MCMM+34 Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
The building traditionally called the Market was most likely used as a public space. It is difficult to determine whether it was built specifically to be a real market, but its appearance suggests exactly that. Columns supported a roof made of leaves or wood. As with the "Thousand Columns," it is believed that the friezes installed on the market create an impression less threatening than the jaguars and snakes of the Temple of the Warriors. For this reason, it was thought that the use of buildings in this area was utilitarian rather than ceremonial.
This structure consists of a platform 80 m long and 15 m wide, with a central staircase bordered by tiles that provides access to an open porch at the front, but closed at the back and sides, with a row of alternating columns and pilasters supporting a vaulted ceiling. The central door leads to a square inner courtyard, 17 m on each side, surrounded by 24 columns made of stone drums and capitals, the tallest in this area. The facade of the portico is sloped and then transitions into a vertical wall pierced by a horizontal band at beam height; above this is a frieze between two molded cornices, the central strip of which was decorated with groups of columns.
The facade ended with crenellated walls; next to the central door of the portico is a terraced platform with stucco decorated with feathered snakes and a slope with a procession of warriors; a bench with a slanted backrest is also attached to the walls. When it rained, water from the roof flowed down a stone-carved drainage channel. Along the walls runs a long bench, the backrest of which is inclined toward the walls.
The Market in Chichen Itza is located in front of the Northern Columns and to the left of the Temple of Sculpted Columns.
Sources:
https://mayanpeninsula.com/en/great-ball-court-chichen-itza/
https://www.chichenitza.com/the-market-place
