Yaxchilan

In the Yaxhilan records, the first recorded monarch, was its founder Yat-Balam, and probably became ahau in AD 359. His name is always translated as Progenitor-Jaguar, but it really means Jaguar Penis. The site was occupied for centuries before then.

Yaxchilan means "Green Stones", and it is located on the bank of the Usumacinta river in the state of Chiapas. It was one of the most powerful Maya states along the course of the Usumacinta river, with Piedras Negras as its major rival.

Yaxchilan has many of the most skillfull and beautiful Mayan inscriptions and carvings, and it is because of it that lots of information has been recovered. Unfortunately, because of the richness and beauty of the carvings, many have been taken away, like those lintels from Temple 21 and 23 that are in the British Museum and others in the National Museum in Mexico City.

To get to Yaxchilan it is neccesary to take a boat on the Usumacinta river for around 50 minutes one way. There you are going to be right in the international border between Mexico and Guatemala.