Carved stone monuments with inscriptions

Tikal Quiz: Maya Temples, Stelae and Jungle Pyramids

This Tikal quiz climbs the stone temples of one of the greatest Maya cities. Play an interactive set of 10 questions on the Peten rainforest, Temple I and its ruler, Temple IV's height, stelae and hieroglyphs, the Long Count calendar, the city's old name, rivalry with Calakmul, the arrival from Teotihuacan and Star Wars.

Start Tikal Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Country
In which country is Tikal?
Culture
Which civilization built Tikal?
Temple
What is Temple I also called?
Ruler
Which ruler was buried in Temple I?
Tallest
Which is Tikal's tallest temple?
Stelae
What are stelae?
Calendar
Which Maya calendar count appears in many inscriptions?
Rival
Which Maya city was Tikal's great rival?
Name
What did the Maya call Tikal?
Film
Which 1977 film used the view from Temple IV?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In which country is Tikal?
Answer: Guatemala
It lies in the Peten region.
Q2: Which civilization built Tikal?
Answer: The Maya
It peaked in the Classic period.
Q3: What is Temple I also called?
Answer: Temple of the Great Jaguar
It holds a royal tomb.
Q4: Which ruler was buried in Temple I?
Answer: Jasaw Chan K'awiil I
He died around 734.
Q5: Which is Tikal's tallest temple?
Answer: Temple IV
It is about 65 meters tall.
Q6: What are stelae?
Answer: Carved stone monuments with inscriptions
They record rulers and dates.
Q7: Which Maya calendar count appears in many inscriptions?
Answer: The Long Count
It counts days from a starting point.
Q8: Which Maya city was Tikal's great rival?
Answer: Calakmul
They fought for power.
Q9: What did the Maya call Tikal?
Answer: Mutal
It appears in its emblem glyph.
Q10: Which 1977 film used the view from Temple IV?
Answer: Star Wars
It showed the rebel base.

Tikal Quiz – Maya Temples, Stelae and Jungle Pyramids

Tikal lies in the rainforest of the Peten region in northern Guatemala and was one of the most powerful Maya cities, peaking roughly between 200 and 900 CE. Its ancient name was Mutal.

Temple I, the Temple of the Great Jaguar, holds the tomb of the ruler Jasaw Chan K'awiil I, and Temple IV rises about 65 meters above the trees. Carved stelae record rulers, wars and dates in the Long Count calendar.

Inscriptions describe rivalry with Calakmul and the arrival of warriors linked to Teotihuacan in 378 CE. The city was abandoned by the 10th century, and the view from Temple IV appeared in Star Wars.

What This Quiz Teaches

History fans will enjoy these questions.

Where Tikal is
Who built it
Which temples stand out
What inscriptions record
Who its rivals were

Did You Know?

Tikal became a UNESCO site in 1979.
Howler monkeys call from the trees around the ruins.
Reservoirs stored water for the city.
Lidar surveys found many hidden structures nearby.
Sunrise tours climb Temple IV in the dark.