Tikal is a magnificent Maya site. It holds remnants of the Maya culture, one of the many Ancient Civilizations that I saw during my travels.

From the Tikal entry in Wikipedia:

Tikal is the ruin of an ancient city, which was likely to have been called Yax Mutal, found in a rainforest in Guatemala. It is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. Situated in the department of El Petén, the site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. Though monumental architecture at the site dates back as far as the 4th century BCE, Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, c. 200 CE to 900 CE. During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily, while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as the great metropolis of Teotihuacán in the distant Valley of México. There is evidence that Tikal was conquered by Teotihuacán in the 4th century CE. Following the end of the Late Classic Period, no new major monuments were built at Tikal and there is evidence that elite palaces were burned. These events were coupled with a gradual population decline, culminating with the site's abandonment by the end of the 10th century.

Tikal is the best understood of any of the large lowland Maya cities, with a long dynastic ruler list, the discovery of the tombs of many of the rulers on this list and the investigation of their monuments, temples and palaces.

Rulers of Tikal

Name (or nickname)RuledDynastic
succession no.
Alternative names
Yax Ehb' Xook c. 90 1 Yax Moch Xok, Yax Chakte'l Xok, First Scaffold Shark
Foliated Jaguar c. 292 ?
Animal Headdress ? 10? Kinich Ehb'?
Sihyaj Chan K'awiil I c. 307 11
Unen Bahlam c. 317 12?
K'inich Muwaan Jol I ? –359 13 Mahk'ina Bird Skull, Feather Skull
Chak Tok Ich'aak I 360–378 14 Jaguar Paw, Great Paw, Great Jaguar Paw
Yax Nuun Ayiin I 379 –404? 15 Curl Snout, Curl Nose
Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II 411–456 16 Stormy Sky, Manikin Cleft Sky
K'an Chitam 458–c. 486 17 Kan Boar, K'an Ak
Chak Tok Ich'aak II c. 486–508 18 Jaguar Paw II, Jaguar Paw Skull
Lady of TikalKaloomte' B'alam c. 511–527+ 19 Curl Head
Bird Claw ? 20? Animal Skull I
Wak Chan K'awiil 537?–562 21 Double Bird
Animal Skull c. 593–628 22
K'inich Muwaan Jol II c. 628–650 23 or 24
Nuun Ujol Chaak c. 650–679 25 Shield Skull, Nun Bak Chak
Jasaw Chan K'awiil I 682–734 26 Ruler A, Ah Cacao
Yik'in Chan K'awiil 734–c. 766 27 Ruler B, Yaxkin Caan Chac, Sun Sky Rain
Ruler 28 c. 766–768 28
Yax Nuun Ayiin II 768–c. 794 29
Nuun Ujol K'inich c. 800? 30?
Dark Sun –810+ 31?
Jewel K'awiil –849+ ?
Jasaw Chan K'awiil II –869+ ?

Map of Tikal
Site map by Burchell, Simon. 'Tikal Map.' Ancient History Encyclopedia.
Last modified October 05, 2014. https://www.ancient.eu/image/3101/ (31k)

The Tikal National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

All pictures are © Dr. Günther Eichhorn, unless otherwise noted.

Tikal

Pyramid
Pyramid. (1219k)
Temples Plaza 7 Temples
Temples in the Plaza of 7 Temples. (1.9M)
View Great Plaza Temple
View of the Great Plaza, with Temple 1 on the right and Temple 2 just off the left. (1336k)
View Over Great Plaza
View over the Great Plaza with the North Acropolis behind it. (1087k)
North Acropolis
North Acropolis. (1486k)
Large Mask Decoration North
Large mask decoration on the North Acropolis. (837k)
Large Mask Decoration North
Large mask decoration on the North Acropolis. (1284k)
Part North Acropolis
Part of the North Acropolis. (1.9M)
View Over Great Plaza
View over the Great Plaza with the Central Acropolis behind it. (1489k)
Central Acropolis
In the Central Acropolis. (1.6M)
Central Acropolis
Central Acropolis. (1484k)
Central Acropolis
Central Acropolis. (1319k)
Residential Area Central Acropolis
Residential area in the Central Acropolis. (1438k)
Side View Temple 1
Side view of Temple 1 with a ball court in front. (1154k)
Side View Temple 1
Side view of Temple 1 with a ball court in front. (1107k)
Temple 1
Temple 1. (1125k)
Temple 1
Temple 1. (1099k)
Two Altars Stelae Front
Two altars and stelae in front of Temple 1. (1.7M)
Temple 2
Temple 2. (1191k)
Temple 2
Temple 2. (1211k)
Mask Decorations Temple 2
Mask decorations on Temple 2. (1125k)
Mask Decorations Temple 2
Mask decorations on Temple 2. (1.5M)
Mask Decorations Temple 2
Mask decorations on Temple 2. (1348k)
View Temple 2 Over
View from Temple 2 over the Great Plaza towards Temple 1. The North Acropolis is on the left. (1113k)
Temple 3
Temple 3. (1122k)
View Temple 3 Temple
View of Temple 3 from Temple 2. (1320k)
Temple 4 Highest Tikal
Temple 4, the highest in Tikal. (1368k)
Temple 5 Second Highest
Temple 5, the second highest. (1265k)
Temple 5
Temple 5. (1247k)
View Temple 5 Temple
View of Temple 5 from Temple 2. (1044k)
Ball Court Central Acropolis
Ball court with the Central Acropolis behind it. (1345k)
Residential Area
Residential area. (1.8M)
Carved Altar Great Plaza
Carved altar in the Great Plaza. (1152k)
Carved Stele
Carved stele. (1360k)
Carved Stele
Carved stele. (1251k)
Detail Upper Part Stele
Detail of the upper part of the stele. (1066k)
Detail Lower Part Stele
Detail of the lower part of the stele. (967k)

This page contains 38 pictures

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Page last updated on Fri May 21 15:21:49 2021 (Mountain Standard Time)


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