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Tikal - Guatemala
The ball-courts, wooden lintels, unique calendar, and
glyphic writings all reveal clues about life in a society
that thrived for over 1,000 years. Exploring these aspects
of Mayan life gives the visitor an even greater appreciation
of the accomplishments of this once great civilization.
Tikal, a city that boasted a population of up to 100,000,
was highly structured and immersed itself in spiritual
practice. The city flourished during the classic, and
late classic periods, (AD 300-900). Many of the massive
buildings that are visible today were constructed during
this time. The momuments paid tribute to the rulers
of the past, and were meant to please the deities. In
addition to their obvious achievements in construction,
the Maya also excelled in the arts, astronomy, and glyphic
writing. Though little is understood, what is known
is fascinating.
One example that reveals much about the Maya is the
ball court. This game, similar to soccer, pitted two
teams against each other in a stone court. The game
was highly competitive, and there was much betting among
the spectators and royal guests. Some of these games
had serious implications for the losers. Often they
were sacrificed. A disturbing facet of Mayan culture
was the prominence of human sacrifice. In addition to
its role in the ball courts, human sacrifice was used
in burial rituals. Often, as in the burial of ruler
Stormy Sky, a number of attendants were sacrificed and
placed alongside their ruler in the burial vault.
Wooden lintels are found throughout the temples of Tikal.
These decorative pieces were cut from the chicozapote
wood. While still fresh, they were adorned with intricate
carvings and art. Over time, the hardwood cured to an
incredible strength. In fact the lintels that are visible
today are the original ones that the Maya used in their
construction. Often, these lintels weren't covered just
with art, but also displayed pictures and glyphs that
told anecdotes of the time. Some of what has been learned
from this ancient people has been found in their expressions
of pictoglyphs, and their complex writing. They were
prolific in their description of life, religious beliefs,
and customs.
Mayans used different forms of expression in recording
life. They had a complex form of writing that was found
inscripted on the stelae and altars that dot the site.
Pictures depicted events and beliefs of the time. Carved
in the lintels, etched in the stone steps, and covering
various walls throughout the temples, the life, religion,
and times of the Maya were documented.
 The
Maya were obsessed with the idea of time. The fact that
they employed the concept of zero in their number system
helped them make great strides in this realm. They knew
that the earth year was a little more than 365 days,
and a complicated, incredibly accurate calender predicted
the solstices of the year. The Maya applied the same
zeal to studying other worlds and were quite accurate
in determining the average year on Venus, a planet that
was millions of miles from earth! They named periods
of time, (a twenty year span was known as the katun),
placed great significance on these cycles by building
temples and stelae marking the conclusions of these
Mayan "katuns".
The ancient Maya took great pride in their artwork,
creating intricate masks dedicated to the dead, and
sculpting stelae that recorded the history of the time.
Additionally, they accumulated rare collectibles that
weren't indigenous to the region. Often, valuables such
as sting-ray spines and sea shells were traded in exchange
for jaguar pelts and flint. The presence of these ornaments
lends credence to the concept of a complex trade network
that extended throughout Meso-America.
 This
treasure was found in the burial chamber of a noble.
The life-sized mask was dated to 527 A.D. It was created
of jade, a valuable stone not indigenous to the area,
and its eyes and mouth were inlaid with pyrite and shells.
 This
realistic mask was adorned with shells in the eyes and
teeth. Its attention to naturalistic detail further
exemplifies Mayan excellence in art. Found in a burial
chamber of a noble whose head was missing, it was apparently
sewn to the wraps that covered the body. This was probably
an attempt to give the deceased a face when he crossed
into the afterlife.
 Stela
X is located in the Great Plaza between Temples I and
II. Bas-relief pictorials cover the face of the stone
tablet. This particular stela depicts Ruler Curl Head
who ruled the city circa A.D. 528. It is one of more
than a hundred stelae that are scattered around Tikal.
Most of the stelae were accompanied by round stone altars
(see Altar V, below), and many depicted events of the
time and/or paid tribute to specific rulers. Some of
the stelae were covered only on one side, while others
were completely detailed on all faces of the monument.
The fine detail of the work has special meaning, and
research continues to decipher their intricate pictures.
These pictographs have been essential in helping researchers
understand the ancient Maya.
 Located
near the base of Temple IV, Altar V is especially sophisticated.
With a diameter of more than five feet, this bas-relief
clearly reveals the detail of the iconography. The scene
depicts two individuals adorned in full regalia. Every
aspect of the sculpted picture is significant. The skull
and bones at the bottom centre of the drawing accentuates
the revered nature of death, and prominent role that
it played in Mayan society during the time. Some believe
that its significance is related to a katun-ending celebration.
 This
skull of a Mayan ruler, (currently on display at the
National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Guatemala
City), hints at the reverence the ancient Maya placed
on the concept of life and death. The dead royalty were
laid in burial chambers under massive temples that immortalized
them. Often their bodies were adorned with jade ornaments,
and pottery painted with scenes of the afterlife was
placed beside them. Sometimes, attendents were sacrificed
to the gods and buried in the chambers with the royalty,
along with other prized possesions such as crocodiles.
The reverence paid to death and the significance of
the afterlife cannot be overstated in the Mayan civilization.
They diligently recorded the passage of the rulers,
and believed that the spirit of the dead empowered the
living.
Though there is an abundance of information relating
to Mayan life, there is much more that has yet to be
discovered. Research continues to unearth new facts
about the Mayan civilization, but many questions remain
unanswered. Scores of structures in Tikal have yet to
be explored, and their excavation could reveal many
of the secrets that still puzzle both the casual visitor,
as well as the dedicated scientist.
Tikal
Pictures
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