Ruins Of Xunantunich – Mayan City That Once Flourished
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Xunantunich, a major ceremonial center of the Maya Civilization, is an ancient Maya archaeological site atop a ridge above the Mopan River, about 80 miles (130 km) west of Belize City, Cayo District, in western Belize.
It comprises six major plazas, surrounded by over twenty-five temples and palaces. The name 'Xunantunich' derives from the Yucatec Maya language and means 'Stone Woman' (or "Lady of the Rock"). It is a modern name; its ancient name is currently unknown.
"El Castillo" at Xunantunich. Photo credits: - CC BY-SA 4.0
Local legend holds that around the end of the 1800s, a man from the village of San Jose Succotz went hunting near the site and suddenly saw a beautiful, statuesque Maya maiden standing motionless in the rays of the rising sun at the mouth of a cave that extended beneath the giant structure.
Stricken by her appearance, the man threw his gun aside and ran downhill to the village. After recounting his tale, several villagers, led by the native priest, returned to the site.
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See also:
Dzibilchaltún: One Of The Most Ancient Mayan Centers In Northwest Yucatan, Mexico
Tikal Of Maya: Sophisticated Culture That Experienced Humble Start, Golden Age, Wars And Decline
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