2013 Review 6

Copan Ancient Mayan Ruins

 We climbed all the ruins we could!!! What fun!!

 The sacrificial court.

 One of the rulers symbol was the Jaguar.

 Today's money is printed with the same color ink as the Mayans painted their temple and homes. It was their favorite color. Mine too!

 

 This is where the last ruler was buried.

 Some of the stelas were in block form and some in statue form, telling the history of the rulers. This one shows the mantle being passed from ruler to ruler.

 This guide was very knowledgeable and willing to take his time to answer all of our questions and talk about all of our interests.

 The guide had a little young man as his assistant. He carried our water bottles for us and listened closely to our guide so he could learn how to be a guide when he grows up.

 Jayme, Carlos's Mom and Me

 Just thought this was a unique tree in how it has survived the harshness of it's environment.

 This tree is believed to represent the giver of life because it's roots go deep into the earth and it has many life giving properties.

A monkey was the symbol of another ruler.

 This real live poison snake slithered past us and continued on his way in a hurry while we hurried the other way!

 The slug represented mortal life.

 Carlos's Mama came with him. It was great to meet each of the student's families!!

  This tells stela tells about the life on one of the rulers.

 This tells stela tells about the life on another of the rulers.

 

 The Macaw was the symbol of one of the rulers.

 A bowl to catch the head of the beheaded victors.

 The snake was the symbol of life and death.

 The root grows out of the ground and returns to the ground.

 Wall of 1,000 hieroglyphs which tells the story of each of the rulers from the beginning of time to the last ruler.

 This was a sacrificial alter where the victors were beheaded.

 This is the ball court where the winning team was sacrificed to the gods, because the gods deserved the best.

 When a Mayan ruler died his whole city including the temple was buried with him and a new one built on top of the old one. Tunnels have been dug to view the older temples inside the  newest one.

 

 

We were all glad to get back out into the sunshine!