In Mexico, an interdisciplinary team of scientists from the Coba project, led by archaeologist maría josé Con Uribe, identified the names of 14 the divine rulers of the Maya, which from generation to generation built the city of Coba.
the discovery is reported on the website of the National Institute of anthropology and history Mexico (INAH). The city of Coba is located in Quintana Roo. It is believed that it was founded around 500 ad, although some monuments here date from about 200 a year. In its heyday it was one of the most powerful cities in the Yucatan Peninsula, which competed with the hegemony of Tikal and Calakmul.
In the new study, scientists describe a dynasty, made up of 14 governors. That they built Koba and ruled in this city for three centuries. The names of these rulers were found on the stelae.
As noted co-author with Octavio Esparza, Olguin from the center of Mayan studies, only nine names were able to partially translate. Each of them consists of several parts, almost all of these names there is the word Jopat. It is not by accident.
Yopaat is the name of one of the most revered and wise of the gods of the Maya. It was the God of rain and storms. Maya to associate their rulers with deities. It was believed that they are direct descendants of the gods who created the world. Probably 14 of the rulers of Coba was considered not only the descendants of Yopaat, but by the gods, the earthly incarnation of the Creator of the world.
this is indicated by their names. For example, one of the rulers called Yopaat tai Nai, another Cuhk Yopaat, one Ixic Yopaat. The names of the scientists have to decipher could not, therefore, in their scientific work, some of the Mayan symbols are replaced by an ellipsis.
At the same time, other parts of these names translated, although to decipher their meaning fully, too, have not yet succeeded. For example, one of the rulers in the name included the word “fire” and the other the word “Mrs”.
In five cases, scientists have not been able to identify the anthroponyms (a single proper name or set of names identifying a person). Therefore, the names of the five rulers until are denoted by uppercase letters: A, B, C, D and E.
However, for the first time scientists were able at least partially to decipher the symbols on the stelae of Coba. By the way, this city is often called perfect, because it was perfectly located from the point of view of geography. Nearby were four lagoons.
it was Probably a very progressive city. For example, earlier archaeologists found here the site for ball games, and dozens of sculptural monuments, including stelae, altars, and bas-reliefs. Many of them were part of a large ceremonial complex. By the way, steles with names of 14 rulers, too, were his frequentsue.
Periods and chronology of their rule is also not quite clear yet. But scientists were able to trace a dynastic line until 780 ad. Because the names of the 15th and subsequent rulers, scientists have found, they have suggested that this dynasty was interrupted around the end of the eighth century.
By the way, so far excavated, only one percent of this pre-Hispanic city. Archaeologists believe that he, together with the agricultural “suburbs”, could occupy about 70 square kilometers.
