Iximché is a Maya ruin in Highlands of Guatemala.
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| Iximché | ||
| Department | Chimaltenango Department | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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background
The first settlements come from the pre-classical period, but the place seems to have been abandoned at some point. In 1463 it came to pass in Utatlan the capital of the K'iche 'that with the Kaqchiquels the closest allies started a revolt against the K'iche', who ruled the entire highlands. When this failed, the king of the Kaqchiquels K'icab moved the seat of government to Iximché and built the new center of the Kaqchiquels here. In 1491 AD the K'iche 'then went to war to put their former allies in their place. But the Kaqchiquels, who in the past mostly took the military part in joint actions, were not only able to defeat the K'iche 'troops, but also capture two kings and many members of the upper class who were subsequently sacrificed. The K'iche 'were rid of their reputation for invincibility and now revolts broke out across the empire. An internal revolt in 1493 AD could also take place. do not endanger the city. In the years that followed, there were repeated battles with the K'iche 'without anyone being able to gain an advantage. In addition, the area came increasingly under the influence of the Aztecs. It was these who sent urgent warning messages against the Spaniards in 1510 and 1512. When the news of the fall of the Aztecs arrived, the Kaqchiquels immediately sent messengers to the Spaniards to offer them an alliance against the K'iche '. In 1524 the Spaniards arrived and immediately went with the Kaqchiquels in the victorious battle against the K'iche 'and other highland tribes. Then the Spaniards named Iximché under the name "Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala" as the first capital of Guatemala. In the following years, the Spaniards demanded ever higher tribute payments from the residents, so that there were uprisings here too, which ultimately led to the bloody suppression and resettlement of the survivors. The seat of the capital was near by 1527 Antigua Guatemala relocated and the last resistance of the Kaqchiquels collapsed in 1530. But even today the site is still a sanctuary for the residents. So it is to be understood that after the visit of George W. Bush, local priests were busy for several days to rid the facility of evil energies.
getting there
By plane
By train
In the street
From Guatemala City you drive via Chimaltenango (you can get on here if you are coming from Antigua) to Tecpan. The total travel time is 2 to 2½ hours. If you get off at Parque central, ask for the departure point for the buses to the ruins. It is only a 10-minute walk away. The buses take about 15 minutes to the entrance of the parque arqueologico, where the ruins are to be found.
By boat
mobility
Tourist Attractions
The facility consists of seven plazas surrounded by 160 different buildings. The architecture is typical of the post-classical period in the region and shows great influence from the central highlands in Mexico.
The following buildings deserve special mention:
- Palace 1
- Palace 2
- Temple 2
- Temple 3
A museum shows finds from the facility.
