Thurs, 9 Feb -- Part 1
Copan Ruins, Museum, and Sepulturas
i asked last night about the 'free' shuttle to the Ruins (as promised by my TucTuc driver). the Ruins are only about 1mile from the city; but at 8:30 i arrived in the lobby, lobby? i use that term loosely. there were 2 other couples there from Switzerland. a honeymoon couple and her parents ... no, they weren't traveling together; but separately, the parents starting in Mexico and DRIVING south; the 'kids' starting in Panama and working north towards the US in April ..... where they will meet a friend who lives ...in all places ... Ann Arbor ! we exchanged emails for a possible visit. the 'family' crossed paths here in Honduras, in the middle of their journeys. so we rode in the back of the pick up together to the Ruins and shared the cost of a guide there.
on line i read that Cesar (mid 30s) and Antonio (mid 60s and no teeth) were highly recommended. so we asked ... Antonio was available ... what a character !
he boasts that he is in the Guinnes Book of World Records ... i forget what for :) ...also said he was the guide for Jimmy Carter and his family, as well as Richard Gere, and Roger Moore. who am i to doubt him?
Copan, 2,300ft above sea level, was the southern most city of the Maya civilization. it lasted for about 2 thousand years and had 20,000 inhabitants in it's prime; and covered an area of about 100sq miles.
he took us first to the Museum, a 2-story building ... i'm not big on Museums, but this one is where all the original artifacts are. out on the actual grounds are mostly copies. the originals have been brought inside to preserve them, not only from vandalism, but from the weather, since they are made of limestone. the Museum is awesome and very well done. we spent a lot of time in there .. wish i could remember a fraction of what he told us :( but, i do have lots of photos--surprised, huh?
inside the door you are greeted with the Rosalila. a life size copy of the temple that was built over the remains of 5 previous versions of the temple, ... which is what they did then .. just built over top of the old, with the new. it was discovered almost fully intact and is notable for it's excellent state of preservation.
the tall carved structures are called Stelas and were ordered to be made by the king of the time. the intricate carvings tell dates and events ... kind of like a journal of the time .. or FaceBook :)
the Museum itself is massive; everything is displayed very professionally.
these are the original stones, disassembled and reassembled in this Museum. the colors were beautiful
this was the largest of the sculptures, but only the head remains. it is of a toothless man ... everyone says that it is Antonio's brother. so i asked him to have his photo taken with it. it really is exactly like his teeth ... or non teeth !
many sculptures of the Macaw bird, which was native to the area. ...there are 2 heads of the Macaw in the photo below
i do remember that this sculpture is of the rabbit that shows in the face of the moon. have you ever seen the rabbit in the full moon ? .... they saw it too ....
Antonio said something about this sculpture being outside of a building, which he said must have been their disco, since this figure looks like he is dancing :)
this was the most impressive sculpture to me. it is of a bird, a heron, with a fish in it's mouth ... carved out of stone ... all those years ago ... incredible !
i do recall that the Bat was a prominent figure
enough of the Museum ... on our way to the actual Ruins, Antonio pointed out these trees with the fruit on them .... they make Maracas out of them .... who knew !!!
we also passed several large mounds on the side of the path. he said these are yet to be excavated "bones and goodies". that the people lived and died in their homes and were buried there; and that is what is probably under there.
inside the gate ... we were greeted by large, colorful, and loud squawking Macaws flying overhead and in the trees
these Scarlet Macaws are part of a reintroduction program. they were bred at the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and brought here to adapt to this new environment and current group of resident Macaws. once adjusted they will be freed to join the flocks that fly freely over the Copan Valley.
so, ... there are some original Stelas outside. they are being protected from the rains by roofs.
there was a stone sculpture of a turtle :)
this Hieroglyphic Stairway is the longest pre-Columbian inscription in America and one of the most remarkable monuments. Most inscriptions at Copan are very short, relating specific ritual and dedication information. but this Stairway has over 2,000 hieroglyphs on 63 steps. it recounts much dynastic history beginning with the founder.
it is protected from the elements by heavy canvas tarps.
they are still excavating today ....
there are massive Ceiba trees hundreds of years old towering over the structures. they cannot be removed without destroying the structures, since their root system has become part of them.
ok, here is proof that i was actually there
this was an area believed to be royal residences. ...bones and 'goodies' were found among these structures. this practice accounts for the fact that no 'true' cemeteries have been found.
another interesting fact. the Macaw River ran along side of the site of the Ruins; and it was eroding them. so, they moved the river :)
on the way out, we were again escorted with loud squawking Macaws ... they are so pretty, but so noisy ... i don't know if they were fighting or doing some mating ritual ... i have video
there is another area called The Sepulturas down the road about a 20min walk. i decided to go down the road to check it out and grabbed a TucTuc with Darwin. i told him about the guy who ripped me off when i got here. he was apologetic
it is an area believed to be the residential area for powerful important people (but less important than those who lived at the main complex) ... you know ... upper middle class folks :)
the 'book' said not to miss this area ... but i didn't find it to be that exciting
a study was being conducted here using different types of materials to see which one gave the best protection
i found these pretty big bright yellow flowers on the ground. i am trying to find out what it is called, but so far, am having no luck :(
they came from high up in this tree
i will continue the rest of this day, and very long post, in Part 2
the tall carved structures are called Stelas and were ordered to be made by the king of the time. the intricate carvings tell dates and events ... kind of like a journal of the time .. or FaceBook :)
the Museum itself is massive; everything is displayed very professionally.
these are the original stones, disassembled and reassembled in this Museum. the colors were beautiful
this was the largest of the sculptures, but only the head remains. it is of a toothless man ... everyone says that it is Antonio's brother. so i asked him to have his photo taken with it. it really is exactly like his teeth ... or non teeth !
many sculptures of the Macaw bird, which was native to the area. ...there are 2 heads of the Macaw in the photo below
i do remember that this sculpture is of the rabbit that shows in the face of the moon. have you ever seen the rabbit in the full moon ? .... they saw it too ....
Antonio said something about this sculpture being outside of a building, which he said must have been their disco, since this figure looks like he is dancing :)
this was the most impressive sculpture to me. it is of a bird, a heron, with a fish in it's mouth ... carved out of stone ... all those years ago ... incredible !
i do recall that the Bat was a prominent figure
enough of the Museum ... on our way to the actual Ruins, Antonio pointed out these trees with the fruit on them .... they make Maracas out of them .... who knew !!!
we also passed several large mounds on the side of the path. he said these are yet to be excavated "bones and goodies". that the people lived and died in their homes and were buried there; and that is what is probably under there.
inside the gate ... we were greeted by large, colorful, and loud squawking Macaws flying overhead and in the trees
these Scarlet Macaws are part of a reintroduction program. they were bred at the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and brought here to adapt to this new environment and current group of resident Macaws. once adjusted they will be freed to join the flocks that fly freely over the Copan Valley.
so, ... there are some original Stelas outside. they are being protected from the rains by roofs.
there was a stone sculpture of a turtle :)
this Hieroglyphic Stairway is the longest pre-Columbian inscription in America and one of the most remarkable monuments. Most inscriptions at Copan are very short, relating specific ritual and dedication information. but this Stairway has over 2,000 hieroglyphs on 63 steps. it recounts much dynastic history beginning with the founder.
it is protected from the elements by heavy canvas tarps.
they are still excavating today ....
there are massive Ceiba trees hundreds of years old towering over the structures. they cannot be removed without destroying the structures, since their root system has become part of them.
ok, here is proof that i was actually there
this was an area believed to be royal residences. ...bones and 'goodies' were found among these structures. this practice accounts for the fact that no 'true' cemeteries have been found.
another interesting fact. the Macaw River ran along side of the site of the Ruins; and it was eroding them. so, they moved the river :)
on the way out, we were again escorted with loud squawking Macaws ... they are so pretty, but so noisy ... i don't know if they were fighting or doing some mating ritual ... i have video
there is another area called The Sepulturas down the road about a 20min walk. i decided to go down the road to check it out and grabbed a TucTuc with Darwin. i told him about the guy who ripped me off when i got here. he was apologetic
it is an area believed to be the residential area for powerful important people (but less important than those who lived at the main complex) ... you know ... upper middle class folks :)
the 'book' said not to miss this area ... but i didn't find it to be that exciting
a study was being conducted here using different types of materials to see which one gave the best protection
i found these pretty big bright yellow flowers on the ground. i am trying to find out what it is called, but so far, am having no luck :(
they came from high up in this tree
i will continue the rest of this day, and very long post, in Part 2
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