Copan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in western Honduras, was an important city of the Maya civilization. It was the main city of the Xukpi kingdom, which was defeated by Quirigua in the 8th century. Copan declined due to population growth and dwindling resources. The site is known for its large carved stone stelae and is relatively uncrowded compared to other Mayan sites. Visitors can stay in the nearby town of Copan Ruinas and access the site by flying into Honduras, taking a bus from San Pedro Sula Guatemala, or taking a taxi from El Salvador.
Copan is a set of ruins in western Honduras. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and have been since 1980. Copan was an important site of the Maya civilization in the pre-Columbian era. Copan consists of some of the most fascinating Mayan ruins in the Americas and are a very popular tourist destination for visitors to Honduras.
The Mayans were never a cohesive empire. Instead, they made up a larger culture that consisted of various kingdoms and city-states. The power and influence of these kingdoms waxed and waned over the centuries, and their sizes varied accordingly. Some Mayan kingdoms were quite small throughout their lifetimes, while others encompassed huge tracts of land and enveloped other kingdoms and cities through warfare and political alliances.
Copan was the main city of a large kingdom called Xukpi. The name itself literally means something like Corner-Bundle. This was a reference to the fact that Copan is in the far east of Maya territory. The site is located just across the western border of Honduras against Guatemala.
The Xukpi kingdom has its roots in a small kingdom around Copan during the 2nd century. The kingdom expanded over the years and by the 5th century it was one of the most important Maya sites of the Classic period. Xukpi continued as a major power until the early 8th century, when it was defeated by a smaller state within its realm, Quirigua. The ruler of Xukpi at the time, Uaxaclajuun Ub’aah K’awiil, referred to as 2 Rabbit, was beheaded by the Quiriguan king K’ahk’Tiliw Chan Yopaat, called Cauac Sky.
While Copan eventually recovered some of its power, it never again became a truly powerful power. For the next hundred years or so, increasing population growth coupled with dwindling natural resources took its toll on Copan, and the city began the slow decline that plagued most of the Mayan lands. From a population of tens of thousands, Copan was reduced to fewer than 5,000 people, with all eventually abandoning the city itself and moving to the surrounding lands to farm.
The Copan site has never really been forgotten by the locals and some early explorers were aware of its existence. It wasn’t until the early 19th century, however, that Western explorers and writers began talking about it in the outside world. In 1990, a popular account of the site was published that captured the public imagination. When excavations began in the Mayan lands in the late 19th century, Copan was one of the first visited by archaeologists.
Copan is best known for its large carved stone stele. These stelae feature decorated faces, depicting the rulers of Copan throughout its centuries of regional rule. The Copan Stelae are among the best preserved in the Maya region and are a major attraction for visitors.
Unlike many Mayan sites in Mexico and Guatemala, the Honduran site is relatively uncrowded. Since the amount of tourist traffic in Honduras is much less than that of either of the other two major Mayan nations, the site can be fairly quiet. The nearby town of Copan Ruinas has many hotels, guides, and rental vehicles for exploring the Copan site, and visitors can fly into Honduras, take a bus directly from San Pedro Sula Guatemala, or take a taxi from El Salvador.
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