Interesting Facts About Guatemala

    interesting facts
  • A country in Central America that borders on the Pacific Ocean and has a short coastline on the Caribbean Sea; pop. 14,280,200; capital, Guatemala City; official language, Spanish
  • a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; noted for low per capita income and illiteracy; politically unstable
  • A country in Central America. Official name: Republic of Guatemala
  • (guatemalan) of or relating to or characteristic of Guatemala or its residents; "Guatemalan coffee"
interesting facts about guatemala
interesting facts about guatemala - Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Guatemala (Country Travel Guide)
Lonely Planet Guatemala (Country Travel Guide)
With a Lonely Planet guidebook you ll get the best out of your Guatemala trip. Our 4th edition will take you to the best street markets in Chichicastenango, through the radiant Maya ruins of Tikal, paragliding over Lago de Atitl n and to the colonial splendor of Antigua.
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Birthplace of the gods - the sensor dust gods, apparently.
Birthplace of the gods - the sensor dust gods, apparently.
Teotihuacán [teotiwa'kan] was, at its height in the first half of the 1st millennium CE, the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas. The name Teotihuacán is also used to refer to the civilization or culture that this city was the center of, which at its greatest extent included much of central Mexico. Its influence spread throughout Mesoamerica; evidence of Teotihuacano presence, if not outright political and economic control, can be seen at numerous sites in Veracruz and the Maya region. The city was located in what is now the San Juan Teotihuacán municipality in the State of México, Mexico, approximately 40 km (about 24.8 miles) northeast of Mexico City. It covers a total surface area of 83 km² and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The name Teotihuacán was given by the Nahuatl-speaking Aztec centuries after the fall of the city. The term has been glossed as 'birthplace of the gods,' reflecting Nahua creation myths that took place in Teotihuacán. Another translation was offered by Thelma Sullivan, who interprets the name as "place of those who have the road of the gods." The original name of the city is unknown, but it appears in hieroglyphic texts from the Maya region as 'puh', or Place of Reeds. This suggests that the Maya understood Teotihuacán as a 'Place of Reeds' similar to other Central Mexican settlements that took the name 'Tollan,' such as Tula-Hidalgo and Cholula. This naming convention led to much confusion in the early 20th century as scholars debated whether Teotihuacán or Tula-Hidalgo was the Tollan described by 16th century chronicles. It now seems clear that 'Tollan' may be understood as a generic term applied to any large settlement, rather like the modern expression "the Big Smoke". In the Mesoamerican concept of urbanism, Tollan and other language equivalents serve as a metaphor, linking the bundles of reeds and rushes that formed part of the lacustrine environment of the Valley of Mexico and the large gathering of people in a city Origins and foundation The early history of Teotihuacán is quite mysterious, and the origin of its founders is debated. For many years, archaeologists believed it was built by the Toltec people, an early Mexican civilization. This belief was based on Aztec writings which attributed the site to the Toltecs. However, the Nahuatl word "Toltec" means "great craftsman" and may not always refer to the Toltec civilization. Also, Teotihuacán predates the Toltec civilization, ruling them out as the city's founders. Other scholars have put forth the Totonac people as the founders of Teotihuacán, and the debate continues to this day. There is evidence that at least some of the people living in Teotihuacán came from areas influenced by the Teotihuacano civilization, including the Zapotec, Mixtec and Maya peoples. The culture and architecture of Teotihuacán was influenced by the Olmec people, who are considered to be the "mother civilization" of Mesoamerica. The earliest buildings at Teotihuacán date to about 200 BC, and the largest pyramid, the Pyramid of the Sun, was completed by 100 AD. Zenith The city reached its zenith between 150 and 450 CE, when it was the center of a powerful culture that dominated Mesoamerica, wielding power and influence comparable to ancient Rome. At its height the city covered over 30 km² (over 11½ square miles), and probably housed a population of over 150,000 people, possibly as many as 250,000. Various districts in the city housed people from across the Teotihuacano empire that spread south as far as Guatemala. Notably absent from the city are fortifications and military structures. Teotihuacán had a major influence on the Preclassic and Classic Maya, conquering several Maya centers including Tikal and influencing Maya culture. The Teotihuacano style of architecture was a major contribution to Mesoamerican culture. The stepped pyramids that were quite prominent in Maya and Aztec architecture came from Teotihuacán.[citation needed] This style of building was called "talud-tablero", where a rectangular panel (tablero) was placed over a sloping side (talud). The city was a center of industry, home to many potters, jewelers and craftsmen. Teotihuacán is known for producing a great number of obsidian artifacts. Unfortunately no ancient Teotihuacano non-ideographic texts are known to exist (or known to have existed), but mentions of the city in inscriptions from Maya cities show that Teotihuacán nobility travelled to and perhaps conquered local rulers as far away as Honduras. Maya inscriptions mention an individual nicknamed by scholars as "Spearthrower Owl", apparently ruler of Teotihuacán, who reigned for over 60 years and installed his relatives as rulers of Tikal and Uaxactún in Guatemala. Most of what we infer about the culture at Teotihuacán comes from the murals that adorn the site and others, like the Wagner Murals, found in private collections,
Hostel Mediterraneo ceiling
Hostel Mediterraneo ceiling
There are slogans on the wall and interesting things strung here and there. In fact, there is a spider web of string, criss-crossing the ceiling. I asked the waitress what that was all about, but she didn’t know. I loved the Michael Jackson piñata which I thought was clever.

interesting facts about guatemala
interesting facts about guatemala
The Rough Guide to Guatemala 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
The Rough Guide to Guatemala is the essential companion to this astonishing country with detailed coverage of all the main attractions – from the volcanoes and crater lakes to the culturally-rich capital of Guatemala City. The full-colour introduction highlights the spectacular natural beauty of the beaches and wild-life reserves with stunning photography and the essential list of ‘what not to miss’. There are informative accounts of all the Mayan ruins, with detailed historical backgrounds, and how to get the most from each sight, as well as thorough explorations of those hidden gems, including the breathtaking Lake Atilán region and the jungle of Verapaz. You’ll find new colour sections about Indigenous Costumes and Mayan Architecture, dozens of easy-to-use maps, as well as countless accommodation and restaurant reviews and tips to find the best fiestas and highland markets. The guide has all the practical information you need to get there, travel around with ease and ensure you don’t miss the unmissable.