Quirigua was a great little day trip from the Rio Dulce that we took with Cindy's parents and Bob & Trish from S/V Barnacle.
During the rule of the great leader Cauac Sky Quirigua challenged Copan. during this time it captured the leader of Copan, Eighteen Rabbit in 737. Under Jade Sky, who took the throne in 790, Quirigua reached its peak, with fifty years of extensive building work, including a radical resonstruction of the acropolis. At the end of Jade Sky's rule, in the middle of the ninth centruy, the historical record fades out, as does the period of prosperity and power.
Entering the site beneath the ever-dripping ceibe, jocote, palm and fig trees, you emerge at the northern end of the Great Plaza. To the left of the path from the ticket office and new museum is a badly ruined pyramid, the untidy bulk of the acropolis dominating the site from teh southern end of the plaza. Liberally scattered around the luxuriant tropical grass of the plaza are the finely carved stelae for which Quirigua is famous. The nine stelea are among the tallest in the Maya world, and all are similarly studded with portraits and glyphs, and topped by thatched palm roofs. The figures represent the city's rulers, with Cauac Sky dipicted on no fewer than seven. Two unusual features are particularly clear: the vast headdresses, which dwarf the faces, and the beards.
During the rule of the great leader Cauac Sky Quirigua challenged Copan. during this time it captured the leader of Copan, Eighteen Rabbit in 737. Under Jade Sky, who took the throne in 790, Quirigua reached its peak, with fifty years of extensive building work, including a radical resonstruction of the acropolis. At the end of Jade Sky's rule, in the middle of the ninth centruy, the historical record fades out, as does the period of prosperity and power.
Entering the site beneath the ever-dripping ceibe, jocote, palm and fig trees, you emerge at the northern end of the Great Plaza. To the left of the path from the ticket office and new museum is a badly ruined pyramid, the untidy bulk of the acropolis dominating the site from teh southern end of the plaza. Liberally scattered around the luxuriant tropical grass of the plaza are the finely carved stelae for which Quirigua is famous. The nine stelea are among the tallest in the Maya world, and all are similarly studded with portraits and glyphs, and topped by thatched palm roofs. The figures represent the city's rulers, with Cauac Sky dipicted on no fewer than seven. Two unusual features are particularly clear: the vast headdresses, which dwarf the faces, and the beards.
Front of a Zoomorph
Squatting at the base of the raised acropolis are six bizarre zoomorphs: globular-shaped stone alters carved with interlacing animal and human figures; look our for the turtle, frog, crocodile and jaguar!
We had a great time and a big Thanks for S/V Barnacle for the ride and the tour. You rock Bob and Trish!
Dad, Cindy and Mom at Quirigua
Squatting at the base of the raised acropolis are six bizarre zoomorphs: globular-shaped stone alters carved with interlacing animal and human figures; look our for the turtle, frog, crocodile and jaguar!
We had a great time and a big Thanks for S/V Barnacle for the ride and the tour. You rock Bob and Trish!
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