Editing Kʼawiil (section)

=== K'awiil sceptre ===
[[Maya Classic Era|Classic-period Maya]] artists depicted the K'awiil [[sceptre]] not as a mere stone object, but as a living, animate participant in the rituals portrayed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=James |date=2015-07-02 |title=Grasping the Foot of Lightning in a Maya Scepter Fragment - The Metropolitan Museum of Art |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/maya-scepter-fragment |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=www.metmuseum.org |language=en}}</ref> K‘awiil might merely represent the concept of an [[effigy]], as the term ''kauil'' translates to "idol, false god" in the [[Poqomam language|Poqom]] and [[Kaqchikel language|Kaqchikel]] languages. It could symbolize a general physical representation of [[divinity]], akin to how ''k'uhul'' embodies the "invisible, inherent essence of godhood."<ref>Houston et al. 2006:67-68.</ref><ref name=":0">Wright, M. A. (2011). ''A Study of Classic Maya Rulership'' (Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Riverside). https://escholarship.org/content/qt6pb5g8h2/qt6pb5g8h2_noSplash_acc079cd1ba843db7f2864c60cbcdf73.pdf</ref> The K‘awiil sceptre was occasionally taken by individuals outside of royalty. At [[Caracol]] Stela 5, dating to A.D. 613, [[Knot Ajaw]] is depicted with a pair of miniature figures or dwarves at his feet, each holding a K‘awiil sceptre.<ref>Beetz and Satterthwaite 1981:28.</ref> In its earliest form, K‘awiil was prefixed with ''yax'', meaning 'unripe' or 'young.' At [[Yaxchilan|Yaxchilán]], the K‘awiil sceptre was held on various occasions and at different times throughout the year.<ref>Le Fort 2002:3</ref> [[Yaxun Bʼalam IV]] is the only known ruler to have danced with the K'awiil sceptre on his day of accession.<ref name=":0" />

The sceptre can also be found in [[Palenque]] and [[Copán|Copan]]. K‘awiil was a central focus in some polities, while being virtually overlooked in others. Quirigua's dynastic founder, "[[Tok Casper]]," was the first to receive the K‘awiil sceptre (''cham k’awiil'') in Quirigua during his accession.<ref name=":0" /> Although not inherently an accession statement, the K‘awiil sceptre is often utilized in this context. It later became the preferred expression used by [[Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Yopaat]] in [[Quiriguá]] to signify his own accession after he overthrew his overlord [[Uaxaclajuun Ubʼaah Kʼawiil]] in 738.<ref>Le Fort 1994:19</ref><ref>Riese 1986</ref>