Site map by Burchell, Simon. 'Tikal Map.' Ancient History Encyclopedia.
Last modified October 05, 2014. https://www.ancient.eu/image/3101/ (31k)
Tikal is a magnificent Maya site. It holds remnants of the Maya culture, one of the many Ancient Civilizations that I saw during my travels.
From the Tikal entry in Wikipedia:
Tikal is the ruin of an ancient city, which was likely to have been called Yax Mutal, found in a rainforest in Guatemala. It is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. Situated in the department of El Petén, the site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. Though monumental architecture at the site dates back as far as the 4th century BCE, Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, c. 200 CE to 900 CE. During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily, while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as the great metropolis of Teotihuacán in the distant Valley of México. There is evidence that Tikal was conquered by Teotihuacán in the 4th century CE. Following the end of the Late Classic Period, no new major monuments were built at Tikal and there is evidence that elite palaces were burned. These events were coupled with a gradual population decline, culminating with the site's abandonment by the end of the 10th century.
Tikal is the best understood of any of the large lowland Maya cities, with a long dynastic ruler list, the discovery of the tombs of many of the rulers on this list and the investigation of their monuments, temples and palaces.
| Name (or nickname) | Ruled | Dynastic succession no. | Alternative names | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yax Ehb' Xook | c. 90 | 1 | Yax Moch Xok, Yax Chakte'l Xok, First Scaffold Shark | |
| Foliated Jaguar | c. 292 | ? | – | |
| Animal Headdress | ? | 10? | Kinich Ehb'? | |
| Sihyaj Chan K'awiil I | c. 307 | 11 | – | |
| Unen Bahlam | c. 317 | 12? | – | |
| K'inich Muwaan Jol I | ? –359 | 13 | Mahk'ina Bird Skull, Feather Skull | |
| Chak Tok Ich'aak I | 360–378 | 14 | Jaguar Paw, Great Paw, Great Jaguar Paw | |
| Yax Nuun Ayiin I | 379 –404? | 15 | Curl Snout, Curl Nose | |
| Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II | 411–456 | 16 | Stormy Sky, Manikin Cleft Sky | |
| K'an Chitam | 458–c. 486 | 17 | Kan Boar, K'an Ak | |
| Chak Tok Ich'aak II | c. 486–508 | 18 | Jaguar Paw II, Jaguar Paw Skull | |
| Lady of Tikal | Kaloomte' B'alam | c. 511–527+ | 19 | Curl Head |
| Bird Claw | ? | 20? | Animal Skull I | |
| Wak Chan K'awiil | 537?–562 | 21 | Double Bird | |
| Animal Skull | c. 593–628 | 22 | – | |
| K'inich Muwaan Jol II | c. 628–650 | 23 or 24 | – | |
| Nuun Ujol Chaak | c. 650–679 | 25 | Shield Skull, Nun Bak Chak | |
| Jasaw Chan K'awiil I | 682–734 | 26 | Ruler A, Ah Cacao | |
| Yik'in Chan K'awiil | 734–c. 766 | 27 | Ruler B, Yaxkin Caan Chac, Sun Sky Rain | |
| Ruler 28 | c. 766–768 | 28 | – | |
| Yax Nuun Ayiin II | 768–c. 794 | 29 | – | |
| Nuun Ujol K'inich | c. 800? | 30? | – | |
| Dark Sun | –810+ | 31? | – | |
| Jewel K'awiil | –849+ | ? | – | |
| Jasaw Chan K'awiil II | –869+ | ? | – | |
Site map by Burchell, Simon. 'Tikal Map.' Ancient History Encyclopedia.
Last modified October 05, 2014. https://www.ancient.eu/image/3101/ (31k)
The Tikal National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
All pictures are © Dr. Günther Eichhorn, unless otherwise noted.
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Page last updated on Fri May 21 15:21:49 2021 (Mountain Standard Time)
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