Watʼul Chatel
| Watʼul Chatel | |
|---|---|
| King of Seibal | |
.JPG) Stela 10 at Harvard University showing the king Watʼul Chatel | |
| Religion | Maya religion |
Watʼul Chatel was a king of Seibal, the Maya city. He is also known as Aj Bʼolon Haabʼtal.[1]
Biography[edit]
Seibal's refounding took place in AD 830 when Watʼul Chatel became a king, as a vassal of Chan Ekʼ Hopet of Ucanal.[2] The new king dedicated a new building and stelae in 849, overseen by Jewel Kʼawil, the king of Tikal, and Chan Pet, king of Calakmul.[3] Watʼul Chatel built an innovative new temple-stelae arrangement to the south of the Central Plaza of Group A.
His last monument was erected in 889, almost 60 years after his accession.
Depictions[edit]
On Stela 8 Watʼul Chatel wears jaguar claws on his hands and feet, together with other attributes of the Bearded Jaguar God.[4]
Stela 9 depicts Watʼul Chatel with the attributes of the Maize God and describes him invoking the Vision Serpent, which he grasps in his hands.[5]
Stela 10 depicts Watʼul Chatel dressed in Terminal Classic Maya style, although his foreign-looking face bears a moustache. The text on this stela displays the glyphs of Tikal, Calakmul and Motul de San José, describing how he received noble visitors from those cities.[6]
Stela 11 describes the refounding of Seibal on 14 March 830 and the installation of Watʼul Chatel.