Tikal - The Mayan Metropolis
Central Pyramids
Guatemala
As the model shows, Tikal was the Maya Manhattan,
larger, richer, and more powerful than any other Maya
city-state. Tikal had more pyramids than its rivals, and
the tallest pyramid. All this in the middle of the jungle.
We start with the two pyramids facing each other at the
front left of the model.
larger, richer, and more powerful than any other Maya
city-state. Tikal had more pyramids than its rivals, and
the tallest pyramid. All this in the middle of the jungle.
We start with the two pyramids facing each other at the
front left of the model.
The Temple of the Grand Jaguar is the burial site of
the Mayan king with my favorite name, Lord
Chocolate. He ruled at the beginning of the 8th
century, and is credited with both building this temple
and greatly increasing Tikal's military strength.
Under repair, the temple was unfortunately closed to
climbers.
the Mayan king with my favorite name, Lord
Chocolate. He ruled at the beginning of the 8th
century, and is credited with both building this temple
and greatly increasing Tikal's military strength.
Under repair, the temple was unfortunately closed to
climbers.
This jade mask, uncovered at Tikal,
may have been worn by Lord Chocolate.
may have been worn by Lord Chocolate.
Directly across the Great Plaza from Lord Chocolate's
Temple is the Temple of the Masks, presented here in
wide angle. My best vertical photo, featuring the
stairs, can be seen by clicking Here. This was the first
Mayan pyramid I had the opportunity to climb!
Temple is the Temple of the Masks, presented here in
wide angle. My best vertical photo, featuring the
stairs, can be seen by clicking Here. This was the first
Mayan pyramid I had the opportunity to climb!
Going up can be tough on kids, but
my own ascent was quite easy.
my own ascent was quite easy.
From the summit of the Temple of the Masks here is
Tikal's Great Plaza. At the top of this picture is the
base of the Temple of the Grand Jaguar. The pair of
facing pyramids remains a Tikal trademark. To the
left, Tikal's Central Acropolis is a ruin. Then I
learned that going down the stairs of a Mayan
pyramid required far more caution than climbing up.
Tikal's Great Plaza. At the top of this picture is the
base of the Temple of the Grand Jaguar. The pair of
facing pyramids remains a Tikal trademark. To the
left, Tikal's Central Acropolis is a ruin. Then I
learned that going down the stairs of a Mayan
pyramid required far more caution than climbing up.
If you have a high speed internet connection, watch the
Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free video of this trip to
Central America and Mexico, "Mayavision", by clicking on
AdventurePics.com .
Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free video of this trip to
Central America and Mexico, "Mayavision", by clicking on
AdventurePics.com .
