Quiriguá

Quiriguá is an ancient Maya archaeological site in the department of Izabal in south-eastern Guatemala. It is a medium-sized site covering approximately 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi) along the lower Motagua River, with the ceremonial center about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the north bank. During the Maya Classic Period (200–900 CE), Quiriguá was situated at the juncture of several important trade routes. The site was occupied by 200 CE, construction on the acropolis had begun by about 550 CE, and an explosion of grander construction started in the 8th century. All construction had halted by about 850 CE, except for a brief period of reoccupation in the Early Postclassic (c. 900 – c. 1200 CE). Quiriguá shares its architectural and sculptural styles with the nearby Classic Period city of Copán, with whose history it is closely entwined.

Quiriguá's rapid expansion in the 8th century was tied to king K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat's military victory over Copán in 738 CE. When the greatest king of Copán, Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil or "18-Rabbit", was defeated, he was captured and then sacrificed in the Great Plaza at Quiriguá. Before this, Quiriguá had been a vassal state of Copán, but it maintained its independence afterwards. The ceremonial architecture at Quiriguá is quite modest, but the site's importance lies in its wealth of sculpture, including the tallest stone monumental sculpture ever erected in the New World. Because of its historical importance, the site of Quiriguá was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.

Entering de park.
Entering the Archaeological Park of Quiriguá.

Map of Quiriguá.
On this map north is at the top and south is at the bottom. The entrance is made from the north towards the south.

Walking towards the monuments.
Walking through the park towards the monuments.

The Large Square.
The Large Square (Gran Plaza) seen from north to south.

In the center of the Large Square can be seen Stela F (left), Zoomorph G (center left), Stela E (center right). At the far right of the photo, Zoomorph B appears.

Zoomorph B.
Zoomorph B was dedicated in 780 by K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat, it is a multi-ton boulder sculptured into a half-crocodile half-mountain beast.

The hieroglyphic text on this monument consists entirely of full-figure glyphs.
Traces of red pigment have been found on this zoomorph, which is 4 metres (13 ft) long.
A dedication cache was found buried in a pit under Zoomorph B, it included seven flint blades between 14 and 46 cm (5.5 and 18.1 in) in length.

Stela C and Stela D.
Stelae A, C (left) and D (right) are at the north end of the Central Plaza.

Stela A.
Stela A was erected in 775 by K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat.

Stela A and Stela C form a pair and were both dedicated on 29 December 775.

Stela C.
Stela C was erected in 775 by K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat.

The hieroglyphic text contains references to 455 and Tutuum Yohl K'inich, an early king.
The stela also bears a reference to the date 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ahaw 8 Kumk'u (13 August 3114 BC).
This date is recorded throughout the entire Maya area as the beginning of the current creation, when the deities were placed in order.
Stela C forms a pair with Stela A and was dedicated on the same date.

Stela D.
Stela D dates to 766, during the reign of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat.

It is distinguished by the relatively rare, extravagant, full-figure anthropomorphic versions of Maya hieroglyphics on the upper parts of its sides, which are particularly well preserved.
Stela D is roughly 6 metres (20 ft) in height.

The north group of the Large Square.
At the north end of the Large Square we can see Zoomorph B (left), Stela A (center left), Stela C (center right) and Stela D (right).

Stela E.
Stela E stands in the northern half of the Great Plaza. This stela bears portraits of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat on its front and back.

This stela was dedicated on 24 January 771 by K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat.
Its total shaft measures 10.6 metres (35 ft) in height, including the buried portion holding it in place, which measures just under 3 metres (10 ft).
This enormous monolith is the largest stone ever quarried by the ancient Maya and weighs approximately 65 tons, it may even be the largest free-standing worked monolith in the New World.
In 1917 this stela, already tilting away from vertical, finally fell over completely after heavy rains, although it remained unbroken.
In 1934 an attempt was made to raise the stela using a winch and steel cables, during which the cables snapped and the monolith fell and was broken into two pieces, which have since been joined back together using concrete.

Stela F.
Stela F is an enormous 7.3-metre (24 ft) high monolith carved from sandstone.

It bears representations of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat on its north and south sides and hieroglyphic inscriptions on its east and west sides.
It dates to 761 and when it was raised it was the tallest monument ever erected by the Maya; it was only surpassed when Stela E was erected 10 years later.

Zoomorph G.
Zoomorph G is the memorial monument to K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat, dedicated during the reign of "Sky Xul".

It shows the face of the dead king emerging from the maw of an enormous jaguar.
The text of this monument describes the death and burial of Quiriguá's greatest king.

On the way to the Acropolis.
We continue our way in the Large Square towards the south, aiming at the Acropolis.

Mayan contemporary sacrificial stone.
A Ceiba tree in the center of the central square with an altar on the ground for performing shamanic rituals today.

The Ceiba, or ya’axché (in the Mopan Mayan language), symbolised to the Maya civilization an axis mundi which connects the planes of the Underworld (Xibalba) and the sky with that of the terrestrial realm.
This concept of a central world tree is often depicted as a Ceiba trunk. The unmistakable thick conical thorns in clusters on the trunk were reproduced by the southern lowland Maya of the Classical Period on cylindrical ceramic burial urns or incense holders.
The Ceiba tree is represented by a cross and serves as an important architectural motif in the Temple of the Cross Complex at Palenque.
See more at Ceiba - Wikipedia.

Stela H.
Stela H dates to 751, during the reign of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat.

Its glyphs are arranged in a rare mat pattern, copied from Copán.
The stela is executed in the wrap-around style.
A flint blade was found buried under the stela butt, buried as an offering when the stela was dedicated.
The hieroglyphic inscriptions on Stela H are badly damaged.

Stelae I, K and J.
Stela I (left), Stela K (center) and Stela J (right) are grouped on the east side of the Large Square.

Stela J was erected by K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat in 756 and is carved in the wrap-around style.
It stands 5 metres (16 ft) high and is located in the southern part of the Large Square.
The dedicatory cache consisted of a house-shaped clay box with unknown contents.

Continuing to walk towards the Acropolis.

Altar M.
Altar M this modest monument is the earliest known monument dedicated by K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat.

The importance of this monument lies in its text, in which this preeminent king of Quiriguá claimed the title of k'uhul ajaw, holy lord, and began his bid for independence from Copán.
This rhyolite sculpture was dedicated on 15 September 734 and has the form of a monstrous head, possibly that of a crocodilian.

Altar N.
Altar N is another small rhyolite sculpture stylistically similar to Altar M.

This sculpture has the form of a turtle shell with a skeletal head with a mirror on its forehead emerging sideways from one end and an elderly figure from the other.
This is a representation of the bicephalic deity Pawatun (God N), a prominent underworld deity.

The Large Square from south.
The Large Square seen from south to north.

Finally we arrived at the Acropolis.

Zoomorph O.
Zoomorph O is a crocodile-mountain hybrid monster, dedicated in 790 by king "Sky Xul".

It is accompanied by an altar depicting a lightning god.
It is located in the Ballcourt Square, just south of the ballcourt itself.

Zoomorph P.
Zoomorph P (which explorer Maudslay nicknamed The Great Turtle) was dedicated in 795 by "Sky Xul" and is a masterpiece of Mesoamerican art.

It is located in the Ballcourt Plaza, just south of the ballcourt. It weighs around 20 tons.
On one side it depicts a larger-than-life portrait of "Sky Xul" himself seated cross-legged in the open jaws of an enormous crocodile-mountain hybrid monster.
The design of this zoomorph is incredibly intricate and the whole monument is covered with skilfully executed sculpture.
Zoomorph P is accompanied by an altar depicting an unidentified deity leaping from a split in the earth.
A hieroglyphic text on the zoomorph describes the founding of Quiriguá under the supervision of the king of Copán.
Traces of red pigment have been found on this monument, suggesting that it was originally painted red.

Climbing to the Acropolis.
Zoomorph P (left) and Zoomorph O (right) are in the background.

The Acropolis.
The Acropolis is the largest architectural complex at Quiriguá, it lies at the southern limit of the ceremonial centre of the city.

It is a complex construction, with new buildings and features being added over time.
Construction of the Acropolis began in 550 and continued through to 810 when the site was abandoned.
The Acropolis was a palace complex used primarily as an elite residence and for administrative purposes.
Excavations of the Acropolis encountered the fallen remains of corbel arches, but none are still standing.