Located deep in the jungle of the Guatemalan lowlands, Tikal was a Mayan ceremonial center,  originally covering about 75 square miles (including both the city of Tikal and its suburbs).  Temple I (illustrated above) rises about 144 feet in the sacred precinct at the heart of Tikal, and consists of a pyramid base topped by a temple. The stepped pyramid below, associated with the idea of sacred man-made mountains, is built in nine levels, each representing a level of the underworld. An 8th century Mayan ruler, nicknamed "Lord Chocolate," was buried in all his finery below this great pyramid-temple. The monument commemorated this Mayan king--and by so doing helped to reinforce royal rule and the power of the elite. Pyramid I also served as a backdrop for ceremonies held on the plaza in front of the temple. Temple I is placed directly opposite a second  massive temple, both defining the perimeters of the plaza.

To the side of Temple I, the Maya located a ball court. Because of its close proximity to this elaborate temple, we can assume that the ball game was not simply entertainment.  Instead, it could also be used ritually, to test the will of captives before they were sacrificed, perhaps on the top of Temple I.  To the Maya, the ball game referred to life and death.  The ball, we think, was a reference to the sun, moving through the sky. The ball game sometimes ended with the sacrifice of a player, which symbolized the idea of death and rebirth.  Through sacrifice, the sun would be sustained so it would rise again, promising renewal and fertility for crops.  Such a sacrifice would be visible to everyone around the grand plaza at Tikal.

The Maya flourish in the Classic Period (c. 300-900).  Around 900 AD, the Maya stop building great ceremonial centers like Tikal, which has caused many people to talk about the mystery of  the disappearance of the Maya. However, the descendants of the Maya still live today in areas of Guatemala and Mexico, and they have retained many of their traditions.  The Maya people and their culture have not disappeared; the Maya have simply abandoned their elite ceremonial centers.

When I visited Tikal, I stayed at the site for three days.  The nights were the most amazing part of the visit--after the generators turned off and the electricity went out.  It was only then that I could see the same night sky that the ancient Maya saw--dark and filled with more stars than I have ever seen before.  This area is so remote that there is no light pollution clouding the sky (as there is in most areas back home).  As a result,  what we see today at Tikal is much like it was when the ancient Maya lived there.  I now understand why  the stars, moon and sun were so important to these impressive people.

What the Mayans See in the Moon