Maya Special Issue

National Geographic Society

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Mysteries of the Maya

The rise, glory, and collapse of an ancient civilization.

/2008/08/maya-issue/img/01-palenque-aerial-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-01.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett A.D. 615 and ruling for the next 68 years, he launched an ambitious building campaign that set the stage for further construction by his successors.The palace of King Pakal (far left) is a marvel of engineering with its tower, courtyards, and aqueduct that delivered a constant flow of fresh water.]]> /2008/08/maya-issue/img/02-jade-mask-475.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-02.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett /2008/08/maya-issue/img/03-carved-stone-pakal-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-03.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett /2008/08/maya-issue/img/04-palenque-stucco-475.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-04.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett /2008/08/maya-issue/img/05-palenque-discovery-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-05.jpg Photograph by Alfred Maudslay, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge, MA /2008/08/maya-issue/img/06-ruins-tree-hidden-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-06.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett /2008/08/maya-issue/img/07-maya-vase-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-07.jpg Photograph by Stephen Alvarez /2008/08/maya-issue/img/08-ruins-mexico-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-08.jpg Photograph by Wilbur E. Garrett B.C. to A.D. 250) to the present.]]> /2008/08/maya-issue/img/09-copan-rain-god-475.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-09.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett A.D. 250 to 900), conjured up the Maya rain god Chaak, wearing as a headdress a cormorant with a fish in its mouth.]]> /2008/08/maya-issue/img/10-copan-maize-god-475.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-10.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett /2008/08/maya-issue/img/11-copan-temples-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-11.jpg Art by H. Tom Hall /2008/08/maya-issue/img/12-copan-inscription-475.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-12.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett /2008/08/maya-issue/img/13-boy-sitting-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-13.jpg Photograph by George Stuart /2008/08/maya-issue/img/14-madrid-codex-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-14.jpg Photograph by Victor Boswell /2008/08/maya-issue/img/15-tikal-stela-475.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-15.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett /2008/08/maya-issue/img/16-maya-excavation-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-16.jpg Photograph by Kenneth Garrett A.D. 800. Yet it was a dignified death, says archaeologist Arthur Demarest, noting that victims were placed in sacred cisterns, their priceless regalia intact. This ritual slaughter of a royal line symbolically killed the city. But why? Envy of Taj Chan Ahk, Cancuén's potent eighth-century king, is part of the answer. He ruled the rich trade of the Pasión River, controlling great wealth that lured dynastic rivals.]]> /2008/08/maya-issue/img/17-harvest-celebration-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-17.jpg Photograph by Stephen Alvarez /2008/08/maya-issue/img/18-mural-composite-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-18.jpg Photograph by William Saturno /2008/08/maya-issue/img/19-detail-mural-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-19.jpg Photograph by Willian Saturno B.C., this is the earliest known depiction of the birth of the Maya cosmos. The complete scene, says project iconographer Karl Taube, includes five gods and five sacred trees that in Maya myth helped connect earth and sky, with one tree in each of the cardinal directions and one at the center. This central religious myth would endure through the rise and fall of great cities, appearing in much the same form in the 16th century in the sacred book Popol Vuh.]]> /2008/08/maya-issue/img/20-maya-creation-story-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-20.jpg Art by John Jude Palencar Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya. The legend tells of twin brothers who were skilled at the traditional ball game. As they played, they made so much noise they disturbed the gods of Xibalba, who challenged them to a contest. The gods defeated the twins, sacrificed them, and buried their bodies under the ball court—except the head of one brother, Hun Hunahpu, which was hung on a tree of humanlike gourds. A curious young goddess named Xquic heard of the strange tree and decided to see it for herself. When she approached, Hun Hunahpu’s head spat into her hand impregnating her with Hunahpu and Xbalanque, the brothers known as the Hero Twins. ]]> /2008/08/maya-issue/img/20-maya-goddess-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-20a.jpg Art by John Jude Palencar Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya.]]> /2008/08/maya-issue/img/21-maya-twin-gods-475.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-21.jpg Art by John Jude Palencar /2008/08/maya-issue/img/22-man-candles-714.jpg /2008/08/maya-issue/img/maya-special-60-22.jpg Photograph by Stephen Alvarez