Embodying the kingly persona : ephemerality and memory in Temple 18 of Copan

Temple 18 at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Copán, a late Classic Maya funerary crypt, serves as a powerful extension of the kingly persona, legitimizing the rule of Yax Pasaj Chan Yopaat and memorializing his presence in the site's landscape. This study reveals that the temple, Copán's final construction, reflects the political turmoil of its time while embedding military and maize iconography to convey historical and mythical messages. Through iconographic analysis, spatial analysis, and archaeological and epigraphic data, researchers deciphered Temple 18's role in reinforcing royal authority, offering new insights into Maya kingship and funerary practices.

Madsen, A. I. (2016). Embodying the kingly persona : ephemerality and memory in Temple 18 of Copan. University of Texas at Austin. https://doi.org/10.15781/T2GF0MW2Z