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[[Image:Tikal.JPG|300px|right]]

[[Image:Tikal.JPG|300px|right]]

'''Tikal''', located in the northern Peten region of [[Guatemala]] in [[Central America]] was one of the largest city in the ruins of the [[Maya]]n civilization and is now an important tourist center. It was rediscovered in 1848 by Modesto Méndez and Ambrosio Tut.  

'''Tikal''', located in the northern Peten region of [[Guatemala]] in [[Central America]] was one of the largest cities in the [[Maya]]n civilization and is now an important tourist center. It was rediscovered in 1848 by Modesto Méndez and Ambrosio Tut.  

Tikal represent one of the most impressive architectural achievements of the Maya civilization. It has five imposing pyramids(200 ft. in height). Constructions include temples, shrines, ceremonial platforms, terraces, religious monuments with [[hieroglyphics|hieroglyphic]] inscriptions, dwellings, causeways, plazas, most interconnected with aqueducts, and ball courts. The Temple of the Grand Jaguar, the Temple of the Inscriptions, the North Acropolis of King Moon Double Comb and the courtyards of the Great Plaza are remarkable. The Great Plaza has two main pyramids facing one another.  

Tikal was one of the most impressive architectural achievements of the Mayan civilization. It has five imposing pyramids of 200 ft. in height. Buildings include temples, shrines, ceremonial platforms, terraces, religious monuments with [[hieroglyphics|hieroglyphic]] inscriptions, dwellings, causeways, ball courts, and plazas, most interconnected with aqueducts. The Temple of the Grand Jaguar, the Temple of the Inscriptions, the North Acropolis of King Moon Double Comb and the courtyards of the Great Plaza are remarkable. The Great Plaza has two main pyramids facing one another. The main temples of Tikal are precisely aligned consistent with precise Mayan astronomical observations.

Not far from [[Calakmul]], the largest city in the Mayan world, was it's rival. As Professor Peter Mathews says: ''Tikal and Calakmul hated each other's guts, fought wars, captured each other's kings and more to the point they generated alliances around them''. Uaxactún is another maya site close to Tikal almost with the same size and importance.  

[[Calakmul]], the largest city in the Mayan world, was its rival. As Professor Peter Mathews says: ''Tikal and Calakmul hated each other's guts, fought wars, captured each other's kings and more to the point they generated alliances around them''. Uaxactún is another Maya site close to Tikal, with similar size and importance.  

Tikal, as one of the archaeological wonders of the world, is grouped with luminaries such as Machu Picchu, Petra, Calakmul, [[Chichen Itza]] and the [[Great Wall of China]]. In 1979 UNESCO declared the site a [[World Heritage Site|Cultural Heritage of Humanity]].  

 

Tikal, as one of the archaeological wonders of the world, is on par with sites such as Machu Picchu, Petra, Calakmul, [[Chichen Itza]], and the [[Great Wall of China]]. In 1979 UNESCO declared the site a [[World Heritage Site|Cultural Heritage of Humanity]].  

== See also ==

== See also ==