The Three Major Cities of the Classic Period
Tikal
Many historians believe that it took 1,000 years to build the city, Tikal. Tikal lies in the milddle of steamy, green jungle in the rain forest of Guatemala. There are dozens of unexplored pyramids and temples.
Tikal is the farthest north of the cities of the Classic Period. It contained 3,00 structures, more than 50,000 citizens may have lived in the area.
Tikal has six huge pyramids. One of the huge pyramids is the Temple of the Giant Jaguar. It is 16 stories high.
Trying to find water was a challenage to the people that lived in Tikal. The people relied on water holes called aguadas. It was a challenage because no river crossed the miles covered by Tikal.
Tikal is the farthest north of the cities of the Classic Period. It contained 3,00 structures, more than 50,000 citizens may have lived in the area.
Tikal has six huge pyramids. One of the huge pyramids is the Temple of the Giant Jaguar. It is 16 stories high.
Trying to find water was a challenage to the people that lived in Tikal. The people relied on water holes called aguadas. It was a challenage because no river crossed the miles covered by Tikal.
Copán
The secondest greatest city of the Classic Period is Copán. It was a major center for culture and advanced study. Mayan priests designed their famous calendars and further developed their hieroglyphic writing in Copán.
Copán was discovered in 1570 by Diego García de Palacio. The ruins of Copán is one of the most important sites of the Mayan civilization and it was not excavated until the 19th century. The city of Copán was abandoned in the early 10th century.
Copán covers over 50 acres of temples, altars, stelae, ball courts, several plazas and the magnificent Hieroglyphic Stairway. It has 5 wide walkways.
Copán was discovered in 1570 by Diego García de Palacio. The ruins of Copán is one of the most important sites of the Mayan civilization and it was not excavated until the 19th century. The city of Copán was abandoned in the early 10th century.
Copán covers over 50 acres of temples, altars, stelae, ball courts, several plazas and the magnificent Hieroglyphic Stairway. It has 5 wide walkways.
Quiriguá
Quiriguá was found in 650 A.D. Quiriguá is the smallest of the three major cities in the Classic Period. The people who lived here made zoomorphs. Zoomorphs are huge rocks that they carved to look like animals. The mayans who used to live here left a pyrimad unfinished. The picture in the left is the unfished temple
