Ixim'ch�,
(Ixim= Maize Che�=Tree) Ram�n or Brossimium
Alicastrum) was the Capitol
city of the Kak'chik�l people, it was founded on 1470 AD by Juntoh and
Vukubatz, strong allies of the K'ich�' king Quikab the Great, that was
overuled and told to the Kak'chik'el people to abandond Chaiviar, and go
to the Ratzamut mountains, (3,075 Mt. High), where they founded Ix'imch� and
become the worst enemies of the K'ich�.
The ceremonial center is
isolated by ravines in 3 sides, and an artificial creek separates it from the
common people houses. It has 4 large and 2 small leveled Plazas, each
main group has at least 2 temples, along with Palaces for nobles,
there are 2 ball courts, the largest is 40 mt. long and 7 mt. wide, the
zoomorph shaped markers
where found nearby the structure 24. The site was
preserved by the spaniards, due to their alliance against the K'ich�'s,
The first Colonial Capitol of Guatemala was stablished,
on 1527, 3 Km to the north
in Tecp�n (90 Km west from Guatemala City). The Tlaxcaltec
indians that came with them, called Ixim'ch�,
Tecp�n Quauhtemalan (Place of the trees),
thats where the name Guatemala originated.
Ixim'ch� was
destroyed when the Kak'chik'el reveald to the conquerors, forcing them to
live Tecp�n and go to the second Guatemala's Capitol, Ciudad Vieja, 14 years later. There is a museum with Ceramics, Jade and
Eculptures; the
site is open daily from 9 to 5.
