CMGG entry for aj k'uhuun      (This article is part of the Learner's Maya Glyph Guide.)

Alternative readings: AJ K'UHU'N
Translation: priest; worshipper
Part of speech: Noun

Spellings of aj k'uhuun

                                                      

JM.p30.#1                                JM.p30.#2                                              

                                                                                                                    

AJ.<K’UH{uu}:na>                   a{j}:K’UH HUUN:na:la                            ya{j}.K’UH{uu}.na                               

 

                           A picture containing stone, building material Description automatically generated                                             

Lakambalam                           Zender-TCMPG.p10.c1.fig6b                       mayavase.com

CNC Panel 3 F1                       CPN Str. 9N-82 HB glyph-block L                K7786 glyph-block L

AJ.<K’UH{uu}:na>                  ya.K’UH{uu}.na                                              ya{j}.<K’UH:HUUN:na>

 

Coll-1

MQL Stela 11 A6a

<IX:a?>.<K’UH{uu}:na>

 

                                                    

Safronov                                                                                               GrubeEtAl-PaiN.p46.fig51                    Coll-1

PNG Panel 3 P’1-Q’2                                                                           PNG Stela 12 pB3                                  YAX Lintel 28 U1b-V1a

ja.<sa:wa> CHAN:na K’AWIIL AJ.<K’UH{uu}:na>                            ya.<K’UH{uu}:na>                                 IX:AJ K’UH{uu}:na

 

·    Zender-TCMPG.p9.c1.l-4 and Zender-TCMPG.p10.c1.fig6b (full figure glyphs for K’UH and na).

·    The term aj k’uhun is listed as a noun in EB.p17.pdfp22.#7 as “worshipper”, but only the verb k’uhun “to venerate, worship” is listed in the more recent BMM9, K&H, and K&L (probably because these dictionaries made the editorial decision not to list aj-compounds separately).

·    Older interpretation was “he/she of the holy books/paper/headdress” ~= “priest”, but Jackson&Stuart-AKT has advanced a new theory that it’s aj k’uhun = “he/she of the guarding” = a title of a noble who is responsible for guarding objects (e.g. tribute) or organizing / supervising the production process of objects for elite use – a significantly different function. They call this title the “God C title”.

·    It is never transcribed as aj k’uhhuun. [Probably because of a phonological rule which deletes double consonants when they arise from compounding or derivation]

·    JM.p30.#2 is the only one of the examples with a final la written. There is a known deity Huunal = the so-called “Jester God”, so perhaps JM.p30.#2 might not be an example of aj k’uhuun but instead aj k’uh huunal = “he of the god Huunal”.