Guatemala´s "place of voices" is the largest of the ancient Mayan cities of the Classic period. Its monumental scale can still be admired, transporting us back in time to the era between 250 and 909 when it became one of the main cultural centers of the Mayan civilisation which today spans four other countries besides Guatemala (Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico).
It has more than 3,000 structures spread across an area of 16 square kilometres (just over six sq. miles) within Tikal National Park, in the Petén jungle in the country´s north (from Guatemala City, a 3½hour flight to Flores, then about an hour-and-a-half drive). At its peak, one hundred thousand people lived here, but it was abandoned at the end of the 10th century for reasons that remain unknown. Forgotten, it remained hidden by impenetrable jungle until 1848. More than 4,000 structures have been cataloged, but most remain unexcavated. The legends are so powerful today that they send shivers down your spine. The sacred book Popol Vuh says that the first four Maya were created from corn paste and that the trees breathe the breath of the people who live underground.
If you are lucky, you might see groups of indigenous people praying. They come from small villages located kilometres away, prepare bonfires, and kneel to worship the Maya gods, in whom despite centuries of Christianity´s dominion in Guatemala they still believe. The main plaza (top) is the most spectacular place. Temple I, also called the Temple of the Great Jaguar, is 55 metres (180 feet) high, and here lies Hasaw Cha’an Kawil, the great lord of Tikal who restored his city's supremacy over the other Maya centers when he fought against the cities of Waka’, Caracol, and Calakmul. The Temple of the Masks (aka the Pyramid of the Moon), meanwhile, is the tomb of Kawil's wife, and smaller pyramids stand beside it. The Temple of the High Priest was the last to be built, in 810, and boasts the best-preserved roof comb in the Mayan world. And the Temple of the Double-Headed Serpent is the tallest, at 64m (210 ft.). Others include Temple V and Temple VI, also known as the Temple of the Inscriptions, named for the inscriptions on its back.
This is a place of tranquility, because even though it´s obviously quite popular with visitors, it never really feels "crowded," and you can lose yourself amidst the noise. Don't be afraid to climb one of the pyramids - just be very careful with your footing, because the steps are steep and sometimes slick, and no one will be held responsible for any falls. Then from the tops you can gaze out over the other pyramids and the jungle beyond in all its splendour. And who knows, perhaps a Mayan god is watching from above.
Comments