A rooftop view of Copán Ruinas, the modern day town still surviving on the energy and money attracted to the beautiful valley by the ancient artistic brilliance of the Maya more than a thousand years ago.
Mayan rulers have colorful nomenclature. Here are some from Copán: Quetzal Macaw, Mat Head, Cu Ix, Waterlily Jaguar, Moon Jaguar, Smoke Serpent or Smoke Sky, Smoke Jaguar, 18 Rabbit, Smoke Monkey, Smoke Shell (Squirrel), First Dawn or Sunrise, and of course, everyone's favorite, Eye of the sun-resplandescent-quetzal macaw.
"Although small on the scale of population, relative to other great Mayan city-states, Copan was the most advanced in the development of many of the arts, which is why it steals the hearts of most visitors. If Tikal was like New York, Copan was like Paris!"
"The Ruins of Copán, considered the Athens of the New World by the most famous Maya archaeologist, Sylvanus Morely, represent one of the most spectacular cultural achievements of antiquity."
