(Photos by Sandy Zimmerman)
The little village of Copán became famous when the Mayan ruins were discovered. There are Mayan ruin sites in other countries, but Copán, Honduras’ Archaeological Park has the most well preserved sites of the Mayan world. We were thrilled to be able to enter the tunnels below the buildings, to stand on the upper level of the roof, and spend time around these ancient structures. At the Mayan ruins in Mexico, it is difficult to pull yourself up their sharply inclined steps but in Copán, the steps are flat and easy to climb. You may wonder, “How could the buildings still be standing in such good condition, seemingly unaffected by time?” Most of the walls of the buildings are surprisingly still intact. The scene looks more like a movie set than ruins. There are almost 4,000 surviving structures which include temples, plazas, ball courts and alters.
One important find was the hieroglyphic staircase which reaches over 80 feet high to the top of the temple, holding the longest text carved into stone by the Mayan people. This was a lineage tree, recording all of the Copán rulers. We saw statues carved with the likeness of zoomorphic symbols of animals and Gods in the classic period. Large decorated sacrificial stones were scattered around the courtyards. The ball court was the social center of the city, known as the most artistic ball court in Meso-America. Markers on the sidewalls resembled Macaw heads, the national bird of Honduras. Our guide told stories of the kings and their followers living in this community from the 5th to 9th centuries. There are many tall carved sculptures around the grounds.
Upon viewing the stunning art and architecture of Copán, archaeologist Sylvanus Morley named it the “Athens of the New World”. This UNESCO World Heritage Site represents one of the most spectacular cultural achievements of antiquity. A trip to Copán MUST include staying at the Hotel Marina Copán, the Hotel that will take you back to colonial times. They offer an Explore Copan 3 nights package, Discover Copan 2 nights package, and Honeymoon packages complete with tour, accommodations, some food, and more.
Hotel Marina Copan, Copán Ruinas, Honduras, Central America. www.hotelmarinacopan.com
TOURIST INFORMATION
The town of Copán Ruinas has a population of 5,000; another 20,000 people live in the hills that ring the valley. the skies are clear, the air is pure, and at night the stargazing is unmatched. Copán, Honduras, is described as, “Where culture and nature meet”. For information, see the website of the Copán Chamber of Commerce. www.copanhonduras.org
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