What was the emblem glyph for the city of Tikal?

The emblem glyph for the Maya city of Tikal was Mutul.

An emblem glyph was a distinctive hieroglyphic title associated with a Maya polity and its rulers. Tikal’s sign is commonly read as Mutul or Mutal, while the city itself is often referred to in ancient inscriptions as Yax Mutul, meaning “First Mutul.” The exact meaning of the name remains uncertain.

The glyph appears in inscriptions connected with Tikal’s royal dynasty and political identity. It was not simply a decorative logo: rulers used emblem-glyph titles to associate themselves with a particular kingdom and claim legitimate authority. Tikal’s emblem glyph is often described as a “hair-bundle” sign.

A frequent source of confusion is the distinction between Tikal and its ancient name. “Tikal” is the modern name adopted after the site’s rediscovery, whereas Mutul was the ancient political name represented by the emblem glyph. The form Mutal also appears in discussions of the reading, but Mutul is a standard and defensible answer for this quiz question.