Maya Cities of Mexico: Mayapán

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Mayapán is an ancient Maya city in the Mexican state of Yucatán in Central America, located 40 km southeast of Mérida. The full ancient names of the city, Ichpaa Mayapan and Tankah Mayapan, are bilingual Maya-Nahuatl constructions (literally "Inside the fortress of Mayapán" and "In the center of the city of Mayapán"). The etymology "Maya banner," found in Diego de Landa, is incorrect; in reality, Mayapan (literally "In the [place] of the Maya") is a common Nahuatl toponym ending in -pan.

The last great capital of the Maya

Xini Nah El Oratorio and Xbi Ac, 97824 Yuc., Mexico

Mayapán (Màayapáan in the modern Mayan language; in Spanish, Mayapán) is an abandoned pre-Columbian Maya city located a few kilometers south of the town of Telchac Pueblo in the municipality of Tekax, approximately 40 km southeast of Mérida and 100 km west of Chichén Itzá; in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. Mayapán was the political and cultural capital of the Maya on the Yucatán Peninsula during the late Postclassic period from the 1220s to the 1440s. The estimated total population of the city is 15,000–17,000 people.

Observatory (El Templo Redondo)

The Round Temple, 97824 Yuc., Mexico

The most striking building in Mayapán is the round observatory tower. The Maya were talented astronomers. They were especially obsessed with the movement of Venus and other planets, as they believed these were Gods traveling back and forth from the Earth to the underworld and the heavenly realms.

Pyramid of Kukulkan (El Castillo de Kukulkán)

JGHQ+PM Telchac Pueblo, Yucatán, Mexico

This is the main building of the Mayapan archaeological excavations, considered a smaller replica of the Kukulkan pyramid in Chichen Itza. It is a stepped pyramid composed of nine platforms with rounded corners, and at the top are the remains of a temple.

Decapitated Warriors (Guerrero decapitado)

JGHQ+PP Telchac Pueblo, Yucatán, Mexico

Next to the Pyramid of Kukulkan, there is a substructure with molded reliefs of human figures resembling warriors. Both have exposed ribs, no heads, and instead of heads, there are niches where fragments of skulls were found.

Dance Platform (Plataforma de los Danzantes)

JGHQ+RM Telchac Pueblo, Yucatán, Mexico

A square platform with balustrades and staircases on all four sides, reminiscent of the Venus platform in Chichen Itza, which is similarly located on the northwest side of the pyramid.

Temple of Venus (Templo de Venus)

JGHQ+VG Telchac Pueblo, Yucatán, Mexico

Another structure that reminds us of the overall architecture of Chichen Itza is the Venus Platform, which is a small four-sided foundation with steps on each side. At the top, there are still the walls of a small temple or sanctuary.

The Hall of the Mascarons of the God Chaac (La Sala de los Mascarones del dios Chac)

The Round Temple, 97824 Yuc., Mexico

At the back of the Observatory is the Hall of the Mascarons of the god Chaac (the rain god), which can also be seen in other Mayan archaeological sites.

Temple of the Painted Niches (Templo de los Nichos Pintados)

The Temple of the Painted Niches, 97824 Yuc., Mexico

The Temple of Painted Niches in Mayapán, like many other buildings at this site, was constructed in two stages. The first consists of 15 steps made of rough stone, and the second of seven steps made of Puuc-style stone with borders.

Fisherman's Temple (Templo del Pescador)

The Temple of the Painted Niches, 97824 Yuc., Mexico

The Fisherman's Temple is a structure consisting of several foundation levels stacked on top of each other, with a staircase leading to the temple adorned with frescoes.

Temple of the Chen Mul Cenote (Templo del Cenote Chen Mul)

The Round Temple, 97824 Yuc., Mexico

The Cenote Temple is located right on the edge of the Chen Mul cenote, from where you can observe the Cenote.

Hall of the Kings (La Sala de los Reyes)

JGHQ+PG Telchac Pueblo, Yucatán, Mexico

Все, что осталось от великолепного дворца — это великолепные расписные колонны; теперь можно только представить, насколько он когда-то был прекрасен.