Maya Portrait Project: Tonina

We also have been investigating one of Palenque's rival cities, Tonina. Because they were in competition with each other, portraits of the rulers from Palenque and hieroglyphic descriptions of their actions appear at Tonina, and vice versa.  Tonina is an exciting place for researchers today, as it was mostly unexcavated before recent decades.  Although only 127 kilometers away from each other, the winding roads and rough terrain made journeys between the sites arduous, both in antiquity and for us today.  Don't forget your Dramamine!

The site of Tonina is organized around a series of steep terraces.

Kaylee is especially fond of the vast collection of portraits of prisoners at Tonina.  Notice that ropes bind this dude's arms behind his back. 

 Travis is nimble--climbing a near-vertical staircase!

Four toes?  Perhaps if you miss your step ...

Here is a replica of one of Tonina's most masterfully carved portraits, of a handsome ruler sporting a headdress shaped like a ferocious centipede. 

During the 19th century the entire site looked like this.  Boring.  Thank the gods for archaeologists. 

This portrait and temple are at Palenque.  Paying attention?  This blog post was supposed to be about Tonina.

Back at Tonina ... Kaylee and Travis admire the countryside from the summit. 

Kaylee can't believe how high up Travis is. 

Palenque interlude ... the Cross Group of temples.  All of these are probably tombs. 

Historical comparison: the drawing above of a very Egyptian-looking temple shrine is actually a radical reconstruction of the pile of rocks below. 

Is it wrong to have Ik' windows on a bathroom?  No.  Astute readers will remember that Ik' refers to ventilation.  Keep it fresh.

Comments

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