Existing comment:
Zoomorph B (south side):
This giant boulder carved in the shape of a supernatural Cosmic Monster floats in the primordial sea of the Underworld that surrounds and lies beneath the Earth. The masterful carving in deep bas-relief contains intricate symbols indicating that the crocodilian monster also represents the third stone of Creation, the Water Throne Stone. It is a symbolic throne for the ruler K'ak'Tiliw, who erected and dedicated the monument on December 2, AD 780. A human head with small beard, typical of the ruler K'ak'Tiliw, is seen emerging from the jaws of the monster. He is dressed in ceremonial costume with a feather headdress and the jade jewelry worn by royalty. The rulers' source of power comes from within the earth, the mythological Mountain of Creation where the gods derive their strength. In the night sky, the Maya saw the Cosmic Monster in the Milky Way when it lies in an east-west orientation. Modern astronomers confirm that the Milky Way was positioned overhead in this direction at the time of the dedication. |