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Day 14 Last Day in Tikal (continued)
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Day 15 The Dusty Road to Seibal

Into Guatemala 1989 [Part 8 of 11 Parts]

Jo
2004-03-05 23:04:58

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[Photo 1]

Madjid enters the mysterious Templo de las Acanaladuras (Temple of the Grooved Walls). From May to October, almost daily torrential rains exact a heavy toll on the Tikal structures, many of which-- such as this one --are in a sorry state of preservation.

In 1895, the archaeologist Teobert Maler travelled from the Petén capital Flores to Tikal by mule and dugout canoe. After a difficult week, Maler and his guides arrived, first reaching this temple before the main buildings. Here, his Indian guides set up camp. It was not long before they grew dissatisfied and mutinous, perhaps because of the appalling living conditions in the jungle. Exasperated, Maler withdrew with his baggage and set up quarters in another building. His guides did very little excavation, but at least, he was left in peace to draw and photograph the principal ruins.

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[Photo 2]

To get to the Temple of the Inscriptions, we followed an isolated path (the Mendez Causeway, named after a prominent archaeologist) that led us far from the main groups of ruins. This building was dedicated by Yik'in Chan K'awil, son of King Hasaw. It may well be Yik'in's funerary monument.

Stelae, such as this one in front of the temple, declare historical or dynastic events that were often imbued with religious significance. These monuments usually served a propaganda purpose for the rulers, for example, to publicize a ruler's prowess in war and captive-taking, or to justify the divine right of a particular king to rule.

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[Photo 3]

A stela set in front of the North Acropolis. It shows the Tikal ruler Kalomte Balam ("Ruler Jaguar"), who was probably a usurper to the throne.

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