Existing comment:
Stela D:
Quirigua Monument 4: North and West Sides:
Stela D is an historic marker from the reign of the 8th century ruler of Quirigua, K'ak'Tiliw. Erected and dedicated by the ruler on February 19, AD 766 to honor the ending of an important time period in the calendar, the text also refers to the celebration of his 40th anniversary in reign that took place two years before in AD 764. During his sixty-year reign, K'ak'Tiliw successfully established independence for Quirigua from the larger site of Copan and launched an ambitious building and sculpture program that earned his place as a major patron of the arts.
The ruler is shown wearing a tall feather headdress, jade earflares and jade necklace. His elaborate ceremonial costume represents the three layers of the Maya universe. He stands on a base with a large mask of the Venus God of the Underworld. At the top of his feather headdress is a mask of the moon shown as a skull, indicating its dark phase at the time of the dedication. In his left hand he holds a scepter with the image of K'awil, patron god of royal authority and lineage. His loincloth, carries symbols of the World Tree. |