Great Battles: Moments in Time that Changed History Lecture

A Tale of Two City States: Quirigua's Victory over Copan in 738 CE

Dr. Robert Sharer, Curator Emeritus, American Section, and Director of the Early Copan Acropolis Program (1989–2003), presents this inaugural lecture in the Great Battles Series. Until recently scholars depicted the ancient Maya as a peaceful civilization devoid of warfare. This somewhat romantic notion has been overturned by evidence of a starker reality: during the Classic period (ca. 250–900 CE) an array of Maya kingdoms were… Show more engaged in a series of major wars that ravaged the heart of the Maya homeland. For much of this era the major kingdom of Copan appears to have escaped these conflicts. Everything changed in 738 CE, however, when Copan was dramatically defeated by its far smaller vassal, Quirigua.

Series subscription: $40, general public; $15, Penn Museum members. Individual lecture with advance registration: $5, general public; $2, Penn Museum members. $10 at the door based on availability.

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