The Maya Lands
March 2009
Tikal
The Grand Plaza
Temple II

Temple II sits opposite Temple I in the Grand Plaza.  Temple II is shorter and squatter than Temple I.  On the plus side, you can walk up Temple II.  I do not recall feeling anything about Temple II because Temple I blew me away.


According to the LONELY PLANET GUIDE to GUATEMALA, 2nd Edition, January 2004, ISBN 1-74059-293-X, pages 262, Temple II (also called the Temple of the Masks) was originally almost as high as Temple I.  However, the roofcomb collapsed, and the temple is now about 38 meters (about 123 1/2 feet) tall.


According to TIKAL: History, Art and Monuments, MonClem Ediciones, 1998, ISBN 968-6434-77-1, Pages 14-16, Temple II is also called the Temple of the Masks.  Temple II has 3 tiers with a wide central staircase.  The roofcomb has a face with earplugs on each side.  The upper steps, leading to the temple on top, have 2 large masks on each side.  The temple on top has 3 chambers inside, with stuccoed walls that the Mayans covered with graffiti.   These masks inspired the name: the Temple of the Masks.  The Mayans built Temple II around 700 A.D.  Temple II is the most restored of Tikal’s 5 large temples.

The front of Temple II, seen from the Grand Plaza looking west, at Tikal
The front of Temple II, seen from the south looking northwest