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Las Sepulturas - Residential area of Copan

by Günther Eichhorn


Far off from the principal city acropolis where the elites administered, the Sepulturas complex was nearly a kilometer to its northeast and linked to it via a causeway. The Sepulturas complex was an elite residence during the 8th century.

One very interesting piece in Las Sepulturas is a stone bench, from Structure 9N-82. It is carved with glyphs and high-relief figures of Pawahtun beings, the "pillars" of the world's four corners. The glyphs on the bench rim are unconventionally elaborate for this writing system, but it is unique to Copán script. They record that the patriarch of the Sepulturas noble family dedicated their house at this complex, with the attendance of the king, in 781.

Another interesting structure is a skyband in structure 8N-66. It is a string of symbols for the sun, the moon and the planets. Skyband frames are found throughout Mesoamerica. They serve to put the scene that they surround in a heavenly context. There are mythical birds on the ends of the skyband. They carry the carved images of the heavenly bodies. The images are of the Moon deity, the Sun by day and night, and Venus. In between are repeating masks of the Milky Way. The whole is supported by high-relief figures of Pawahtun beings, the "pillars" of the world's four corners. It is the only known full-figure depiction of a skyband in the Maya area.

The Copán Temples, Copán Stelae and the Maya ruler genealogy are described on separate pages.

Honduras 0496 View of the southern part of Las Sepulturas. (879k) Honduras 0445 View of a house at the entrance to Las Sepuluras. (801k) Honduras 0452 View of the main part of Las Sepulturas. (752k) Honduras 0462 Central part of Las Sepulturas. (837k) Honduras 0457 In the central part of living area. Notice the niches in tghe walls for candles. (735k)
Honduras 0459 In the central part of living area. (723k) Honduras 0450 There are lots of buildings that are not excavated. (589k) Honduras 0438 House of a nobleman. (691k) Honduras 0448 Sleeping bench in this house. (424k) Honduras 0439 Figure on the skyband in this house. (315k)
Honduras 0440 Figure on the skyband in this house. (307k) Honduras 0441 Figure on the skyband in this house. (285k) Honduras 0442 Figure on the skyband in this house. (269k) Honduras 0443 Figure on the skyband in this house. (311k) Honduras 0463 Main structure in LasSepulturas. (617k)
Honduras 0464 Sculptures on this structure. (387k) Honduras 0474 Closeup of the sculpture. It shows a scribe with the inkpot in his hand. (416k) Honduras 0469 Figures in this structure. (338k) Honduras 0470 Figures in this structure. (306k) Honduras 0465 Figures in this structure. (308k)
Honduras 0473 Figures in this structure. (341k) Honduras 0472 Figures in this structure. (284k) Honduras 0471 Figures in this structure. (321k) Honduras 0478 This was the house of 18 Rabbit before he became the ruler. (652k) Honduras 0480 House of a Shaman. (608k)
Honduras 0484 Red paint on the walls in the house of the Shaman. (382k) Honduras 0483 The red paint is made from the sap of this tree. It turns bright red when you rub the leaves. (626k) Honduras 0482 The grave of the Shaman is in the court before his house. (754k) Honduras 0486 Another grave. The Maya burried their dead close by. (676k) Honduras 0490 Sometimes the dead were burried in the house. This is a grave under a sleeping bench. (577k)
Honduras 0485 This was a circular grave with a lid for a child. (726k) Honduras 0615 Last figure of the skyband, a mythical bird carrying the skyband. (364k) Honduras 0616 Mask of the Milky Way. (380k) Honduras 0617 Deity representing Venus. (373k) Honduras 0618 The Sun by night. (368k)
Honduras 0619 Mask of the Milky Way. (354k) Honduras 0620 The Sun by day. (373k) Honduras 0621 The Moon deity. (375k) Honduras 0622 Mask of the Milky Way. (388k) Honduras 0623 0623 (379k)
Honduras 0624 One of the four Pawahtun beings, pillars of the world. (372k) Honduras 0625 One of the four Pawahtun beings, pillars of the world. (307k) Honduras 0626 One of the four Pawahtun beings, pillars of the world. (329k) Honduras 0627 One of the four Pawahtun beings, pillars of the world. (383k) Honduras 0629 Figure from Structure 8N-66. (371k)
Honduras 0630 Figure from Structure 8N-66. (373k)



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All pictures are © Günther Eichhorn


© Günther Eichhorn
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