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The Maya Battle, 786–1519

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2023

Mary E. Miller Open the ORCID record for Mary E. Miller [Opens in a new window]
Mary E. Miller*
Affiliation:
Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, California 90049, USA
*
E-mail correspondence to: mary.miller@yale.edu
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Abstract

A careful reading of the battle in the Bonampak murals offers new insights into eighth-century strategies for warfare, and the importance of overwhelming force in both aggression and deterrence. These same two strategies were critical during the Spanish invasion, especially in defense of freshwater resources. The murals of Bonampak provide insights into the Maya battle, including the emphasis on teamwork in execution of battle tactics and the seemingly contradictory emphasis on the individual, in terms of hieroglyphics. Despite exhaustive study of the paintings, the potential consideration of color-defined and pattern shields also may reveal groupings of warriors previously unrecognized in both battle and presentation of captives. Sixteenth-century accounts by Spanish invaders confirm a practice that includes defense of water sources along the coast of Yucatan, with details that can be evaluated regarding eighth-century Maya practice.

Type
Special Section: The Practice of Maya Warfare
Information
Ancient Mesoamerica , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , Spring 2023 , pp. 241 - 248
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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