Excellent model of the city.



Entry to Xibalba - the underworld.

Colorful macaws.

Copan was formally founded by Yax K'uk Mo' in 426 AD. The dynasty lasted 400 years through 16 kings:
1. Yax K'uk Mo' - Great Quetzal Macaw.
2. Popol Hol.
3. Unknown.
4. Unknown.
5. Unknown.
6. Cloud Head.
7. Jaguar Mirror.
8. Unknown.
9. Unknown.
10. Moon Jaguar.
11. Smoke Serpent.
12. Smoke Jaguar.
13. Eighteen Rabbit.
14. Smoke Monkey.
15. Smoke Shell.
16. Yax Pasah.

First view of the Great Plaza.



The Great Plaza with Temple 4.

Copan is like an outdoor museum.

Most monuments in the Great Plaza were erected by Copan's 13th
king, Eighteen Rabbit, between 725-735 AD.


Eighteen Rabbit is depicted in stelae A, B, C, D, H and 4.







Turtle monster.

Eighteen Rabbit with a beard.





























Smoke Jaguar, 675 AD.



Altar G2 by Yax Pasah, 795 AD.





Looking south to the Acropolis.

Smoke Serpent, 625 AD.

Diagonal hieroglyphs, unique approach.

Chaac, the rain God.

Unfinished Altar L by Yax Pasah, 822 AD. Copan was abandoned at this time.


Smoke Jaguar, 652 AD.





The great ball court.

Mayan "false arch".

Macaw emblem.



Macaws are guarding the ball court.

Smoke Jaguar, 668 AD.

Big tree!

Temple 4 again.

Hmm, wonder what's under there?

Temple 11. Three quarters up was the "speakers corner".

Smoke Shell, 761 AD.







Smoke Shell, 756 AD.

The amazing hieroglyphic stairway by Smoke Shell, 755 AD,
is telling the story of Copan and other Maya history.


The kings are sitting in line.

View of the plaza from Temple 11.





Chaac masks on Temple 22.





The east court and Temple 22.





Dancing jaguar.







The jaguar tunnel.



New temples were often built on top of old ones.

Royal residential area.



Monkeys.

The south plaza.





Temple 16.

Smoke Serpent, 623 AD.

Altar Q by Yax Pasah, 775 AD. Altar Q depicts all 16 kings of the dynasty, 4 on each side.

The founder, Yax K'uk Mo', second from the left is handing
the symbol of rule to Yax Pasah, second from the right.




"Whatcha lookin at?!"

A museum replica of the Rosalila temple. The original was built by
Moon Jaguar in 571 AD and was found intact under Temple 16.

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