smithtribesailing: Quirigua, Lost Mayan city

Of one thing there is no doubt; a large city once stood there; its name is lost, its history unknown and … no account of its existence has ever before been published. For centuries it has lain as completely buried as if covered with the lava of Vesuvius. Every traveler from Yzabal to Guatemala has passed within three hours of it; we ourselves had done the same and yet there it lay, like the rock-built city of Edom, unvisited, unsought, and utterly unknown. - John L Stephen 1840

Guatemala is well know for its Mayan Ruins, awesome historical cites spread across the emerald blanket of Central America. We hopped on a bus and took a two hour drive leaving the Rio Dulce behind us to Quirigua, one of the only 3 World Heritage Sites in Guatemala, the others are Tikal and Antigua.

Mayan sacred tree of life

Rourke and Layla

The T R I B E

Layla and Chris

Skyla

Chris looking for greener pastures

Carving of a Mayan King

Plaza Juego de Pelota. Court Ball was played here. The ball game between the Maya was also an important ritual in their religion. The ball represents the course of the sun on the sky in its daily journey, as well as the battle between good and evil. The courts for ball games are always locate in prehistoric settlements, consisting of two parallel structures. The ball used was made of rubber sometimes with a human skull as the centre to keep it hollow and light.

In some Mayan areas, the winners were sacraficed, while in others the losers were sacrificed. According to their beliefs, human sacrifice was vital for the prosperity of everything they did. In places where the winners were sacrificed, the leader of the prevailing team would offer his head to the leader of the losing team, who beheaded him.

Replica's of Jade masks found in the area. This area was rich in Jade which was an integral part of Mayan culture, it meant life, fertility and was revered above gold.

Quirigua is famed for its magnificent Stelae. These are gigantic brown sandstone monoliths that were used to intricately carve the history of the ancient Mayan Rulers, their glories, wars and rituals.