San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize — Central America

Altar 21 at Caracol

(A Group Ballcourt; Structures A11 & A12)

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 8, 2016

1. Altar 21 at Caracol Marker

Inscription.
This altar is a ballcourt marker erected in A.D. 633 by Lord Kan II. The text explains that Kan II's father, Lord Water, engaged in two war events with Tikal in A.D. 556 and A.D. 562.
The unstated purpose of the monument is to compare Kan II's first defeat of Naranjo in A.D. 631 with his father's defeat of Tikal.

Erected by Belize Department of Archaeology.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical year for this entry is 556 CE.

Location. 16° 45.684′ N, 89° 7.243′ W. Marker is in San Ignacio, Cayo. The marker is just to the north of the A Group Ballcourt at Caracol Archaeological Site some 40 miles south of San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Ignacio, Cayo 7K5Z4 KRS87, Belize. Touch for directions.

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Altar 21 at Caracol image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 8, 2016

2. Altar 21 at Caracol

The actual Altar 21 with the original, although weathered, inscription.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 8, 2016

3. Altar 21 at Caracol Marker

The marker is at the far north end of the reconstructed A Group Ballcourt at Caracol Archaeological Site. Altar 21 has been moved some meters to the east to a covered area for protection from erosion.

Structure A6 at Caracol, just north of the A Group Ballcourt image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 8, 2016

4. Structure A6 at Caracol, just north of the A Group Ballcourt

Caana at Caracol's Group B image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 8, 2016

5. Caana at Caracol's Group B

At 141 feet (43 meters) this is still the tallest man-made structure in Belize.

The view south from the top of Caana at Caracol's Group B image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 8, 2016

6. The view south from the top of Caana at Caracol's Group B

Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2018. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 656 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 9, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.