Photo: Nickaroundtheworld
This is a great photo of Kajyub' by Nick Logan- he's also taken others of the surrounding area- in particular this one where you can really appreciate the valley of Rabinal. I've roughly translated this information for Oj K'aslik about Kajyub':
Kajyub' is of course better known for being featured in the Rabinal Achí, a dynastic Maya drama from the fifteenth century- represented through masked dance, theatre and music. In 2005, it was declared part of the oral heritage of humanity by UNESCO.
Oj K'aslik - Estamos Vivos - Recuperacion de la Memoria Historica de Rabinal (1944-1996) - Bert Janssens (Museo Comunitario Rabinal Achi)
Ichon, A., (1996), p.191 y Arnauld, M.C., en Breton,A., (1993)
The presence of numerous archaeological sites corroborates the fact that the valley of Rabinal and of Chixoy were inhabited long before the Spanish invasion. The sacred places of Kajyub', Chwitinamit, Chiwiloy, Pakaqja, Chwiprocesion, Saqtijel, Toloxkok and Belej K'ache' are just a provisional and incomplete list of principle houses that the land's forefathers left.
In the Chixoy basin, that in the north of Rabinal joined with the municipalities of Cubulco and Uspantán, important places like Rax Ch'iich' in Los Encuentros (pa ya' ch'iich' - 'en el agua del metal') were completely covered by the construction of hydroelectric dam of Pueblo Viejo, while Cawinal near Chicruz was partially covered. An archaeological assessment of this area brings us to the conclusion that there was a long history of prehispanic occupation in the region of Rabinal. In the postclassic period (900-1524 AD) Kajyub' and Chwitinamit, along with Cawinal in the valley of Chixoy were inhabited.
In conclusion, we can say that the region of Rabinal played an important role in the commercial route between Kaminal Juyu' and the lowlands of the Petén during the preclassic period. Equally, the old route from the capital to Cobán went through Rabinal via the royal road (camino real).
In the Chixoy basin, that in the north of Rabinal joined with the municipalities of Cubulco and Uspantán, important places like Rax Ch'iich' in Los Encuentros (pa ya' ch'iich' - 'en el agua del metal') were completely covered by the construction of hydroelectric dam of Pueblo Viejo, while Cawinal near Chicruz was partially covered. An archaeological assessment of this area brings us to the conclusion that there was a long history of prehispanic occupation in the region of Rabinal. In the postclassic period (900-1524 AD) Kajyub' and Chwitinamit, along with Cawinal in the valley of Chixoy were inhabited.
In conclusion, we can say that the region of Rabinal played an important role in the commercial route between Kaminal Juyu' and the lowlands of the Petén during the preclassic period. Equally, the old route from the capital to Cobán went through Rabinal via the royal road (camino real).
Kajyub' is of course better known for being featured in the Rabinal Achí, a dynastic Maya drama from the fifteenth century- represented through masked dance, theatre and music. In 2005, it was declared part of the oral heritage of humanity by UNESCO.
The oral and written narrative is presented by a group of characters, who appear on a stage representing Maya villages, especially Kajyub', the regional capital of the Rabinaleb' in the fourteenth century. The narrative, divided into four acts, deals with a conflict between two major political entities in the region, the Rabinaleb' and the K'iche'.
The main characters are two princes, the Rabinal Achí and the K'iche Achí. The other characters are the king of Rabinaleb', Job'Toj, and his servant, Achij Mun Achij Mun Ixoq Mun, who has both male and female traits, the green-feathered mother, Uchuch Q'uq' Uchuch Raxon, and thirteen eagles and thirteen jaguars who represent the warriors of the fortress of Kajyub'. K'iche' Achí is captured and put on trial for having attempted to steal Rabinaleb' children, a grave violation of Maya law.
ReferencesThe main characters are two princes, the Rabinal Achí and the K'iche Achí. The other characters are the king of Rabinaleb', Job'Toj, and his servant, Achij Mun Achij Mun Ixoq Mun, who has both male and female traits, the green-feathered mother, Uchuch Q'uq' Uchuch Raxon, and thirteen eagles and thirteen jaguars who represent the warriors of the fortress of Kajyub'. K'iche' Achí is captured and put on trial for having attempted to steal Rabinaleb' children, a grave violation of Maya law.
Oj K'aslik - Estamos Vivos - Recuperacion de la Memoria Historica de Rabinal (1944-1996) - Bert Janssens (Museo Comunitario Rabinal Achi)
Ichon, A., (1996), p.191 y Arnauld, M.C., en Breton,A., (1993)
