The Maya metropolis of Tikal was once one of the greatest
cities in the world. Strategically located in the lowlands
of Guatemala, it boasted over 100,000 inhabitants at its
peak around AD 750.
Huge temple-pyramids jutted out of the
rainforest, dominating the skyline. Today, Tikal has become
one of the most visited sites on the Maya tourist itinerary, and was the model for the rebel base in the
film, "Star Wars."
During the heyday of the Maya empire, Tikal was the capital
city, serving as a center of trade, an architectural style-setter, and the apogee of power and wealth.
Three
generations of the ruling lords of the great Jaguar clan --
Hasaw Chan K'awil, Yik'in Chan K'awil, and Yax Ain -- built
the Great Temples that reflect its character and
individuality. Some of these temples served as mortuaries,
and their contents give us a glimpse of the richness of
life as a lord of Tikal.
In "The
Lords of Tikal,"
readers learn about *real* star wars -- battles waged
around astronomical events such as the first appearance of
the planet Venus in the morning sky. (Click here to read Star Wars excerpt from book.)
Complete with a section on visiting Tikal, "The Lords of Tikal" will engage exotic tourists and armchair travelers as much as
archaeologists and professionals. "The Lords of Tikal" is available online from Amazon.com, wherever books are sold, or directly from the publisher:
Thames and Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10110
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