Tikal is one of the largest Maya cities. It is located in Guatemala in the Petén region which forms the central area of the Lowlands (see map). It is a dense forest  interspersed with swamps and rivers (fig. 1). The climate is tropical with temperatures over 30°C and a humudity level of 80%. This environment is not well suited for monumental architecture which must be constantly maintained in rapidly growing vegetation.

The monumental center of Tikal covers over 16 km² (26 square miles) and contains hundreds of buildings grouped around courtyards to form complexes connected by roads (sacbes) (fig. 2). There are two main complexes seperated by the Great Plaza and connected by a ballcourt: the North Acropolis (a pyramid-temple complex) and the Central Acropolis (a palace complex) (fig. 3). It is possible that these two complexes are symbolically associated, the North Acropolis representing the world of the dead and the Central Acropolis representing the divine world. In fact, the North Acropolis was a royal cemetery while the Central Acropolis was probably the residence of the royal family. Then the Great Plaza would represent the center of the universe and the ballcourt the movement of the sun. Other complexes such as Complex Q are twin-pyramids. They are composed of two symmetrical pyramids forming an east-west axis and two asymmetrical buildings forming a north-south axis. It is presumed that these small peripheral complexes replicate the central scheme. There are also buildings in Teotihuacán style testifying of the relationship between Tikal and Central Mexico.

Fig. 1: Landscape of Tikal.

Fig. 2: Map of the monumental center of Tikal. (after Kubler 1990)

The history of Tikal indicates a dynastic succession of twenty nine rulers. The royal dynasty began around A.D. 80 with the founder Yax Eeb Xook. Among his successors were Great Jaguar Paw (9th) who established Tikal as a military and economic power. After his death, his clan was replaced  by the one of Curlned Nose put on the throne by Tikal's general ruling the neighbouring city of Uaxactún. By A.D. 562, Tikal was conquered by the cities of Calakmul and Caracol who restored the throne to Great Jaguar Paw's clan. So along the Classic period both clans fought over Tikal who was plunged into civil war. It is to Yik'in Chan K'awiil (26th) that we owe the revitalization of the city before its abandonment with the construction of many buildings such as Temple I covering the tomb of his father Jasaw Chan K'awiil which known today as the richest Maya grave.

Fig. 3: Model of the monumental center of Tikal at the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Guatemala.