Sixteen Kings: A Maya Resurrection in Copan
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In a pretty valley in Honduras' western extreme lie the
Ruins of Copan. The subject of exploration and investigation since the
1830s, archaeologists are digging deep into its massive temples, uncovering
an intriguing buried dynasty. Their remarkable discoveries represent a
Maya resurrection, and have made Copan the most thoroughly researched
and understood of all Maya sites.
Since their emergence around 2,000 BC, the Maya developed
into the New World's most sophisticated ancient civilization, a society
of scientists, skilled architects and sculptors, fierce warriors, and
a ruling class that raised enormous temples to honor the lives and achievements
of their kings. Representing the southeast limit to the spread of the
Maya world, the city-state of Copan became the Maya's crowning artistic
achievement, the cultural apex of Maya civilization. Leader among all
Maya cities in terms of quantity and quality of stone sculpture, it has
been dubbed the Athens of the New World.
The key to understanding Copan is a large, square block
of carved stone known today as Altar Q. This altar depicts sixteen seated
men - four on each of its North, East, South, and West sides. These sixteen
figures were once thought to be astronomers gathered at an important meeting
to adjust the Maya calendar, but we now know that the figures represent
the members of a dynastic lineage of 16 kings whose rule spanned nearly
four centuries between 426 AD to approximately 820 A.D, Copan's "golden
age". The stela and temples in Copan were erected to commemorate
the accomplishments of this dynasty of kings.
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An exploration of the archaeological park begins at the
Great Plaza, an expansive, grassy courtyard with a pyramid in the center
and tall, standing monolithic "stela" arranged throughout. Most
of the glyphs and intricate carvings in the stela and altars refer to
one of Copan's most important figures, 18 Rabbit, the thirteenth king.
Considered the King of the Arts, 18 Rabbit is credited with implementing
the intricate, high relief style of sculpture for which Copan is famous.
He is also responsible for the construction of the famous ball court.
Next to the Great Plaza is the Acropolis, a group of massive
pyramidal structures where royal power was once concentrated, and which
hold beneath them a wealth of information about Copan's history.
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