Power and Pageantry in the Royal Courts of the Maya

Take a closer look at the details of a colorful relief panel from La Pasadita.

Take a closer look at the details of a colorful relief panel from La Pasadita that provides a glimpse into the power and pageantry of the royal courts of the ancient Maya. Dynamic tracing in this animation helps reveal the details in the iconography: a significant political scene where the ruler of Yaxchilán is receiving tribute from the lord of ​La Pasadita​ and a merchant. In a rare gesture in the arts of the ancient Americas, an inscription tells us the name of the artist who carved the panel: Chakalte’.


Contributors

Joanne Pillsbury, Andrall E. Pearson Curator of Arts of the Ancient Americas
Laura Filloy Nadal, Curator, Arts of the Ancient Americas
Hugo C. Ikehara-Tsukayama, Senior Research Associate, Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
Dawn Kriss, Conservator
Teresa Jimenez-Millas, Associate Conservator
Patricia Sarro, Consultant, Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
Max Alegria, Adrienne Arsht Intern, Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
David Rhoads, Senior Collections Manager

Special Thanks: Simon Martin, Claudia Brittenham, Alison Tretter, Julie Turgeon, Doris Zhao

Production Company: Fgreat Studio

Illustration: Mark Van Stone

Director and Managing Producer: Mandy Kritzeck
3D Imaging: Xue Chen and Chris Heins
Associate Producer: Hannah Chen
Chief Digital Officer: Douglas Hegley
Executive Producer: Sarah Wambold
Studio Manager: Erin Stella


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