Classic Tikal

Deep in the innermost recesses of the Petén jungle in northern Guatemala lies Tikal, the largest Classic Maya center discovered to date. The heart of this 50-​square-​mile [130 sq km] city covers about 6 square miles [16 sq km], in which are found over 3,000 structures varying from humble abodes to tall, zigguratlike temples. The tallest, Temple IV, the towering Temple of the Double-​Headed Serpent, is 212 feet [65 m] high. The core of Tikal is the two-​and-a-half-​acre [1 ha] Great Plaza, with Temple I, the Temple of the Giant Jaguar, on the east and Temple II, the Temple of the Masks, on the west side.

What was the purpose of these temples? While there is still uncertainty in this regard, Maya archaeologist Edwin M. Shookb told Awake!: “These were temples in the religious sense, and they were built for that purpose. Secondarily, they were used to honor an individual by putting his remains in such a revered place. For example, Westminster Abbey was not built to house tombs. But the British honor their great by putting them in Westminster Abbey. That’s exactly what you have in the whole Maya system. There are few exceptions.”

[Picture on page 16]

Pyramid-temple (seventh century C.E.), the Great Plaza, Tikal, Guatemala

A Chac Mool, foreground, possibly used to receive human hearts; Temple of the Warriors, Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico