Copán, << koh PAHN, >> was one of the southernmost Maya cities during the Classic Period of the Maya, which lasted from about A.D. 250 to 900. The city’s ruins lie in western Honduras. Copán’s development as an important Maya center began about A.D. 400. Its population peaked at more than 20,000 about A.D. 800.
From the early 400’s to 820, a series of 16 kings ruled Copán. All of them belonged to a single dynasty (family). Copán traded with Teotihuacan in what is now Mexico and with the Maya cities of Tikal and Kaminaljuyu, whose ruins lie in Guatemala.
Copán included a ceremonial center that had plazas, altars, and pyramids with temples on top. The city also contained carved stone monuments that were covered with royal portraits and hieroglyphics (picture writing). The monuments were devoted to the history and religion of Copán. The people of Copán worshiped a number of gods. The deities included corn, fire, and rain gods.
Copán started to decline after A.D. 822. The decline may have been caused in part by internal revolts. By 1200, few people lived in the area. Today, Copán is a major tourist attraction and archaeological site.
