free
issue
back
issues
subscribe
Mayapán
was the dominant Mayan political and ceremonial center of western Yucatan
after the 13th century fall of Chichén Itzá, and home to the
Xiu and Cocom dynasties until their rift in AD 1450. At the heart of the
ceremonial center is the large four-sided mound called the Pyramid of
Cuculcán, a Late Postclassic imitation of the Castillo at Chichén
Itzá. Cuculcán was the mythical Toltec leader who, as
Landa reports, founded both of these centers.
Reached by stairways on all four sides, the main temple at Mayapán overlooks numerous other temples and colonnaded rectangular masonry dwellings on lower mounds in the site, totalling about 120 buildings.
[Fig.1: Catherwood's drawing of the principal mound at Mayapán (Stephens 1843).]
.
Athena Review Image Archive™ | Guide to Archaeology on the Internet | free trial issue | subscribe | back issues
Main
index of Athena Review |
Subject Index
| Travel
Pages |
Galleries and
Museums |
Copyright © 1996-2003 Athena Publications, Inc. (All Rights Reserved).