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Cited by 17Historical Studies in Central AmericaLatin American history and cultureHistorical and Architectural Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 52 of the 53 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Classic Maya mirror conjurors of Waka', Guatemala

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Freidel, David A., Navarro-Farr, Olivia C., Rich, Michelle E., Meléndez, Juan Carlos, Pérez, Juan Carlos, Robles, Griselda Pérez, Kelly, Mary Kate·2024·Ancient Mesoamerica
DOI 10.1017/s0956536122000141
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Abstract

The Classic period lowland Maya used iron-ore mosaic mirrors and deposited mirrors in the burials of rulers and other people. Depictions of mirrors suggest that they were used for scrying, as were mirrors in Mesoamerica at the time of the Spanish arrival. Maya mirror users of this kind were conjurors, who used a variety of other divining and conjuring instruments and materials, including plates and shallow bowls. Three rulers at El Peru-Waka', now called Waka' by researchers at the site, an ancient city in northwestern Peten, Guatemala, were buried with mirrors and associated divining and conjuring materials. Following a brief introduction to the city and its temples, we describe the arrangement of mirrors and associated materials in three royal tombs. We suggest that the mirrors in these tombs were used in conjuring supernatural beings into existence, particularly Akan, a death god and wahy spirit who was a patron of the Waka' realm. We propose that the rulers and mirror conjurors of Waka' were oracles and that Waka' was known for prophecy. References to Sihyaj K'ahk' in text and iconography at Waka', and his association with oracular paraphernalia such as mirrors, lead us to propose a prophetic aspect of the visit of Sihyaj K'ahk' to the site eight days prior to his famous arrival at Tikal in a.d. 378. We suggest that the three rulers we discuss were mirror oracles sustained by the prestige of the prophecy of Sihyaj K'ahk'.

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Show all 53 references

Research works printed but not linked: 50

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Metadata

Authors
Freidel, D. A., Navarro-Farr, O. C., Rich, M. E., Meléndez, J. C., Pérez, J. C., Robles, G. P., & Kelly, M. K.
Affiliations
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • College of Wooster (US)
  • Dallas Museum of Art (US)
  • Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Proyecto Arqueológico Waka'
Corresponding author
Freidel, David A.
ORCID
Venue
Ancient Mesoamerica
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2023-09-14
Volume
35
Issue
1
Pages
6-28
ISSN
  • 0956-5361 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-1787
DOI
10.1017/s0956536122000141
OpenAlex
W4386744065
Cited by
17
References
53
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 3
FWCI
104.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
correction (2023-09-14)
Open access
Licence
Locations
Ancient Mesoamerica (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Alphawood Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Historical Studies in Central America
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Latin American history and culture
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Historical and Architectural Studies
Keywords
Classic Maya, divination, waka poetry, royal burial, oracles, prophecy, Maya rulers, Maya religion, Maya iconography

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