Maya Memory

Lady Chanil Nab Chel felt older than her seventeen tuns as she was solemnly carried toward the beautiful city of Palenque. She sat atop an elegantly carved mahogany litter draped with a finely woven fabric meant to shield her from the ever-present insects of the jungle. The young woman felt warm and uncomfortable. Her lightweight sleeveless white ceremonial gown was topped with a heavily woven collar of brilliant threads chosen to imitate the sacred k’uk’s feathers. Adding to her burdensome costume were the weighty jade earplugs, jeweled wrist cuffs, and belt she was sent to wear this day by her husband-to-be. Her long black hair had been painstakingly dressed in the high fashion of the times, pulled straight up and back, and tied in square portions, revealing her beautifully slanted forehead and high cheekbones. Lady Chanil had left her home in Tikal to become Second Wife to Palenque’s High King. Troubling dreams had disturbed her nights, and apprehension filled her days as she traveled through the hot and humid, orchid-filled jungle. They had journeyed for nearly twenty days. At times the route took them on rivers where they boarded kayucs, or on narrow jungle trails, and often on the outskirts of cities in an effort to travel uninterrupted—and perhaps more safely. The long trips each day would have been unbearable, but for the many jaguar skin pillows stuffed with the silky fibers of kapok, which were placed about her for her comfort. Any observer would note that a personage of great importance was headed for Palenque. Heralding this colorful parade’s progress were the sounds of howling monkeys and screeching parrots. Lady Chanil was surrounded by soldiers, priests and various officials, all wanting to be part of the fantastic procession set up by her future husband, Lord Akal Balam. Dozens of porters carried the gifts of carved and polished jade jewelry, alabaster vases, rare shells, and hematite mirrors backed with mother of pearl. The finest textiles of Tikal were rolled on long poles. Added to these gifts were sacks of salt, sugar cane, cocoa beans, and ceramic jars of honey. The priests had calculated this day as the most auspicious time on the Sacred Round Calendar. Indeed, it had proved perfect for her entry into Palenque and the lives of its fifty thousand inhabitants. The pageant had begun in her birth city of Tikal, also known by the ancient name of Mutul, and had slowly wound its way down the sacred sacbé road of white stones. Workers from Palenque and neighboring cities had toiled for months in the humid weather to lengthen and flatten the road by rolling huge boulders over the smaller stones, thereby creating a dry route between the two cities. These peasant workers would be rewarded for their hard labor by joining in the celebration of the marriage of the “Woman of Tikal” and their king. This marriage would form an alliance between the two powerful cities, bringing an end to the constant threat of war. Lady Chanil understood the marriage ceremony was to take place immediately upon her arrival in Palenque. It had been explained to her that Lord Akal’s dramatically staged entrance of the new queen into the city was as important to the king as was his own grand appearance in front of the populace as he greeted her. King Akal Balam of Palenque would appear in all his splendor at the steps of the Great Temple. There, in the grand ceremony, he would appeal to the gods for a long marriage and a fertile queen. Runners from Lady Chanil’s party told their retinue that the city teemed with anticipation. Even the constant building of temples had temporarily stopped, and all the people were put to work readying Palenque for the celebration. Peasant women applied a fresh coat of red ochre and other accent colors of bright blue, green, and yellow pigments on the impressive edifices lining the ceremonial route, and children decorated the temple steps with flowers. For the wealthier visitors and city inhabitants, chefs had been cooking the meat from many animal sacrifices that had been performed over the past several days. They also displayed dried meats such as rabbit, iguana, fowl, and pig, preserved in ground chili powder. In the main plaza, ploms had set up their woven and pottery wares for barter. Musicians played their clay pipes and wooden flutes, or beat their tortoise-shell drums with polished deer antlers. Local farmers had set up their stands with fruits, vegetables, and fish to feed the hundreds of people who had come from far and near for the celebration. This was to be the biggest event the people of Palenque had ever experienced! As the temperature rose on the morning of the last day of travel, Lady Chanil was relieved she was not allowed to have her sister or her female servants sit with her; she needed time to herself. Her sister, Sak Ayi’in, chattered constantly and her worry about life in the new palace had been tiring. Although the politics of palace life were familiar to Chanil, she knew no one in Palenque and had been glad she was permitted to bring people with her she knew well and could trust. Her priest, Uncle Men Lamat, intruded upon her thoughts as he walked alongside her litter. “It is likely people from the city or spies of the palace have ventured into the jungle, to hide and observe their new queen, only to brag to others they were the first to glimpse ‘The Woman of Tikal,’” he confided. “It is important you look as queenly as possible and go over in your mind the prayers and memorized responses we have been practicing these past three days. It will all be over soon.” With that, he straightened his old and crooked back to look as holy as possible to any outsiders, and marched on ahead of her. Chanil wondered about the new life her other uncle, the King of Tikal, had bargained for her, but she was interrupted once again. “My Lady,” called out Keh Cahal, the king’s war chief sent to lead the bridal procession. This handsome nacom, was of medium height, and had a broad chest and piercing stare. He quickly averted his eyes in respect and continued, “We are nearing Palenque. If you look above the trees you will see the Great Temple where your marriage to our noble king will take place. I am honored to be war chief to King Akal Balam, and equally honored to lead you here to Palenque.” Immediately, he strode on ahead, shouting orders to his men to look smart and do their king proud. Chanil noticed how confidently the king’s emissary carried himself. It was clear he cared little for the ornaments most men of high office wore to identify their rank and importance. She wondered if this man cared for a woman with as much fervor as he displayed for his king. As the jungle began to thin, small thatched peasant huts appeared and the forested land gave way to fields of corn, beans, squash, and sugar cane. The finer stone houses of the city’s elite soon replaced the poorer huts. Chanil knew they were nearing their destination, and her heartbeat quickened. Her retinue stopped momentarily as her maid tied the bride-to-be’s huge headdress on and Chanil and her sister hugged quickly. She looked about for Uncle Men Lamat, and smiled in relief as he approached her to take her hand. “You look like a queen already, my sweet Chanil. Don’t be nervous, you’ll be fine.” He patted her hand and took his place beside her litter. As they approached the center of Palenque, the palace, called Bak, with its four-tiered tower, dominated the city. Her new home atop its man-made escarpment, looked like a red shining jewel in a green forest sea. It was truly a breathtaking sight. Uncle Men Lamat had told her that from its highest point, one could see all the way to the ocean in the north. It was obvious to Lady Chanil the architects of Palenque had planned the palace and its temples as a backdrop for public ceremonies such as this. Red stucco plaster coated the royal building’s facade. Paintings of honored kings and queens in blue and yellow were polis