Temple in Tikal by junge1
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Description
This temple is one of over 3,000 temples, pyramids, acropolises(?), other complexes, stelae, ball courts and causeways that have been excavated at Tikal to date. They extent over a 16 sq km area, yet much of this metropolis is still unexcavated.
Temples have three, five, seven, nine, or eleven levels and are flat at the top. They are usually arranged North-South and/or East-West and are primarily used for astronomical observations and predictions.
Pyramids also have three, five, seven, nine, or eleven levels but have a roof comb at their tops. Roof combs were used in Mesoamerica and are structures that often contain several rooms or chambers decorated with inscriptions dedicated to a god or ruler.
Pyramids were primarily used for ceremonial purposes such as sacrificial killings, both human and animal.
The oblong, vertical stones in the foreground are stelae which were used to inscribe and record important historical events.
With the dawn of the Early Classic Period about 250AD, Tikal was an important religious, cultural and commercial city and at its height, around 700-800AD, Tikal may have had a population of over 100,000 people occupying over 30 sq km, who used sophisticated irrigation based on collected rain water, stored in 9 lined ponds to support its population.
The dynastic line of Tikal was founded in the 1st century AD and spanned 800 years and included at least 33 rulers.
By late 800AD the population began to decline and had vanished by 1000AD. Scientists are not entirely in agreement as to the cause. It could have been in-migration from outlying areas, thus putting a strain on sustainable resources, or climatic changes resulting in less rainfall, again straining resources. In any case, Tikal disappeared for a 1000 years. When the Spaniards come through the area in the 16th century AD they made no mention of this site. Scientific exploration of Tikal began in 1881 and is ongoing.
At present, annul precipitation in this region is about 60-inches.
This picture was taken on 29 Nov 2010.
Thank you for viewing and commenting,
Sig....
Comments (27)
rocserum
interesting, info and picture! RS
marybelgium
splendide !
drifterlee
Beautiful shot!
bazza
Nice shot and info on this site, well done!!
Faemike55
wonderful capture and great information, Sig! Thank you for theis marvelous tour
lior
A splendid capture!!!!!
Minda
Very nice capture and superb info sig....Merry x'mas to you...
kbrog
Beautiful POV and capture! :)
thevolunteer
The more I look at these postings, the more I want to go there too. Wonderful capture and pov. Aloha
kgb224
Wonderful find and capture my friend.
renecyberdoc
very nice shot.
auntietk
Excellent capture of this fascinating structure! It's so balanced, and your pov is just right. Great image!
bmac62
Well done Sig...always enjoy your write-ups equally with your images. Would like to see these pyramids if I could skip all the time and effort that needs to be expended to get there:)
bimm3d
great POV and wonderful shot!!
lyron
Fantastic image!!
farmerC
Fantastic.
Valentin
What a nice presentation of this temple, very well done, really very interesting! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Sig, and all the best for the New Year!!
flavia49
superlative image!! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
SSoffia
Amazing capture !!! dear friend I wish you a Merry Christmas!!
danob
Great History Sig to savour as well as another splendid travelography.. Happy xmas my friend
DananJaya_Chef
emmecielle
Another excellent capture, Sig! Fantastic image! :)
sandra46
EXCELLENT! WONDERFUL! TERRIFIC!
jascorpio
Marvelous!!
carlx
Wonderful photography!!! Fantastic temple!!!
danapommet
Another wonderful capture and fantastic information. As a coincidence, I met your brother, Wolfgang, tonight. Such a small world. I have visited his gallery many times and did not know about the relationship. Dana
Buffalo1
A calendar shot for sure. Great POV.