3-Week SASA Reading Group: How the Mighty Fall: Political Collapse in the Ancient Maya City of Copán

The ancient city of Copán, known as Mo’ Witz or Macaw Mountain, was one of the greatest cities in the ancient Maya world. Today, upon visiting the archaeological site, guests enter a large plaza filled with stelae carved in high three-dimensional relief. Each of the stelae in the plaza represent Copán’s thirteenth ruler, Waxaklajuun Ubaah K’awiil, engaged in various rituals that were essential to the survival of his city. On the sides and back of each of these monuments, hieroglyphic inscriptions record both the history of Copán and references to mythical events that related to Waxaklajuun Ubaah K’awiil’s own actions. This reading group will read and discuss the content of these inscriptions, what we know and still don’t know about their contents, and what they reveal about the narratives that Copán’s rulers used to justify their reigns and communicate their value to the people. Our sessions will conclude with a…