Maya site of Copán 5 Dec 2025

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:

11 Oct 2023The Painted Hills, Oregon, USA
Christmas in the cloister
Where is this ethereal mountain?
Her legend and mystery endure
30 Aug 2025International Whale Shark Day
4 Jan 2026Kings Mountain, Chugach Mountains, Alaska, United States
18 Nov 2023Polar bear season in Manitoba
13 Jun 2025Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
7 Oct 2023Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA
The road less taken?
23 Oct 2023Corn maze in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
11 Aug 2024Wooden path to Kennedy Lake, Vancouver Island, Canada
29 Mar 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead, Wales
26 Sep 2024Blue-throated toucanet, Los Quetzales National Park, Costa Rica
27 Jul 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Puffins pucker up
28 Jan 2025Short-eared owl
High achievers
Have a merry little Christmas
On a dark and stormy night...
14 Jul 2025Shark Awareness Day
Back to the future
6 Dec 2024Finnish Independence Day
7 Nov 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
An ocean of stars above the desert
Wise guys
3 Jul 2024World Meerkat Day
Sunset on the Valley of the Moon
Aug 23, 2023Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
15 Oct 2025Amethyst laccaria mushrooms, Seabeck, Washington, United States