---
title: Kinich Ahau at Kohunlich
author: N/A
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/755/kinich-ahau-at-kohunlich/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Kinich Ahau at Kohunlich

_Authored by N/A_

## Image File

[![Kinich Ahau at Kohunlich](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/755.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/755.jpg)

## Image Caption

This is the face of the sun [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) Kinich Ahau in The [Temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of the Masks at Kohunlich. The masks all face west so that the setting sun illuminates them. It was thought that Kinich Ahau traveled down into and through the underworld at night, to rise again the next morning, and the masks may have been purposefully situated to encourage the sun god in his dangerous journey through the darkness of the underworld of [Xibalba](https://www.worldhistory.org/Xibalba/). The masks are incredibly ornate and show a high degree of skill in craftsmanship. Kohunlich was an important [Maya](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Maya/) trading center which thrived between 200 BCE and 900 CE.

## Cite This Work

### APA
N/A. (2012, July 08). Kinich Ahau at Kohunlich. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/755/kinich-ahau-at-kohunlich/>
### Chicago
N/A. "Kinich Ahau at Kohunlich." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 08, 2012. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/755/kinich-ahau-at-kohunlich/>.
### MLA
N/A. "Kinich Ahau at Kohunlich." *World History Encyclopedia*, 08 Jul 2012, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/755/kinich-ahau-at-kohunlich/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohunlich) by [**N/A**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohunlich). Submitted by [Joshua J. Mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/JPryst/ "User Page: Joshua J. Mark"), published on 08 July 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon a work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.