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Yax Nuun Ahiin I

Yax Nuun Ahiin I, also known as Curl Snout and Curl Nose, (died
Yax Nuun Ahiin I
June 17, 404?), was an ajaw of the Maya city of Tikal. His name when
transcribed is YAX-?-AH:N, translated "First ? Crocodile". He took
Ajaw of Tikal
the throne on September 12, 379, and reigned until his death.[N 1][1]

Contents
Biography
Tomb
Notes
Footnotes
References

Biography
Yax Nuun Ayiin I was a son of Spearthrower Owl, a lord of Teotihuacan
(probably that city's king) in central Mexico. The installation of a Stela 4 at Tikal names Yax Nuun
Teotihuacano noble on the throne of Tikal marks a high point of Ahiin I
Teotihuacan influence in the central Maya lowlands. Yax Nuun Ahiin I Reign September 12, 379 –
may have been a child or youth at the time of his coronation, and the June 17, 404?
early years of his reign seems to have been dominated by one of his
Predecessor Chak Tok Ich'aak I
father's generals, Sihyaj K'ahk', in a sort of regency.[2] Sihyaj K'ahk' is
Successor Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II
recorded as having entered Tikal on 15 May 378, the same date as the
death of the previous ruler, Chak Tok Ich'aak I; it appears that this Died June 17, 404?
event may have been a conquest in which Yax Nuun Ayiin I was Burial Temple 34 (Burial 10)
installed by force.[3] Issue Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II

Two monuments at Tikal, Stela 4 and Stela 18, are associated with Yax Father Spearthrower Owl
Nuun Ahiin I. Both stelae depict him in Mexican rather than Mayan Mother Lady K'inich
attire, demonstrating his Teotihuacano origins. He is also depicted on Religion Maya religion
Stela 31, erected by his son Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II, as a Teotihuacano
warrior with a plated helmet, spearthrower and square shield decorated with the face of Central Mexican deities.
His wife's titles indicate that she may have been a Mayan woman, presumably chosen to integrate his bloodline
with the local elites.[2]

It is unclear when Yax Nuun Ayiin I died. Stela 31's text indicates that his burial took place in 404, though the text
from another sculpture known as the Hombre de Tikal suggests that he may have still been alive in November 406.
On the other hand, the K'atun ceremony of May 406, which would ordinarily be presided over by the ruler, is
recorded as having been presided over by an otherwise unknown individual called Sihyaj Chan K'inich. This
suggests that there may have been an interregnum, possibly with Sihyaj Chan K'inich governing temporarily as a
regent, before Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II was enthroned in November 411.[2]

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Tomb
The tomb of Yax Nuun Ayiin I, known as "Burial 10", was discovered by
University of Pennsylvania archaeologists in the 1950s.[4] It was found
deep within a temple built at the foot of the North Acropolis and
represents one of the most spectacular and complete Mayan burials yet
discovered. The ruler's body had been placed on a wooden funerary bier
surrounded by the bodies of at least nine sacrificed youths ranging in
age from about six years old to young adulthood. At least one of the
sacrificial victims appears to have died inside the funerary chamber.[5]
A headless crocodile was also interred with the dead ruler, probably
alluding to his name.[2] Stela 4 at Tikal, depicting Yax Nuun
Ayiin I. 1980 photo
Numerous offerings were deposited around the chamber, including
pottery vessels decorated with Mexican motifs and images of Mexican
deities. Among the artefacts were a Maya-style censer in the shape of an
elderly deity seated on a stool made from human long bones, turtle
carapaces that had been arranged to form a kind of xylophone and a
jade ornament in the form of a curl-snouted crocodile.[2]

Notes
Yax Nuun Ahiin I's glyph
1. These are the dates indicated on the Maya inscriptions in
Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, Accession: 8.17.2.16.17 5
Kaban 10 Yaxk'jn and Death: 8.18.8.1.2 2 Ik' 10 Sip, Martin & Grube 2008, p. 32

Footnotes
1. Martin & Grube 2008, p. 32
2. Martin & Grube 2008, pp. 32–33
3. Martin & Grube 2008, p. 29
4. Tiesler & Cucina 2007, p. 276
5. Fitzsimmons 2010, p. 93

References
Fitzsimmons, James L. (2010). Death and the Classic Maya Kings (https://books.google.com
/books?id=eXMSu_g2Ae0C&pg=PA93). University of Texas Press.
ISBN 978-0-292-78198-6.
Martin, Simon; Nikolai Grube (2008). Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering
the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya (2nd ed.). London and New York: Thames & Hudson.
ISBN 9780500287262. OCLC 191753193 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/191753193).
Tiesler, Vera; Cucina, Andrea (2007). New Perspectives on Human Sacrifice and Ritual Body
Treatments in Ancient Maya Society (https://books.google.com
/books?id=lkwfWWpXTxIC). Springer. ISBN 978-0-387-48871-4.

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Regnal titles

Succeeded by
Preceded by Ajaw of Tikal
Sihyaj Chan K'awiil
Chak Tok Ich'aak I 379–404?
II

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