very intriguing history Jeanine! Thank you!
Truly fascinating and compelling! Thank goodness for the dedicated Maya scholars and archeologists. It's thrilling that we now know about the prominent roles of Maya queens and warriors. Impressive that Queen Lady Yohl Ik'nal ruled for 21 yrs! Love all the photos & graphics. So looking forward to Part Two!
Thanks so much, Barbra! It truly is fascinating, and just glad that both Mathews' and Reese-Taylor's trained eyes knew what to look for. Or what looked different.
Fascinating. So much to learn about this culture!
Truly, there is so much to learn! Thanks for reading David!
Love this. More please.
Thank you! October 4 is part 2.I’ve done enough research for parts 3 and 4 but am afraid that’s too much for readers? Any input will be appreciated!
This is more than history. What you’re doing is peeling back the cover of an empowerment story.
It seems important AF, Jeanine.
I hope it’s reaching the women of Mexico, especially. I don’t mean to say you should be writing it in Spanish, but just that I hope someone is telling the Yucatecan and Quintana Rooenses: You are resourced and powerful.
Thanks so much for your input, Damon. There was such a lapse of time, from height of Classic- mid 850s CE- to when explorers John Lloyd Stephen’s and Catherwood toured the region (since the Spanish, mid 1500s). By the time they arrived, locals knew nothing about who built or left the now covered in jungle mounds. The Lacandon Maya (roughly 400 or so) are the last link to their ancient ancestors that supposedly fled the sites, as did everyone, and retained the knowledge. So, with that in mind and since the code was only broken in 1976 (thanks to those early Spanish priests burning all but 4 codices—this is in a nutshell ) at Palenque Rountable with 40+ archaeologists, students, scholars, after breaking code and with a magnitude of pyramid sites, there is much work to be done. I’ll of course write on all this, it’s my passion, but there’s so much to be said. I’m just glad Peter Mathews, who was a teen at the round table and budding iconologist, picked up on ‘the clothes that they wore.’ He and Reese-Taylor taught at same college and also collaborated on at least one paper and on Naachtun. Thanks for coming along for the ride!!
PS but you are so right, Damon. A translation by someone would be in order!
You're so deep in this. Why not keep digging.
Trust me, I am!! I have much more to share!!!!!
Thank you for this in-depth research on Maya queen warriors. I also wish there was a way to know more about women's day-to-day lives, but perhaps there will be more discoveries in the future. Do you know if there are any songs or poetry that somehow may have been passed down/descended from this time?
For those excavating the tombs, which that and the hieroglyphs are the closest remnants of the minds of the ancient Maya (along with astounding pyramids and observatories in the jungle of course) hundreds of paperbark books Or codices were burned by Spanish priests 1562. Four remaining assisted archaeologists in 1970s to decipher the Maya code. These remaining 4 show scientific and astronomical data and more basic knowledge, they are not journals of daily life/ male or female. Thank the gods they survived. The stela show important functions: births, deaths, wars. 1400 years ago is a long time. We’re lucky they recorded on the limestone pyramids as jungle humidity ruins paper. Their remaining ‘books’ up to 12 feet long, were on paperbark. So, no. My Oct. 4 post is on another of the most famous Queen warriors. Do subscribe, if not already, to not miss, and thanks for reading!!
This is fascinating, Jeanine. Thanks to you I'm getting an education in Mayan history. Best regards.
Thanks for reading Mikel! My pleasure.
Fantastic essay! Seeing the often-overlooked stories of Maya warrior queens brought to light is inspiring. Kathryn Reese-Taylor's research truly redefines our understanding of Maya history. Thank you for sharing it, Jeanine.
Thanks for reading Tinashe. The research was fun and so revealing.
Fascinating. Is there any way to know what the women's lives were actually like in detail?
I wish there was Clarice. No way. 1400 years is long ago and scribes were used to write in the codices and assume workers simply transferred the hieroglyphics onto the stela I assume. There are only 4 remaining codices as hundreds if not more were burned by Father de Landa in 1562. The closest to knowing who Lady Yohl Ik’nal was is that she’s pictured twice on Palenque’s greatest ruler’s sarcophagus lid—near trees. One was an avocado and that had great meaning to the Maya. We only know she was highly revered.
Nicely researched and written, as usual Jeanine! The role of women in civilizations that pre-date our own sort of shows us just how far we've failed to evolve as a society. Thank you for highlighting this facet of Mayan civilization.
Thanks Mike. Eventually I guess the Maya queen warriors would be known—just that it was only the 70s when the code was broken. So amazing. Stalled due of course to Spanish conquest firstly, and one determined archaeologist who thought his way was the only way. But, maybe it’s always that way. And takes an outlier to break the bonds. Ojala as the Maya say. Thanks for your comments.
Wow, amazing story! And so welll researched and written!
Thanks so much Stephanie! Really appreciate your comments. There'll be another one coming in early October, too.
I had no idea! I got really into the beauty standards of the Mayans when I visited Chichen Itza and just slipped down a fascinating rabbit hole... Thanks for bringing me a new one to dive into!
Sent this on to my non-Substacking family :)
Cool! Did they go to Chichen Itza with you, or was that a separate trip?
Oh thank you for reading Nadine! And believe me, more to come. Also on women archeologists who rocked it!!
Yas Queen!
Truly! So great to have found this out!
Thanks for restack, Priya and Daniel!
Thankfully there are dedicated passionate people like Kathryn Reese-Taylor that unravels tge secrets and mysteries covered up by time. Very intriguing history Jeanine! Thank you!
Truly fascinating and compelling! Thank goodness for the dedicated Maya scholars and archeologists. It's thrilling that we now know about the prominent roles of Maya queens and warriors. Impressive that Queen Lady Yohl Ik'nal ruled for 21 yrs! Love all the photos & graphics. So looking forward to Part Two!
Thanks so much, Barbra! It truly is fascinating, and just glad that both Mathews' and Reese-Taylor's trained eyes knew what to look for. Or what looked different.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, Jeanine!
🌹🌻🌸💐💚💜❤️🌼😍🥰