Copan's Treasures
Honduras
There are two art masterpieces at Copan found nowhere
else in the Mayan world. This is the Hieroglyphic Stairway,
63 steps which tell of Copan's history and its rulers. The
several
thousand glyphs have still not been translated, and to make
things worse, archaeologists placed them in the wrong order.
else in the Mayan world. This is the Hieroglyphic Stairway,
63 steps which tell of Copan's history and its rulers. The
several
thousand glyphs have still not been translated, and to make
things worse, archaeologists placed them in the wrong order.
Carved on this alter are the Kings of Copan, 14 of
them, kings on every side. The last ruler shown is
the king who commissioned creation of the alter.
them, kings on every side. The last ruler shown is
the king who commissioned creation of the alter.
The carvings have survived over a thousand years in fine
shape, providing some of the best authentic images we
have of Mayan royalty. Large noses are a Mayan trait.
shape, providing some of the best authentic images we
have of Mayan royalty. Large noses are a Mayan trait.
Here is the Copan Acropolis as it looked in 1995, with the
jungle trying to regain control. As with nearly all the other
great Mayan cities, Copan collapsed for reasons still
unknown. The last carved record at Copan was made in 822,
nearly 1200 years ago.
The Maya generally abandoned their cities in favor of a less
complex culture, and the Maya have survived throughout
their traditional areas in Central America and Mexico to the
present day, numbering in the millions.
When the Spanish came, there were few Mayan cities to
resist the conquest. Those cities that fought were mostly
destroyed by the Spanish, but a great many others, such as
Copan, remain relatively intact, because the Spanish ignored
them. In addition to their decentralized structure, that is
why there are so many Mayan sites compared to what little
remains of the defeated Inca and Aztec Empires, whose great
structures were demolished by the victorious Spanish
conquerors.
jungle trying to regain control. As with nearly all the other
great Mayan cities, Copan collapsed for reasons still
unknown. The last carved record at Copan was made in 822,
nearly 1200 years ago.
The Maya generally abandoned their cities in favor of a less
complex culture, and the Maya have survived throughout
their traditional areas in Central America and Mexico to the
present day, numbering in the millions.
When the Spanish came, there were few Mayan cities to
resist the conquest. Those cities that fought were mostly
destroyed by the Spanish, but a great many others, such as
Copan, remain relatively intact, because the Spanish ignored
them. In addition to their decentralized structure, that is
why there are so many Mayan sites compared to what little
remains of the defeated Inca and Aztec Empires, whose great
structures were demolished by the victorious Spanish
conquerors.
If you have a high speed internet connection, watch the
Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free streaming video of this trip
to Central America and Mexico, "Mayavision", by clicking
on AdventurePics.com .
Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free streaming video of this trip
to Central America and Mexico, "Mayavision", by clicking
on AdventurePics.com .
