Copán

The Valley of Copán is perhaps the greatest source of information referring to the old Mayan civilization. The fame of Copán as the most artistic Mayan city is well well-known, and without a doubt played an important role when in 1980 UNESCO declared Copán as Patrimonio de la Humanidad.

Throughout the Valley are vestiges of the great civilization that bloomed here and reached its peak between the centuries VI to VIII. The most attractive sites left to us by the Mayans of Copán are El parque Arqueológico, its surrounded for its protection; The archaeological site of "Las Sepulturas", located 2 km from cental park; "Los Sapos"; the estelas located throughout the Valley and 2 museums: The Mayan Archaeological Museum, located in the central park of Copán Ruins and the museum of Mayan sculpture, that is in the central area of visitors of the archaeological park Copán.

The Archaeological Park Copán

The park has 5 basic zones of fundamental interest:

El Juego de Pelota, considered the social center of the city, this game is without a doubt most artistic in Meso America. Of great interest are the markers, in form of head of a guacamaya, located in the inclined walls. The last modification and construction that was set here was made in the days of 18 Conejo.

La Gran Plaza, famous by the estelas and altars that are decorating it. Most of the estelas in this plaza were consecrated during the reign of the thirteenth king copaneco, 18 Conejo between years 711 and 736. Many of the altars have animal form.

La Escalinata Jeroglífica, this great temple contains the longest text left to us by the great Mayan civilization. The temple was built during the reign of the governor # 15, known like Humo Caracol, and it is believed that is a species of genealogical tree of the dynasty copaneca, founded by Yax-Kuk-Mo. The five statues located in the perron represent 5 kings previous to Smoke Caracol. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to read the glifos, since great part of the launching slips had collapsed, and when reconstructing the temple, these were outside their original place, creating a great puzzle of glifos. This temple has a carp to protect its delicate glifos of more erosion of the medio.ambiente that already has damaged great part of them.

The Acropolis, divided in two great seats: Eastern and the western one. The Eastern seat contains to temple 11, constructed by the last king of Copán, Yax-Pac, as its masterpiece. Also temple 16 is in this seat, with famous "Altar Q" in front of him. Deciphered the Qha Altar totally, today we know that it represents the 16 members of the great Copaneca dynasty, from Yax-Kuk-Mo to Yax-Pak, and that its main intention is to legitimize the right of Yax-Pac, like direct heir of Yax-Kuk-Mo to the throne of Copán.

Temple 16 is located between the two great seats and its last modification was made during the times of Yax-Pac. An aspect of great interest of this temple is that by some reason, the previous temple "was not deactivated" when constructing on him, but who rather was a great careful of not damaging the previous temple. The result is a unique archaeological jewel in the world: Temple of Rosalila, also known as Temple of the East Sun temple opens a window to us to the past, and allows us to determine as Copán were seen before its fall around year 822 of our era.