ABSTRACT
In the Classic Maya (250–900 CE) lowlands, some rulers were identified by so-called emblem glyphs, which designated the bearer as the ‘holy lord’ (k'uhul ajaw) of a given polity. This title differentiated more powerful dynastic centers from subsidiary sites whose rulers did not have an emblem glyph and were instead referred to merely as ‘lord’ (ajaw). Polities ruled by kings with an emblem glyph still engaged in hierarchical relations with each other and could be dominant over or subservient to another polity. Ultimately, however, kingdoms with an emblem glyph of their own maintained their dynastic lineage and identity and thus a baseline level of political self-determination.
This contribution considers how hieroglyphic representation of emblem glyphs could express political identity graphically, not just linguistically. The key variable in emblem glyphs is the so-called emblem, the sign or sequence of signs denoting the specific polity. The emblem distinguishes a ‘holy lord’ as belonging to one dynasty as opposed to another; as such, it is the most linguistically or culturally marked component of the titular sequence, since the other components, k'uhul (‘divine, holy’) and ajaw (‘lord’), recurred in all emblem glyphs. Classic Maya scribes consistently maintained the internal arrangement or ordinatio of signs within a given emblem glyph, suggesting that they learned and conveyed emblem glyphs as compositional wholes, not just the sum of individual components. This orthographic practice facilitated quick recognition of the semantically decisive emblem within the sequence. It also indicates that political identity was intrinsically communicated in hieroglyphic composition, at least among scribes and elite readers of their inscriptions.
