Top 10 Most Iconic Pieces of Ancient Mayan Architecture

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The ancient Maya Empire was based in the tropical lowlands of modern-day Guatemala, and it reached its height of power and influence about the sixth century ... read more...

  1. The Mayans' most important structures were pyramids, which were created with curved stones acting as steps, rounded inset corners, and chamfers surrounding each platform. Pyramids were frequently constructed in jungle locations where the constructions could soar high over the trees.

    At the peak, there were generally shrines to the gods. The pyramids were primarily used as temples and religious gathering places, but they also served as graves for departed patrons, emperors, and sacrifice victims.

    The Temple of the Inscriptions in Palenque is a prime example of Mayan temple architecture. This edifice features a steep stairway that runs along a nine-chambered platform, representing the nine levels of Xibalba, or the underworld.


    Additionally, it contains a hidden 13-way path that represents the 13 levels of heaven. Another notable Maya building is the Pyramid of the Magician. The pyramid has an almost circular shape thanks to its rounded corners. Other significant areas where a great deal of art and culture have been discovered are Tikal and Uxmal.

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    What's hidden inside the ancient Maya pyramids? - Live Science
    What's hidden inside the ancient Maya pyramids? - Live Science

  2. The palaces constructed during the Maya era were enormous and frequently served as administrative hubs. To ensure that they could be topped with a single capstone, these palaces were "corbelled," which is when a certain sort of flat stone was stacked up with a tiny overlap to produce a narrow gap. These imbalanced vaults were supported by wooden crosses.


    One of the most important examples of this sort of architecture is the Nunnery Quadrangle building in Uxmal. The Nunnery Quadrangle was constructed using a conventional design to resemble a temple pyramid. There are 13 doorways in the north building, 9 in the south, and 7 in the west. These entrances stand in for the heavenly, Xibalba, and earthly planes, respectively. The Palenque palace belongs to the same group. This three-story monument has a distinctive style as well as appealing elements like lovely carvings.


    The palaces were built with portals that symbolized the path to a new realm through the mouths of sacred caverns. Restrooms, kitchens, halls, and sleeping quarters were also included. Some of them even had lavatories and steam rooms, implying a high standard of living.

    Nunnery Quadrangle, Uxmal, Mexico - Dumbarton Oaks
    Nunnery Quadrangle, Uxmal, Mexico - Dumbarton Oaks
    Nunnery Quadrangle, Uxmal (Illustration) - World History Encyclopedia
    Nunnery Quadrangle, Uxmal (Illustration) - World History Encyclopedia
  3. E-Groups are distinctive architectural complexes that are a key component of Maya sites and are frequently correlated to the Sun's equinox and solstice. They may be found in a number of ancient Mayan communities. Furthermore, these buildings were mostly built by the ancient Maya in the central and southern lowlands of the Mayan region.


    An e-group is a stepping pyramid construction that was constructed on a raised platform with a westward facing angle. Another raised, long platform with an entrance staircase was present on the eastern side. Additionally, there were thatched structures with staircases on the western side of the e-group.


    These structures were built to serve as astronomical observatories and were timed to coincide with significant religious equinoxes and solstices. Temple E-I, Temple E-II, and Temple E-III were the three e-groups discovered in Uaxactun city, and each one represented the practices of the Classic era. The aristocracy built the e-groups, thus they were elegantly furnished and carefully constructed.

    E-Group - Wikipedia
    E-Group - Wikipedia
    Uaxactun: Group E Diagram from Robert Sharer's
    Uaxactun: Group E Diagram from Robert Sharer's "The Ancient Maya" - Maya Ruins
  4. The Triadic Pyramid was a distinctive invention of the pre-classic Mayan culture. The Preclassic era is characterized by a profusion of triadic pyramids.


    They were modeled after the e-groups and constructed on a single sandstone and concrete platform. For ease of access, the triadic pyramid builders added a staircase from the base platform to the summit. Small, inward-looking buildings on each side served as their supports.


    The largest triadic pyramid, El Mirador in Guatemala, was constructed on land that was almost six times larger than the Tikal Temple, the largest pyramid in the city.


    The early Mayan lowland cities Nakbe and Peten were where the majority of triadic pyramids were discovered, but El Mirador is also recorded as having about 88 triadic pyramids.

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    "The 'Mayan' triadic pyramid in the old city of Caracol, Belize. - Twitter
  5. The Sayil Palace, a three-story structure in the Yucatan, is one of the earliest examples of Maya architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stories of the palace have been constructed one on top of the other. The construction of these structures differs from others in that they were arranged in a side arrangement.


    The building was constructed in the distinctive Puuc architectural style using concrete and stones. El Mirador, a nearby structure, is used as an observatory.


    The whole area is organized along a causeway, or sacbe, that runs from north to south. The largest and most well-known structure is the Great Sayil Palace, which is located at the northern end.

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    ancienthistorylists
    Sayil - Wikipedia
    Sayil - Wikipedia
  6. The Pigeon House, another example of Mayan architecture, was constructed for rituals and celebrations with a purpose comparable to that of the local temples.


    The complex front of the structure is said to resemble a dovecote with numerous openings, hence the name. Around 900 CE saw the construction of the edifice, which was intended to track both heavenly bodies and supernatural forces.


    The Pigeon House at Uxmal, which was constructed from limestone and sand during the early stages of the civilization, was primarily constructed for ceremonial functions similar to those held at the temples.


    The exterior and interior walls of the Pigeon House, like many other structures, were carved, and all of the walls were painted in vibrant colors. It was also thought to have been constructed to track the movements of heavenly bodies and supernatural forces.

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    ancienthistorylists
    Yucatan Uxmal Gallery - Time & Space Nature Adventures
    Yucatan Uxmal Gallery - Time & Space Nature Adventures
  7. The Maya culture has a lot of temples. They were composed of stone and had varied sizes and shapes of platforms. These platforms were supported by wood-and-thatch structures. The temples were primarily utilized for ceremonial purposes, with a lofty top platform where rituals could be performed. The stones' outside surfaces were covered with engravings and glyphs.


    The temples were designed with astronomical notions and traditions in mind, and the majority of them were aligned with celestial bodies like the sun, moon, or Venus. Equinoxes and solstices were crucial in the construction of temples because they were used in rituals.


    One of the highest buildings from the Mayan era is Temple IV, which is located in Tikal. There are two causeways leading there from the northeast and east. While the Maudslay Causeway goes from the northeast to the north, the Tozzer Causeway runs from the east. As part of the celebrations for Yik'in Chan K'awiil's funeral, Temple IV was constructed in his honor. He was the 27th emperor of the dynasty.

    The temple has a shrine that is thought to be dedicated to Yik'in Chan K'awiil. Its construction is extraordinary since it is a vertical structure that contrasts sharply with the rest of the pyramid.

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    ancienthistorylists
    Travel Triangle
    Travel Triangle
  8. The Mesoamericans employed the ball courts, which were huge brick constructions, more than 2,700 years ago, mostly for playing traditional ball games. The ancient ball game was a variant of the high ball, which had its own laws and regulations as well as stringent guidelines for play.


    For instance, each of the game's two opposing teams received a rubber ball that they had to pass through a tall ring. Therefore, none of the players were permitted to use their arms or legs.


    A great example of a ball game in action is depicted in the DreamWorks film The Road to El Dorado.


    The ball game's court had sloping slides that accommodated many spectators. In Tikal, the court had a triple court with L-shaped walls, whereas the sides of the court in Uxmal were vertical.

    Archeologists believe these games were also spiritually orientated, continuing the idea that every structure in ancient times was a sacred temple and people there did nothing but pray and attend religious ceremonies.

    The Maya constructed the courts in accordance with sacred nature, and participants began the game from the north and moved toward the south. The losing team had to offer specific sacrifices to the gods, keeping with the harsh mood of the time and the popularity of the game in Copan.

    Mayan Ballcourts – Maya Dwellings
    Mayan Ballcourts – Maya Dwellings
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    ancienthistorylists
  9. The Maya civilization is known for its architectural wonders, including Chichen Itza. It was a holy place, and many people made pilgrimages there. The Sacred Cenote, a natural sinkhole associated with human sacrifices committed to Chaac, the rain god, is one of its most well-known attractions.


    Chichen Itza was divided into pieces and constructed in the Puuc architectural style of the Classic era. The most well-known structure in the Chichen Itza site is the magnificent El Castillo or temple pyramid.


    El Castillo is a large pyramid composed of hard stones such as concrete, limestone, and graphite in the Chichen Itza site. The pyramid was built in honor of the serpent-deity god Kukulcan. It features square pegs etched all over its construction and a ladder to the summit of the pyramid.

    Its walls are engraved with serpent motifs that stretch from top to bottom since it was designed to serve a serpent deity. Thousands of visitors to El Castillo have all noticed the shadow effect on the serpent carvings, which makes it appear as if the serpents are slithering down towards the bottom of the pyramid.

    Chichen Itza - The ruins of the Mayan site on Yucatan (Mexico) - One Million Places
    Chichen Itza - The ruins of the Mayan site on Yucatan (Mexico) - One Million Places
    El Castillo | Kukulkan Pyramid - Chichen Itza
    El Castillo | Kukulkan Pyramid - Chichen Itza
  10. The greatest pre-Colombian stepped pyramid in the Mexican region is the Temple of the Inscriptions, which is located in the center of Palenque. The pyramid was built by the ancient Mayans to honor the king K'inich Janaab' Pakal.


    The heliographic writings on the walls, one of the richest sources of information about Mayan architecture and civilization, provide a wealth of information about the Mayan ruler and what life was like under his dominion.


    The temple includes five front entrances, intricately carved walls, and an internal stairway that the builders created. Numerous tablets that were discovered by archaeologists in the temple provide a wealth of information about how the pre-Columbian Maya perceived time.

    The front view of the Temple of Inscriptions
    The front view of the Temple of Inscriptions
    Palenque, Temple of the Inscriptions - Flickr
    Palenque, Temple of the Inscriptions - Flickr



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