Tikal Temple II, Maya pyramid in Tikal, Guatemala
Temple II is a Maya pyramid at Tikal that stands about 38 meters tall and contains three interconnected chambers within its stone body. Steep stone steps climb toward the summit platform, offering visitors a sense of the scale and engineering that went into its construction.
Construction began around 700 CE during the Late Classic period when Tikal served as the capital of a major Maya kingdom. This building phase occurred during a time of significant political strength and artistic development in the region.
The stone figures on the temple facade show deities and rulers, reflecting how the Maya incorporated religious symbols into their buildings. These carved images were central to how people saw the connection between the divine and everyday life.
The temple sits on level ground, so visitors can observe it from various angles around the plaza or from nearby elevated structures. The surrounding terrain is generally walkable, making it straightforward to explore the temple from different viewpoints.
An inscription shows a queen wearing an elaborate headdress, offering rare evidence of female authority in Maya leadership. Such depictions are uncommon in the surviving monuments from this era.
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