Q’umarkaj

Q’umarkaj was the former seat of government of the grand kingdom K’iche. One of the most powerful kingdoms of the guatemalan highlands during the post-classic maya.

The central plaza was dominated by the temple of #Tohil, patron deity of Q’umarkaj and a deity jaguar associated with the sun and the rain. This temple is located on the western side of the main square. What quéda visible from its ruins are the debris and the core of mud from the temple, with an opening where the kiches contemporary still make ceremonial offerings.
In the mid-NINETEENTH century, the state of conservation of this temple was much better and was described by John Lloyd Stephens. Originally, the building consisted of a pyramid with steep stairs on three sides, all except the west, and the building of the temple at its summit. At its base, the pyramid stood 33 feet (10 m) on each side and the outside of the building was covered with stucco and painted.

The carved stones that formed the facades of the buildings, were looted during the colonial era and carried to the construction of the new buildings of Santa Cruz del Quiché. The extraction of construction materials continued until the end of the NINETEENTH century, causing tremendous damage to the remains of the ancient buildings.