Tok Casper facts for kids
Tok Casper was an important early king of an ancient Maya city called Quiriguá. This city was located in what is now south-eastern Guatemala. He became king in the year 426 AD.
His name, "Tok Casper," is actually a nickname given to him by modern researchers. The "Casper" part comes from a hieroglyph (an ancient picture-writing symbol) in his real Maya name. This symbol looked a bit like the friendly ghost character, Casper!
Tok Casper was made king by a very powerful ruler named Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ. K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo' was the king of a nearby and much larger Maya city called Copán. This shows that Copán had a lot of influence over Quiriguá at that time.
After Tok Casper, another king named Tutuum Yohl Kʼinich took the throne. We don't know much about Tutuum Yohl K'inich's rule.
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Who were the Maya?
The Maya civilization was a very advanced group of people who lived in what is now Mexico and Central America. They built amazing cities with huge temples and pyramids. They were also very good at math, astronomy (studying stars), and writing. The Maya civilization lasted for thousands of years, with different cities rising and falling in power.
Quiriguá: A Small but Important Kingdom
Quiriguá was one of these ancient Maya cities. For a long time, it was a smaller kingdom that was under the control of its powerful neighbor, Copán. However, later on, Quiriguá became very strong and even defeated Copán in a famous battle. This happened long after Tok Casper's time.
Quiriguá is famous for its tall stone monuments called stelae. These stelae are like giant stone billboards that tell stories about the kings and important events in the city's history.
Copán: A Powerful Neighbor
Copán was one of the most important and powerful Maya cities. It was known for its beautiful sculptures and detailed hieroglyphic stairways. The kings of Copán, like K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo', had a lot of influence over other smaller cities, including Quiriguá.
K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo': The Founder
Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ was a very important figure in Maya history. He is considered the founder of the royal dynasty (a family of rulers) of Copán. He brought new ideas and power to the city. His decision to install Tok Casper as king of Quiriguá shows his widespread influence.
