The MAYAN COSMIC TURTLE ALTAR in the Copán Great Plaza on the west side of Copán Stela C. The COSMIC TURTLE ALTAR has a stone head on each end of the carapace. This is the north facing head and the more interesting of the two heads.

In Mayan myth, as part of the Third Creation the HERO TWINS defeated the LORDS OF DEATH in the Underworld and then resurrected their fathers, the MAIZE GODS who were reborn into the world through a crack in the carapace of the MAYAN COSMIC TURTLE.

For OPTIMAL VIEWING
to see this Mayan stone turtle sculpture bigger than life and almost reach
out and touch its head, VIEW THE GIGANTIC BLOW-UP SIZE (1678 x 1300) with this direct Flickr link: www.flickr.com/photos/neotropical_birds_mayan_ruins/53647…

Posted by Neotropical Pete on 2010-12-28 09:03:00

Tagged: , Copan Cosmic Turtle Altar , Copan Turtle Altar photo , Turtle Altar , Copan Turtle , Mayan Cosmic Turtle , Mayan Turtle , foto de Altar de Tortuga , Mayan Stone Head , Mayan Stone Turtle , Mayan Stone Sculpture , Stela C , stela , Mayan King , 18 Rabbit , Mayan Art , Mayan Gods , Mayan Myth , Hero Twins , Maize Gods , Copan Ruins , Honduras , Copán Photo by Peter Wendelken , Peter Wendelken