NaraNjo-Sa'al - World Monuments Fund

Figure 18. Stele 29, depicting
Queen Wak Chanil Ahaw
(Lady Six Sky), left, and Stele
2, depicting the ruler Kak
Tiliw Chan Chac.
Estela 29, representación de
la reina Wak Chanil Ajaw
(Señora Seis Cielo) izquierda,
y Estela 2, representación de
Kak Tiliw Chan Chac.
The late Classic settlement (a.d. 600–800)
The early years of the Late Classic period at Naranjo-Sa’al were marked by
political turbulence, with devastating defeats in a.d. 626, when the site fell to
Caracol, and in 631, when it was conquered by Calakmul. The details of these
military losses are recounted in the panels of the Hieroglyphic Staircase that grace the
west face of B18. Although the inscribed panels were once thought to attest Caracol’s
hegemony over Naranjo-Sa’al, the staircase blocks may have been taken from Caracol
proper as booty during a subsequent raid by a Naranjo-Sa’al king. It is clear that
prolonged conflict took its toll on Naranjo-Sa’al with the loss of all of its dynastic line
sometime around a.d. 680.
It was assumed that evidence of such conflict would be manifest in the archaeological
remains or that there would be an apparent hiatus in the construction process.
However, the archaeological evidence attests the opposite. The architectural data suggest
a steady progression of construction and remodeling, characterized by excellent
masonry, plaster finishes, and the bright red, orange, cream and blue colors found on
the façades, as can be seen in acropolis B5 and the Royal Palace compound.
At the beginning of the seventh century, the Palace (B15) had two levels and was
made up of chambers associated with the four faces of the building. By the end of
the century, a third level was added to the Palace. This expansion was likely the work
of one of the most important historical characters of Naranjo-Sa’al, the city’s famous
warrior queen, Wak Chanil Ahaw, also known as “Lady Six Sky,” a Dos Pilas-born
princess whose arrival at Naranjo-Sa’al in August of a.d. 682 ushered in a new dynasty
and age of prosperity for the city. Although her son and heir K’ak’ Tiliw Chan Chaak
ascended to the throne in a.d. 693 at the age of 5, it is clear that Lady Six Sky was
largely in charge of Naranjo-Sa’al’s affairs until her death in 741 [Figure 18]. This period
is marked by major military successes, bringing much of the surrounding Petén
under Naranjo-Sa’al hegemony. According to historical texts, wealth amassed through
the taxes taken from the defeated states can be seen in the monumentality of the
buildings located in the central area of the city of Naranjo-Sa’al.
In the early eighth century, a new version of the radial pyramid B18 was built in the
Astronomical Complex [Figure 19], this time including chambers in the upper area,
prior to the placement of the carved blocks making up the Hieroglyphic Staircase on
the west façade. In the north of the complex, an expanded version of B19 was also
erected. At this time, two additional palaces were erected in the western area of the
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