Copán
코판 유적
Copán is an ancient Maya city in western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. It sits in a fertile river valley at about 600 metres above sea level. It was the capital of a major kingdom from the 5th to the 9th century, and people lived in the area for more than two thousand years before the city was abandoned in the early 10th century.
See it on the 3D globe →At a glance
- Country
- Honduras
- Location
- Copán Ruinas, Honduras
- Built
- c. 426–820
- Type
- Ancient site
Quick answers
Where is Copán?
Copán is in Copán Ruinas, Honduras.
A Maya city famed for its art: the Hieroglyphic Stairway, carved with some 2,200 glyphs, and finely sculpted stelae.
UNESCO named Copán a World Heritage Site in 1980. The city is famous for its art: finely carved stone monuments called stelae and the Hieroglyphic Stairway, covered in about 2,200 glyphs. Archaeologists did not dig at the site until the 19th century.
A powerful city, and a shock
Copán ruled a large kingdom in the southern Maya area. In AD 738 its king, Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil, one of the greatest in its history, was captured and executed by the king of Quiriguá, who had once been his vassal. This unexpected defeat left the city in a 17-year pause. Its ancient name was probably Oxwitik, thought to mean "Three Witiks."
Art and rescue
Copán developed its own sculpture style within the lowland Maya tradition, perhaps to stress the Maya identity of its rulers. The Hieroglyphic Stairway holds the longest known Maya inscription. The nearby Copán River once wore away much of the east side of the acropolis, so the river was later diverted to protect the ruins. In 1982 the Honduran government also named it a cultural monument.
Fun facts
- Its Hieroglyphic Stairway holds the longest known Maya inscription.
- The Hieroglyphic Stairway has the longest known Maya inscription.
- The Copán River was moved to stop it washing away the ruins.
- A king who was captured in 738 had once been the boss of the king who captured him.
On the globe
The model shows the Maya ruins with the Hieroglyphic Stairway and sculpted stelae in the Honduran valley.
Nearby on the globe
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14