Mayan Ruins in Guatemala

In the Central American region are found the ruins of what are pronounced by all scholars to be the highest civilization, and the most ancient in time, of any in the New World. There it arose, flourished, and tottered to its fall. Its glory had departed; its cities were desolation, before the coming of the Spaniards. Their location is in a section of the country away from the beaten track of travel. Their sites are overspread with the luxuriant vegetation of tropical lands, through which the Indian's machete must carve a passage. The states in which they are situated are notorious for anarchy and misrule, and the climate is such that it is dangerous for those not acclimated to venture there during a large part of the year. So it is not strange that but few had wandered among these ruins, and described them to the world at large until recent times.

The most important ruins are in the modern states of Honduras; Guatemala; Chiapas and Yucatan, Mexico. The northern portion of this peninsula is literally studded with them. The river Usumacinta and its numerous tributaries flowing in a northern direction through Chiapas is regarded as the original home of the civilization. It is not known when exactly these civilizations began.

One of the most famous groups of ruins in this region is that of Copan, situated in Honduras, very near the Guatemala border. When Cortez made his march to Honduras in 1524 he passed within a few miles of this place but made no mention of it, implying that it was uninhabited at that time.

The northern half of this area is occupied by a large terrace six hundred by eight hundred feet. On the terrace were the ruins of four pyramids, one rising to the height of one hundred and twenty-two feet. In two places there were courtyards, or sunken areas. At one place on the terrace, fronting the river, are the remains of small, circular towers, thought to have been watchtowers.

A dark mystery hangs over these ruins. Their builders are unknown. Whether we have here some temple sacred to the gods of the Maya pantheon or some palace made resplendent for royal owners, who can tell? Whether these are the ruins of the more substantial public buildings of a great city, of which all other buildings have vanished—or whether this is the remains of a prosperous pueblo, whose communal houses crowded the terraces, with sacrificial altars on the lofty pyramids—who knows?

North of Copan about half-way to the coast, on the bank of the river Montagua, is found a small hamlet, by the name of Quiriga. The ruins there are similar to those of Copan. Two other cities of ancient are Utatlan and Patinamit. According to historical accounts they were the capitals of two powerful monarchies.