Tikal,
the largest of the Mayan cities, probably had a population
of between 50,000 and 70,000 at its peak.
Tikal,
a city that boasted a population of perhaps 100,000, was highly
structured and immersed itself in spiritual practice. The
city flourished during the classic, and late classic periods,
(AD 300-900). Many of the massive buildings that are visible
today were constructed during this time. The monuments paid
tribute to the rulers of the past, and were meant to please
the deities. In addition to their obvious achievements in
construction, the Maya also excelled in the arts, astronomy,
and glyphic writing. Though little is understood, what is
known is fascinating.
One
example that reveals much about the Maya is the ball court.
This game, similar to soccer, pitted two teams against each
other in a stone court. The game was highly competitive,
and there was much betting among the spectators and royal
guests. Some of these games had serious implications for
the losers. Often they were sacrificed. A disturbing facet
of Mayan culture was the prominence of human sacrifice. In
addition to its role in the ball courts, human sacrifice
was used in burial rituals. Often, as in the burial of ruler
Stormy Sky, a number of attendants were sacrificed and placed
alongside their ruler in the burial vault.
Wooden
lintels are found throughout the temples of Tikal. These
decorative pieces were cut from the chicozapote wood. While
still fresh, they were adorned with intricate carvings and
art. Over time, the hardwood cured to an incredible strength.
In fact the lintels that are visible today are the original
ones that the Maya used in their construction. Often, these
lintels weren't covered just with art, but also displayed
pictures and glyphs that told anecdotes of the time. Some
of what has been learned from this ancient people has been
found in their expressions of pictoglyphs, and their complex
writing. They were prolific in their description of life,
religious beliefs, and customs.
Mayans used different forms of expression in recording life.
They had a complex form of writing that was found inscribed
on the stelae and altars that dot the site. Pictures depicted
events and beliefs of the time. Carved in the lintels, etched
in the stone steps, and covering various walls throughout
the temples, the life, religion, and times of the Maya were
documented.
The
Maya were  obsessed
with the idea of time. The fact that they employed the concept
of zero in their number system helped them make great strides
in this realm. They knew that the earth year was a little
more than 365 days, and a complicated, incredibly accurate
calendar predicted the solstices of the year. The Maya applied
the same zeal to studying other worlds and were quite accurate
in determining the average year on Venus, a planet that was
millions of miles from earth! They named periods of time,
(a twenty year span was known as the katun), placed great
significance on these cycles by building temples and stelae
marking the conclusions of these Mayan "katuns".
Though
there is an abundance of information relating to Mayan life,
there is much more that has yet to be discovered. Research
continues to unearth new facts about the Mayan civilization,
but many questions remain unanswered. Scores of structures
in Tikal have yet to be explored, and their excavation could
reveal many of the secrets that still puzzle both the casual
visitor, and the dedicated scientist.
|
