Maya site of Copán 5 Dec 2025

Maya site of Copán

In a quiet valley of western Honduras lie the ruins of Copán—a city of the ancient Maya civilisation. Its sky served as both compass and calendar, guiding celestial events and shaping temples, rituals and the rhythm of life. Around 426 CE, K"inich Yax K"uk" Mo", a warrior from the Maya heartland, founded Copán and established its royal dynasty. The city became a centre of Maya art, astronomy and power.

© diegograndi/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Santa slalom
5 Dec 2023Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, Bavaria, Germany
5 Dec 2024Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

9 Mar 2026Grey seal sleeping on the beach, Orkney Islands, Scotland
17 Oct 2026International Archaeology Day
3 Feb 2025Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire, England
Keep practising, little guy
6 Jul 2025Tour de France
Walking a rocky rainbow
11 Oct 2025World Migratory Bird Day
2 May 2024Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho, USA
8 Apr 2025Paro Tsechu Festival, Bhutan
14 Nov 2025Mother manatee and calf, Crystal River, Florida, United States
A prehistoric pavement
26 Feb 2024Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, Canada
10 Jan 2025Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
11 Jan 2025Heri es-Swani in Meknes, Morocco
27 Nov 2024Tombeau du Géant in Bouillon, Belgium
9 Jun 2025Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia
14 Aug 2024World Lizard Day
9 Jan 2025Sossusvlei sand dunes, Namib desert, Namibia
16 Apr 2024Union Square, Manhattan, New York, USA
26 May 2024Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington, USA
14 Aug 2025Cable car station on Piz Nair mountain, Graubünden, Switzerland
In the running
12 Jan 2025Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
One on land, a million in space
6 Nov 2025Celebrating Yi Peng
1 Nov 2025Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
6 Aug 2025Ring-tailed lemur
Shark Awareness Day
Lighting the way
Kick-off in Qatar