Introduction
I’ve always been fascinated with the Maya Civilization since the very first time I visited Copan, one of the largest Classic Maya centers located at the western region of Honduras. I remember the moment I was greeted by the stelae in the Great Plaza, gazing at the intricate hieroglyphic carvings in their backs and the sculptural relief details found in sculptures and buildings nearby. I was amazed at the fact that these monuments were still standing after thousands of years ago, and that I was lucky enough to see it. Being from Honduras, we are taught in school from a very early age to appreciate our national heritage and culture. The fact that we have Copan as part of our past drives us to be proud of it and embrace it as part of our national identity. It is worth mentioning that the name of Copan refers to the notable concentration of palaces, major temples, ball courts and other important monuments as it shows the royal lineage that ruled the area between 400 A.D. and 820 A.D. …show more content…
It is no different in Copan as we find one of the finest, most intact examples of Early Classic Maya architecture, The Rosalila Temple. This paper will discuss the Rosalila’s iconography and how its preserved architectural expression conveys a complex cosmological message. It sets itself as the heart of Copan and the Cosmos. We will see how this temple not only emphasizes the Sun God, K’innich Ahau but also displays the spiritual connection with the greatest Sun King and founder of Copan’s royal lineage, K’innich Yax K’uk’Mo (“Eye of the Resplendent
I’ve always been fascinated with the Maya Civilization since the very first time I visited Copan, one of the largest Classic Maya centers located at the western region of Honduras. I remember the moment I was greeted by the stelae in the Great Plaza, gazing at the intricate hieroglyphic carvings in their backs and the sculptural relief details found in sculptures and buildings nearby. I was amazed at the fact that these monuments were still standing after thousands of years ago, and that I was lucky enough to see it. Being from Honduras, we are taught in school from a very early age to appreciate our national heritage and culture. The fact that we have Copan as part of our past drives us to be proud of it and embrace it as part of our national identity. It is worth mentioning that the name of Copan refers to the notable concentration of palaces, major temples, ball courts and other important monuments as it shows the royal lineage that ruled the area between 400 A.D. and 820 A.D. …show more content…
It is no different in Copan as we find one of the finest, most intact examples of Early Classic Maya architecture, The Rosalila Temple. This paper will discuss the Rosalila’s iconography and how its preserved architectural expression conveys a complex cosmological message. It sets itself as the heart of Copan and the Cosmos. We will see how this temple not only emphasizes the Sun God, K’innich Ahau but also displays the spiritual connection with the greatest Sun King and founder of Copan’s royal lineage, K’innich Yax K’uk’Mo (“Eye of the Resplendent