Question

HELP MEEEEE What allowed Pacal II to declare he was a god king?

a
His sister was the "first mother" therefore a goddess.
b
His mother was the "first mother" therefore a goddess.
c
His aunt was the "first mother" therefore a goddess.
d
His grandmother was the "first mother" therefore a goddess.

Answer 1

Pacal II could declare himself a 'god king' if he had a divine connection through his lineage. Rulers in ancient cultures, including the Maya, often used associations with gods or goddesses to justify their rule. This kinship with the divine was a common method of legitimizing power.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns the legitimization of rule in ancient civilizations, especially on how divine lineage or connections justified the power of monarchs. In the specific case of Pacal II, who was a Maya ruler, the claim to divine kingship often stemmed from an association with gods or goddesses through lineage. Pacal II could declare himself a 'god king' if his lineage involved divine association, such as having a mother or other female relative considered a goddess. This method of legitimizing rule was common in various ancient cultures where ruling figures often declared divine right to rule based on their ancestry or lineage being linked to the divine.

When considering historical examples of ruling figures influenced by divine association, one such example is the 'Idaean Mother' also known as Cybele or Magna Mater, whose cult was significant in ancient Rome. Roman society deliberated on the best way to introduce this deity to Rome, demonstrating how divine figures were intricately woven into societal and political fabrics.

Answer 2

B. His mother was the "first mother" therefore a goddess.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pacal II was just a little boy when his father died. As the rightful heir to the throne, he could not begin rulership as he was just a boy. His mother Sackuk assumed the throne and handed over rulership to him when he turned twelve. He ruled from 615 B.C to 683 B.C. He did at the age of 80.

He was known for declaring himself a god-king because he assigned his mother the title of the First Mother. The first mother was a goddess before the present earth. Since he received his Kingship directly from his mother, he must have found it right to confer her with such a title. The inscriptions of the title are found in his architectural works.