Today, you will visit six Mayan city-states:

• Tikal• Palenque• Chichen Itza• Bonampak• Copan• Tulum

Welcome to Tikal• Artifact: Temple of the Giant Jaguar• What is the significance of this

artifact?

• This temple was built without the use of metal tools, wheels, or animals. The king wanted more humans to labor so that the building would be even more impressive. Built out of limestone, this temple was once painted red.

Welcome to Palenque• Artifact: Tomb of King Pacal

– Lid of tomb (left) and death mask of King Pacal (right)

• What is the significance of this artifact?

• Buried in the Temple of the Inscriptions was the tomb of King Pacal, one of the greatest Mayan kings. The lid of his tomb and his body was covered in red cinnabar, a poisonous powder. Most archaeologists believe that the lid of his tomb is engraved with an image of King Pacal in the afterlife; however, some people believe it is an image of King Pacal being abducted by aliens!

Welcome to Chichen Itza!• Artifact: Pok-a-tok ball court• What is the significance of this

artifact?

• The Mayans played a game that was like a mix between basketball and soccer. However, the loser would be sacrificed to the gods!

Welcome to Bonampak!Artifact: Mural

What is the significance of this artifact?

• This mural shows a war scene, with prisoners taken, and then the prisoners, with ritually bleeding fingers, seated before the king of Bonampak. It is usually presumed that the prisoners are being prepared for human sacrifice.

Welcome to Copan!• Artifact: Altar Q• What is the significance of this artifact? (Hint: Study

all four sides!)

Copan, Honduras

• This altar shows the first sixteen kings of Copan. The first king is shown giving the sixteenth king permission to rule. This altar showed the citizens of Copan that the sixteenth king was worthy of ruling. This artifact an early example of propaganda.

• Sacrifices may have been performed atop this table.

2 1 1615

6 5 4 3

10 9 87

14 13 1211

Welcome to Tulum!

• Artifact: Dresden Codex• What is the significance of this artifact?

• The Spanish conquistadors destroyed all Mayan books except for four. These are pages from one of the surviving books. These pages helped archaeologists figure out the Mayan numbering system.