Tikal is a Classic Period Maya site and one of the largest and most powerful ancient Maya cities. It is pretty well preserved, but when the entire site gets covered in millennia worth of vegetation and eroded from water and wind, it was hard but cool to connect what I saw to what it would have looked like.
Complexes
The Maya created monuments and art to represent bigger spiritual and historical contexts, such as temples that mimic sacred mountains, serving as a place where humans could connect with gods. Twin Pyramid Complexes were built as stages for rituals. Indeed, when I climbed the East Twin Pyramid Complex Q, I felt like I was walking up to heaven. From the top, I could envision the nine doorways of the South Building that represent the nine levels of the underworld, the North enclosure opposing it, and the West Twin Pyramid opposite me.
A picture I took at the bottom of the East Twin Pyramid Complex.
City Life
Later, we climbed to the top of Temple 4, which was an original experience for me. I could see the entire jungle canopy, with other temples sticking out of it. It was where I could picture what Tikal would have looked like without the trees—massive temples with various water sources and a working city. It is like the city we know now, with temples substituting for skyscrapers, areas to congregate and practice religion, and designated people of authority.
A picture I took from the top of Temple 4.
There is a certain beauty to knowing that what we see that remains is only the remnants of one of the greatest civilizations. And what remains showcases the strength and wealth of the architectural and artistic expression of the Maya.