Tikal Of Maya: Sophisticated Culture That Experienced Humble Start, Golden Age, Wars And Decline

A. Sutherland  – AncientPages.com –  Tikal was the Maya’s religious, ceremonial, and military city-state, with a long and fascinating history recorded in the city’s ruins, artifacts, and plenty of stelae.

The elaborately carved wooden Lintel 3 from Temple IV. It celebrates a military victory by Yik’in Chan K’awiil in 743. Image credit: Jose Fernando – CC BY-SA 2.0

Tikal’s name is probably derived from ti ak’al in the Yucatec Maya language and means “at the waterhole.”

The city was very successful in its economy, military affairs, and religious importance. Located in the tropical forests of northern Guatemala, the city flourished between the years 200 and c.850 AD.

Source: AncientPages.com – Read rest of the article here