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Great Plaza

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Jose Kevo
Jose Kevo
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
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4
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The Great Plaza

  • January 24, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Jose Kevo from Middle-of-Nowhere, Missouri
The Great Plaza

Feeling rather like a triumphal entry through the forest, canopied path opens onto expansive lawn of the The Great Plaza. With almost a head-on view of the small pyramid known as Building #4, arrival anticipation was overwhelming! The plaza lies to the left and is the best place to begin. Otherwise, I probably wasn’t the first, nor will be the last, that short-changes this area with temptations to hurry-up and explore all that sprawls to the right.

Magnificance of the plaza is rather hard to grasp and anthropologists have yet to determine full significance. This horseshoe area was once enclosed by structures. All that remains are foundational ruins reclaimed by forest. What’s known is that all Mayan cities were designed in a manner believing that directional north was a connection point to the heavens and Gods.

Stelae, the intricately carved stone columns, are how Mayas documented histories until the 9th-century, which ended the Classic Period and began decline of the Copán dynasty. King 18 Rabbit, ruler from 695-738, transformed the city as a center for study of astronomy and astrology. Depending on how well you know positioning of the stars might help to recognize that city structures and stelae are arranged to emulate sacred constellations. Quite honestly, I couldn’t see much of anything from being awestruck!

Decorous glyphs may relay an indecipherable message, but there’s no mistaking why Copán Mayas were considered the most skilled of artisians. Regalities of Gods and Kings leaves no centimeter of statues unembellished. Odd-shaped altars positioned next to the icons only reinforces mystique.

Stelaes C and H still have traces of red paint; believed to have covered all ephigies. King 18 Rabbit is immortalized in numerous statues, including two previously mentioned. One of my favorite depictions was on Stelae B thanks to a simplicity of the front that appears to swell from interesting headdress.

Replica of Stelae A from AD731 (original is in park’s museum) establishes King 18 Rabbit and Copán as an equal power next to tribal emblems traceable to Palenque, Tikal, and Calakmul. His reign was cut short after capture and execution by the nearest neighbors in Quiriguá, across the border of Guatemala. Not only were they trade rivals, they went on to erect the only stelaes larger than ones found at Copán.

Building #4 divides the Great Plaza from the Ballcourt and city’s remaining lower parts. It looks rather plain and small from the ground, but definitely elevates perspectives when standing on top. This is the only structure in the park that allows visitors full-access for climbing.

-- Numerous other stelae are scattered around the park, and King Smoke Jaguar marked eastern and western valley perimeters with statues in 652. Western ones can be viewed on the walk from town.

-- Harvard Peabody expeditionist Dr. John Owens died on-site in 1893, and is buried at the base of Stelae D and altar to Chac, the rain God. These are centrally located on northern end of the Great Plaza.

Additional Photos

From journal Puzzled in the Valley of Deference

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