Death and the Classic Maya Kings

James L. Fitzsimmons is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Middlebury College and is currently directing excavations at the site of Zapote Bobal, Guatemala.

• A Note on OrthographyAcknowledgmentsChapter 1: Celebrations for the Dead Anthropology and Death RitualsThe Classic Maya CaseMethodological ConcernsKingship and the AncestorsChapter 2: Death and the Afterlife in the Lowlands EarthMaizeMortalityWriting DeathThe Self and the SoulBreaths of Life and DeathWayTo the AfterlifeCelestial Bodies and Maize GodsChapter 3: Royal Funerals Waiting for IntermentGravemakersTombs as Underworld SurfacesTombs as CavesTombs as HousesTiming and the Ritual ProcessEmbalming and ProcessingDressing and Bundling the CorpsePaintingArranging the Body, Arranging the FurnitureSealing the TombChapter 4: Death and Landscape K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo'Lowland Founders and Local VariationsCults of PersonalityBird Jaguar IVGods and Orchards at PalenqueSouls within BuildingsAncestor ShrinesChapter 5: Entering the Tombs of the Classic Maya Kings Patterns of Reentry at Piedras NegrasFire in the Motmot BurialFire and History at ToninaFamily AffairsFalse ReentryPainting, Drilling, and Bone PeelingThe Portable DeadChapter 6: The Dead King and the Body Politic Royal Funerals: Public or Private?Bodies and MonumentsCorpses, Souls, and Mourners in TransitionGuide to AppendixesAppendix 1: Burial Structures and ContextsAppendix 2: Body Preparations and Funerary ActivitiesAppendix 3: Grave GoodsNotesReferencesIndex