Lost King of the Maya

In an ancient Mayan arena, enemies of notorious King Yax K'uk Mo square off in a ball game that appears much like modern soccer. But in this fateful contest, winners live- and losers lose their heads. From 200 to 900 A.D., Yax K'uk Mo's dynasty of Blood Lords presided over the Maya city of Copan, conducting hallucinogenic vision quests, ritual warfare and human sacrifice. Join a team of archaeologists and historians who are piecing together the fascinating rise and fall of this ancient city, its legendary founder, Yax K'uk Mo and its amazingly advanced culture. This set also includes Maya Lords of the Jungle: The civilization of the Maya, which rose out of Central America's rain forests more than 2000 years ago, grew to dizzying heights of achievement before declining precipitously in the ninth century AD No one yet knows why Maya civilization collapsed, but in Maya Lords of the Jungle, we witness the quest for an answer as archaeologists investigate temples and monuments, piece together the meaning of a complex hieroglyphic language, and analyze Maya trade routes and agricultural techniques. (112 min on 2 DVDs)