Deep within the impenetrable jungles of Guatemala lies Tikal, a sprawling ancient metropolis that state-of-the-art LiDAR technology has recently revealed to be as vast and sophisticated as ancient Rome. Home to millions, this "bewitching" city boasted 70-meter-high pyramids engineered with "beehive" stability that rivaled the Egyptian masters, alongside ingenious hydraulic systems that provided pristine water to a thirsty empire. Yet, despite their mastery of astronomy and monumental architecture, the divine kings of Tikal could not sacrifice enough blood to ward off a catastrophic century-long drought. Join us as we explore the odyssey of the Maya, from their rise as master astronomers to the mysterious "beautiful disaster" that saw one of history’s greatest civilizations swallowed by the forest. You can now become a History Hit member right here on YouTube! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. Get an exclusive release every week by signing up here: https://bit.ly/4pyExyn Subscribe to Parable for more Religious History documentaries! This channel is part of the History Hit Network. Any queries, please contact us at: [email protected] #Parable #ReligiousHistoryDocumentary