Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
stelae at that site bears his name and image. By the time he died in 695, Copán's popula-
tion had grown substantially.
Smoke Imix was succeeded by Uaxaclahun Ubak K'awil (18 Rabbit; r 695-738), the
13th king, who willingly took the reins of power and pursued further military conquest. In
a war with King Cauac Sky, his neighbor from Quiriguá, 18 Rabbit was captured and be-
headed. He was succeeded by K'ak' Joplaj Chan K'awiil (Smoke Monkey; r 738-49), the
14th king, whose short reign left little mark on Copán. Smoke Monkey's son, K'ak'
Yipyaj Chan K'awiil (Smoke Shell; r 749-63), was, however, one of Copán's greatest
builders. He commissioned the city's most famous and important monument, the great Es-
calinata de los Jeroglíficos (Hieroglyphic Stairway), which immortalizes the achievements
of the dynasty from its establishment until 755, when the stairway was dedicated. It is the
longest inscription ever discovered in the Maya lands.
Yax Pasaj Chan Yopaat (Sunrise or First Dawn; r 763-820; also known as Yax Pac, Yax
Pasaj Chan Yoaat and Yax Pasah), Smoke Shell's successor and the 16th king, continued
the beautification of Copán. The final occupant of the throne, U Cit Tok', became ruler in
822, but it is not known when he died.
Until recently, the collapse of the civilization at Copán had been a mystery. Now, ar-
chaeologists have begun to surmise that near the end of Copán's heyday the population
grew at an unprecedented rate, straining agricultural resources. In the end, Copán was no
longer agriculturally self-sufficient and had to import food from other areas. The urban
core expanded into the fertile lowlands in the center of the valley, forcing both agricultural
and residential areas to spread onto the steep slopes surrounding the valley. Wide areas
were deforested, resulting in massive erosion that further decimated food production and
brought flooding during rainy seasons. Interestingly, this environmental damage of old is
not too different from what is happening today - a disturbing trend, but one that meshes
with the Maya belief that life is cyclical and history repeats itself. Skeletal remains of
people who died during Copán's final years show marked evidence of malnutrition and in-
fectious diseases, as well as decreased life spans.
The Copán Valley was not abandoned overnight - agriculturists probably continued to
live in the ecologically devastated valley for maybe another one or two hundred years. But
by the year 1200 or thereabouts even the farmers had departed, and the royal city of
Copán was reclaimed by the jungle.
