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.

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 celestial planes. The round tower is built on a foundation that was divided into two semicircular zones. During the city's heyday, these rooms were covered with plaster and painted. Visiting the archaeological excavations of Mayapán, one cannot help but think of the similarities with Chichén Itzá and the Kukulcán pyramid, the Temple of Venus, and the observatory.

Although its shape is compared to the Chichén Itzá observatory, it does not resemble an observatory as such, mainly due to the lack of windows for conducting measurements, insufficient height for observations above the trees, and because it is located in an area with a high concentration of buildings. Since the upper part of the building has been lost, it is unclear whether it was built of stone or wood; the observatory could have been located there, but there is no evidence of this. What is likely, however, is that it was used as an astronomical calendar because it has points indicating the sunrise and sunset positions, which were used as calendar markers.

The round temple has four entrances and was built around 1350. Polychrome wall painting remains were found inside; the colors and design of the mural suggest a direct connection with the frescoes in the Hall of Frescoes. It appears that the building was painted in Maya blue on the outside, a color used only for the elite. The building has an approximate diameter of 10.2 meters and a height of 7.5 meters and was constructed on a rectangular foundation measuring 20 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 3.5 meters high. Its walls are 1.15 meters thick, and inside there is a cylindrical wall with a diameter of 4.5 meters featuring several niches at the bottom. The temple also has two small attached structures, which represent an altar on the foundation and a sanctuary.

 

Sources:

https://mayanpeninsula.com/sitio-arqueologico-de-mayapan/

 

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More stories from Maya Cities of Mexico: Mayapán

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.