TikalTikal was the capital of the strongest Mayan kingdom during the Classical Period, reaching its peak from 200-900 CE. The city was filled with palaces and pyramid-temples. The builders of Tikal designed the buildings to include and reflect the different aspects of Mayan society such as religion, art, astronomy, and violent warfare. Today, Tikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Tikal today is a national park in Guatemala. The city is laid out around the main grand plaza area depicted above. Mayan cities were carefully planned in their design. Mayan architects carefully laid out cities in a circular pattern, featuring open plazas and ornate temples. Builders also considered the topography of the land when designing cities, ensuring that the tall structures would have the most undistorted panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
North Acropolis |
Grand Plaza |
Temple 1 |
Temple 1 was built around 732 CE, for King Jasaw Chan K’awiil I, by his heir Yik’in Chan K’awiil. The temple stands 154 feet tall, overlooking the Great Plaza, and is topped with a shrine resembling the shape of a head, commemorating the king. In the past, the shrine consisted of 3 rooms ornately decorated in jewels and hieroglyphs. The pyramid design for Temple 1 features 9 levels, symbolizing the levels of the underworld. The temple is similar to the Egyptian pyramids in that it was built as a tomb for Jasaw Chan K’awiil I. The North Acropolis is one of the most elaborate ancient Mayan complexes. It’s primary purpose was royal funerals.
Temple 4Built in 741 CE, and standing 212 feet, Temple 4 is the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Western hemisphere. The temple is located on the western edge of Tikal, facing East toward temples 1, 2, and 3. Temple 4 was built to honor the 27th king of the Tikal Dynasty, Yik’in Chan K’awiil. Atop the pyramid sits a 29-ft tall shrine consisting of 3 rooms. Within these rooms are hieroglyphs explaining when the temple was built, and for whom it was built.
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Sources
Cartwright, Mark. "Maya Architecture." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., 20 Sept. 2015. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
Sedov, Stanislav, and Dmitry Moiseenko. "World Map by AirPano." Maya Pyramids, Tikal, Guatemala. Airpano, 20 May 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
"Sites Mayas, Jungles, Volcans, ..." Sites Mayas, Jungles, Volcans, ... (Guatemala). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
"Tikal." Tikal. National Parks - Guatemala, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Tikal National Park. Tikal National Park, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.
Sedov, Stanislav, and Dmitry Moiseenko. "World Map by AirPano." Maya Pyramids, Tikal, Guatemala. Airpano, 20 May 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
"Sites Mayas, Jungles, Volcans, ..." Sites Mayas, Jungles, Volcans, ... (Guatemala). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
"Tikal." Tikal. National Parks - Guatemala, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Tikal National Park. Tikal National Park, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.