Las Sepulturas - Residential area of Copan by Günther Eichhorn

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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 8^th 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.

View of the southern part of Las Sepulturas. (1057k)	View of a house at the entrance to Las Sepuluras. (1001k)	View of the main part of Las Sepulturas. (928k)	Central part of Las Sepulturas. (1016k)	In the central part of living area. Notice the niches in tghe walls for candles. (911k)
In the central part of living area. (907k)	There are lots of buildings that are not excavated. (743k)	House of a nobleman. (881k)	Sleeping bench in this house. (590k)	Figure on the skyband in this house. (453k)
Figure on the skyband in this house. (455k)	Figure on the skyband in this house. (429k)	Figure on the skyband in this house. (415k)	Figure on the skyband in this house. (466k)	Main structure in LasSepulturas. (813k)
Sculptures on this structure. (561k)	Closeup of the sculpture. It shows a scribe with the inkpot in his hand. (595k)	Figures in this structure. (501k)	Figures in this structure. (454k)	Figures in this structure. (474k)
Figures in this structure. (497k)	Figures in this structure. (426k)	Figures in this structure. (478k)	This was the house of 18 Rabbit before he became the ruler. (838k)	House of a Shaman. (808k)
Red paint on the walls in the house of the Shaman. (536k)	The red paint is made from the sap of this tree. It turns bright red when you rub the leaves. (817k)	The grave of the Shaman is in the court before his house. (955k)	Another grave. The Maya burried their dead close by. (880k)	Sometimes the dead were burried in the house. This is a grave under a sleeping bench. (766k)
This was a circular grave with a lid for a child. (933k)	Last figure of the skyband, a mythical bird carrying the skyband. (529k)	Mask of the Milky Way. (553k)	Deity representing Venus. (549k)	The Sun by night. (538k)
Mask of the Milky Way. (518k)	The Sun by day. (551k)	The Moon deity. (545k)	Mask of the Milky Way. (564k)	First figure of the skyband, a mythical bird carrying the skyband. (542k)
One of the four Pawahtun beings, pillars of the world. (528k)	One of the four Pawahtun beings, pillars of the world. (451k)	One of the four Pawahtun beings, pillars of the world. (479k)	One of the four Pawahtun beings, pillars of the world. (550k)	Figure from Structure 8N-66. (545k)
Figure from Structure 8N-66. (535k)

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All pictures are © Günther Eichhorn

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