Ancient Mayan pyramids. The pyramids of the American Mayan and Aztec tribes are the most famous and mysterious. The most famous pyramids

The pyramids in Mexico are not only the work of the Mayans, there are also pyramids from other civilizations. Some pyramids have a double structure, which consists of two pyramids: the Mayan pyramids and the Aztec pyramids, located one inside the other, like a nesting doll. The oldest pyramidal structures were discovered in the capital of the Toltecs - Tula, they are surrounded by strange multi-ton stone heads mysterious creatures. The pyramids of Teotihuacan, the capital of the Aztecs, are also known. In Teotihuacan there are two well preserved largest pyramids- The Sun (225 m at the base and 65 m in height) and the Moon (about 150 m at the base and 42 m in height), as well as the temple of the most “popular” of the Mayan gods - Quetzalcoatl, who personified the good and bright beginning. The structures are located in the same way as the three stars in Orion's Belt.

Another famous pyramid, the pyramid at Cholula, is the largest in the world; it surpassed the Cheops pyramid in volume. Now most of the pyramid has been destroyed and is a hill overgrown with forest, on top of which stands a Catholic church. Another impressive group of pyramids - Mitle and Monte Albana - is located near the city of Oaxaca.

The most famous Mayan pyramids are located on the Yucatan Peninsula. These are the pyramids at Chichen Itza, Tulum, Cob, Ek Balam and Uxmal.

Chichen Itza is famous for its Pyramid of Kukulcan (as it is called in the Mayan language) or the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl (the same in the Toltec language). This Mayan pyramid was even included in the new list of the Seven Wonders of the World. Chichen Itza is the whole city, which first belonged to the Mayans, then to the Toltecs, and then to the Aztecs. And although today a significant part of Chichen Itza (more than six square kilometers) is open to the eyes of tourists, there are still a lot of buildings that have not been excavated. In addition to the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, here you will see the Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors, the Group of a Thousand Columns, Ancient observatory, Temple of Skulls.

The Pyramids of Tulum are located approximately an hour and a half from Cancun. The complex in Tulum opens for tourists at 8 or 8:30 am. The pyramids here are not as majestic and mysterious as the pyramids in Chichen Itza, but it is very beautiful here and the sea is nearby.

The north of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is decorated with the tourist attraction of the Mayan civilization CHICHEN ITZA, which is located 200 km to the west. Chichen Itza - the most famous ancient settlement Mayan Empire. The pages of the book “Secrets of the Indian Pyramids” by M. Stingle tell that the first people began to settle on these lands in 455. The Indians chose these fertile places to live in the 5th century, and in the 7th century an entire urban community of the Mayan tribe was concentrated here. Chichen Itza in the 10th century AD is a rather sad time of clash between the Mayan and Toltec cultures, which brought a whole chorus of contradictions. The wise Mayan Indians made maps, made their own model of the starry sky, predicted the end of the world in 2012, and invented their own basketball with a ring attached to the wall instead of a net.

Chichen Itza in Mexico has acquired the status of an object World Heritage UNESCO in 1988. The archaeological complex of Chichen Itza consists of two zones that complement each other: the Southern (old) zone and the highlighted Central (new) zone. The stone platform of the Temple of Skulls with carved heads during sacrifices, terrifying frescoes, ancient drawings and bas-reliefs are reminiscent of past philosophy ancient tribe Maya in the mysterious stone Mayan ruins among the untouched tropical nature of Mexico.

The sacred cenote is a 50-meter deep well created by nature for sacrifices of the Mayan tribe. The ruins of 4 colonnades form a huge rectangle. They are called the "Group of 1000 Columns". Green field area with stone sculptures Mayan pyramids(V-VI centuries), their “bungalow” type buildings with palm roofs, Toltec structures and temples, ancient excavation pits, stone pillars, the head of the serpent god at the base of the El Castillo pyramid, the Temple of the Jaguars with wall paintings - this is an incomplete list , which represents the tourist Chichen Itza. The spectacular pyramid in the Plaza is the Pyramid of Kukulcan (El Castillo). According to Mayan legend, twice a year on March 20 and September 22, during the astronomical solstice phenomenon (the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes), the solar supreme Snake God invariably descends from the upper platform of the Kukulkan pyramid, striking tourists with the play of shadow and light glare on the western balustrade.

The Pyramid of Kukulcan (El Castillo) is the main attraction of the entire complex, which imbues the archaeological zone of Chichen Itza with a special religious meaning. Since 2007, the Kukulcan Pyramid has been listed as a new site of the Seven Wonders of the World. The El Castillo Pyramid is a tourist attraction in the Central Zone. He personifies two parallel cycles of the ancient Mayan calendar: the ritual 260 day and the civil 365 day. The signs laid out in 52 stone relief ensembles on each of the four sides of the Kukulkan pyramid symbolize the intersection of these two cycles once every 52 years.

The Pyramid of Kukulkan is a stone step sculpture 25 meters high. She presents " Mayan calendar" The four sides of the pyramid have 9 steps. Each step in the middle is vertically cut off by a ladder. The two parts formed give rise to 18 terraces (18 twenty-day months of the year). There are 4 staircases of 91 steps leading to the main platform at the top, which are constructed in the center of each side of the pyramid. As a result, they amount to 364 days a year and one basement floor. A full week before and after the dates of the spring and autumn equinoxes, it is also possible to observe the effect of the “feathered serpent” sliding towards its human head, carved at the base of the pyramid. Every year on March 20 and 21, theatrical, costume, dance and musical events take place in Chichen Itza, Mexico. The holiday of “Bowing Kukulkan” is coming. What amazing energy there is here, because any pyramid attracts the sun!

The Itza peoples are a Mayan-Toltec civilization that absorbed beliefs, legends and myths, ancient knowledge about the structure of the universe and ideas about the world around them. In the history of the ancient city of Chichen Itza, two parts stand out: the first belongs to the Maya (VII-X century) and the worship of the deity Kukulkan; the second - to the Toltec state (X-XI centuries) with the capital of Chichen Itza. Quetzalcoatl is the most mysterious figure of the Supreme God in Aztec mythology. The Toltecs associated him with their own double god. The god of day, night and science, Quetzalcoatl, was depicted as a rattlesnake with the green feathers of a quetzal bird. Perhaps the Indian civilization was ruined by the fact that they mistook the Spanish conqueror for this deity. The end of the 12th century (1194) is a legend about a suddenly deserted Toltec town. For many centuries, the city of Chichen Itza was destroyed by the jungle and the forces of nature, until in 1923 regular archaeological excavations began here.

Toltec Chichen Itza is the art of Central Mexico. The ball court was built and invented by Toltec warriors. The surviving El Caracol Observatory with a destroyed dome and a surviving spiral rise inside, dozens of military and religious buildings are exhibits of the Toltec era in Chichen Itza. Particularly notable is the Temple of the Warriors - a low pyramid of five steps with a temple area at the top. The Temple of the Warriors shows the former power of the Toltec army. There are nine places to play ball on the territory of Chichen Itza. Juego de Pelita is the largest of them (length 145 meters, width about 68 meters). A rubber ball was thrown into two stone hoops on the field (one on each side of the stone wall) - the prototype of our basketball.

Today Chichen Itza is a restored and very well restored corner of the Mayan civilization, a place of worship for the remains of Mayan shrines for tourists in Mexico. Right on site architectural complex In the open-air workshops, handmade stone work will be performed for you. The little shop in Chichen Itza invites you to admire and buy plates and stone products of all kinds as souvenirs. The Chichen Itza complex is a museum under open air, restaurant, market at the entrance, bookstore and bus stop. Ticket price is 45 Mexican pesos. Entrance from 8:00 to 17:00. Climbing onto all buildings has been prohibited since 2006.

Chichen Itza is considered most popular excursion to the ancient treasures of the Mayans on the Yucatan Peninsula in. From the Riviera Maya near Cancun you can get here in two hours. Chichen Itza is visited by 1 million travelers every year. A huge invasion of tourists occurred in Chichen Itza on December 21, 2012. The Mayan calendar predicted the end of the world would occur here. Nowadays, in the evenings, Chichen Itza hosts a fabulous hour-long light and music performance in Spanish. Tickets to the show cost separately. The secrets of the Mayan Indian pyramids create magical awe, respect, or a deceptive mirage among contemporaries. So let this remain a mystery to us!

Mexico is the country that stores greatest number ancient ruins, many of which are the subject of ongoing archaeological research, to reveal to us, hidden for centuries under a dense blanket of dense jungle. The provinces of Chiapas, Yucatan and Quintana Ru are known for their archaeological areas with the ruins of Mayan cities, open to tourists.

Palenque

Situated in the tropical forest of Chiapas province, near the Usumacinta River, the ruins of the city of Palenque are impressive for their size and the splendor of the surviving buildings. At 15 sq. km found on at the moment more than a thousand buildings. The archaeological zone includes the “Temple of the Sun”, “Temple of the Cross”, “Temple of the Inscriptions”, palace ruins and many other buildings. Particularly noteworthy is the “Temple of the Inscriptions”, where a sarcophagus was found with the burial of one of the greatest rulers of Palenque - Pacal. The bas-reliefs on the walls of the palace and the decoration of the ball field are amazing. Palenque is considered the most beautiful and impressive open-air museum in Mexico. Whether it's ancient symbols or examples of Mayan art, the ruins of Palenque will certainly give you insight into the development of the Mayan civilization.

How to get there: It is not difficult to get to this archaeological zone. You can take a regular bus to the modern city of Palenque, and from there by another bus to the archaeological complex itself - 10 minutes. Or take a tour offered by your tour operator, which may be a little more expensive, but definitely more comfortable.

Yaxchilan

The ruins of the Mayan city of Yaxchilan are located a 4-hour drive from Palenque, on the border with Guatemala in the heart of the jungle, on the banks of the Usumacinta River. Yaxchilan is a truly inexhaustible storehouse of a huge number of monuments of architecture and writing of the Mayan people, a significant part of which is exhibited in National Museum Anthropology in Mexico City. Yaxchilan was considered one of the most influential cities in the kingdom of Pachan and rivaled Palenque in influence.

A trip to Yaxchilan will give unforgettable experience For all connoisseurs of ancient history, walls painted with hieroglyphs reflecting important events of the kingdom, altars and steles, ancient temples will not leave anyone indifferent. A untouched nature, surrounding the ruins, with incredible amount birds, reptiles and howler monkeys create a backdrop that will take your breath away.

How to get there: First by bus, then half an hour by boat along the Usumacinta River, which separates Mexico and Guatemala to the archaeological zone of Yaxchilan.

Chichen Itza ​​

Chichen Itza attracts travelers from all over the world as one of the largest archaeological parks on the Yucatan Peninsula with famous pyramid Kukulkan, recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world in 2007. The complex is located on an area of ​​2.5 sq km and is visited daily by about 10,000 tourists, mainly from the nearby seaside resort Cancun.

The most famous structure is the 24 m high Kukulkan pyramid with 365 steps on four sides. Unfortunately, the climb to the pyramid is closed. But there will still be time to see: the Red House, the House of the Deer, the monastery and its annexes, the church, Akab Dzib, the Temple with three lintels and the Pali House, a huge ball field, as well as a deep ritual well of the cenote, which was used for sacrifices to the god rain to Tlaloc.

How to get there: from Cancun 195 km on a good road, travel time about 2 hours.

Bonampak

Located in the state of Chiapas, former city The Maya Bonampak is popular for its preserved murals and the Temple of Paintings. The frescoes are recognized as the best found in the Mayan world and for their sake we suggest visiting this archaeological zone, although it will seem small to you compared to Yaxchilan.

How to get there: When traveling to Yaxchilan, as a rule, all excursions include a visit to Bonampak. We would not recommend getting there on your own, unless you take along local Indians who know their roads well.

Koba

Coba is the second most visited ruins of the ancient Mayan city in the province of Quintana Ru (after Tulum). Access to the main pyramid of the city, 42 meters high, is still allowed, and if you want to enjoy climbing the pyramid under the scorching tropical sun, then it’s worth coming here!

However, the main vast area of ​​the Coba archaeological zone is immersed in the jungle, through which you can walk from one structure to another or use tourist trains or rented bicycles. On this long walk you can see not only the picturesque ruins, but also admire the beautiful cenotes and the lush vegetation around them.

How to get there: Cancun and Riviera Maya resorts offer excursions, often combining visits to Coba and Tulum. Distance 173 km. They also go Shuttle Buses from the bus stations in Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Tulum

Tulum is famous as the only known Mayan city built on the shore Caribbean Sea. It is also the only Mayan city surrounded by a wall. Typically, the Mayans did not fortify their city-states or build fortifications. The wall was built at the end of the city's existence as a defensive measure against attacks by nomadic peoples from the north, which were very common at that time.

Here you can not only discover the Temple of the Frescoes and the elegantly carved stone pyramid of El Castillo, but also enjoy magnificent views of the ruins of the city against the backdrop of the calm turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. This archaeological site ranks first among tourists in the province of Quintana Ru and third place throughout the country after Chichen Itza and Teotihuacan. Therefore, we recommend visiting it in the first hours after opening.

How to get there: Tulum is located 180 km from Cancun and only 60 kilometers from the “capital” of the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen. From Cancun Airport, ADO buses depart 3 times a day to the city of Tulum, and from there you can take a taxi to the archaeological zone, travel time is 2 hours. From resort town Playa del Carmen to Tulum can be reached by bus or collective (local minibus) in an hour.

USHMAL

The ruins of the once huge Mayan city of Uxmal are characterized by architectural splendor and stand on a par with Chichen Itza and Tikal. This archaeological zone is located relatively close to Chichen Itza and the city of Merida. The complex is spread over an area of ​​150 hectares.

Of interest is the inspection of the Pyramid of the Magician, unconventional in its design, the Monastery Square, Great Pyramid and "dovecotes". The ruins of Uxmalai are characterized by distinctive ornamental decoration compared to the rest of the Mayan ruins. Well-preserved columns, complex ornamental patterns, figurines of birds and animals, and decorative elements are visible everywhere. From the top of the Great Pyramid opens panoramic view to Uxmal and the lush jungle that embraces it.

How to get there: From Merida to Uxmal you can take a bus departing from central bus station. Travel time is 1 hour 10 minutes. The bus stops right next to the entrance to the complex.

• Wear comfortable shoes, because in most cases you will be walking through the jungle, in a tangle of roots and vines, and will also have to climb the stairs of the pyramids.
• In our rating we mentioned the possibility of getting to the ruins on your own, but We recommend that the first time you visit a Mayan ruin, you do so with a guide, because he will tell you interesting things about these archaeological sites, often not mentioned in guidebooks.
• Use mosquito repellents while in the jungle.
• Don't forget sun cream with good protection, after all, walking in open areas, especially in Chichen Itza or Tulum, can lead to burns.

The Mayan prophecy about the end of the world in 2012 caused quite a stir in its time. We successfully survived it and now we can study without worry architectural masterpieces- the pyramids that these same Mayans built in Mexico. Each of the surviving pyramids carries meaning and shows us how highly developed the exact sciences were among this people. When studying the buildings of the Mayan pyramids, you can rack your brain over a bunch of questions, the main one of which will be: “How is this possible?”

Where are the Mayan pyramids located?

“In which city should we look for Mayan pyramids?” – You probably already have this question? In fact, there are several cities. Let's start with the most significant and interesting monuments.

One more interesting feature This building was seen in the 20th century. Twice a year crowds of people gather around the pyramid to watch this miracle. Due to the play of light and shadow on the steps of the pyramid, you can see a huge wriggling snake with an open, angry mouth, sliding from bottom to top. This spectacle lasts just over 3 hours. And what’s remarkable is that if the ancient builders had moved at least one of the objects that created this illusion, even a couple of centimeters, we would not have seen the snake. Can you imagine what colossal work was done, and what great minds designed this entire structure?

Interesting fact is also the fact that the entire complex of pyramids is a huge resonator. Walking inside, instead of your steps and voice, you can hear the voice of the kaztel, a bird that the Mayans considered sacred. In this we also see the painstaking work of the ancients. To create this effect, someone had to carefully calculate the thickness of the walls. Another interesting find in the field of acoustics and sounds was discovered at a ball court located among the pyramids. People located on this site in different churches (and this is a distance of about 150 meters) can hear each other perfectly and can communicate, but at the same time, nearby neighbors will not be heard at all.

Walking around the city, you can see another miracle - a real natural well. Its dimensions are quite impressive. The diameter of the well is 60 meters. But the depth of it itself still remains unknown.

Now you can imagine what a huge number of secrets and mysteries will open before you if you decide to visit Mexico. So, register and arm yourself with a camera and go on this mysterious journey.

Step pyramids are an important part of the architecture of the peoples who once inhabited the territory of Mexico. The pyramids of Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal are the most popular among tourists. They are the ones that usually come to mind when mentioning the Mexican pyramids. But there are many more ancient pyramidal structures on the territory of this country. Different peoples were involved in their creation at different times, and, of course, they are all different from each other.

El Tajin arose during the heyday of the pre-Columbian culture of Veracruz on the coast Gulf of Mexico in the area of ​​the present city of Poza Rica. On an area of ​​more than a thousand hectares there are multi-tiered pyramids, ball courts, statues depicting gods, dwellings of priests and Indian leaders. The heyday of the City of Thunder, as its name is translated from the Totonac language, occurred in the 9th-12th centuries. At that time it occupied an area of ​​more than 10 square kilometers, and its population was several thousand people.

In the center of the city there is a palace and temple complex, most of the buildings of which were erected between 600 and 900 AD. e. The El-Tahin pyramid or the Niche pyramid is dedicated to the supreme thunder god Tahin, the patron of rain. The seven-tier structure, whose height reaches 25 m, is decorated with deep niches running along the ledges.

At the base of the pyramid is a square with a side of 35 meters. All seven tiers of the pyramid have square niches, painted red on the inside and decorated with reliefs depicting snakes. There are 365 such niches. On the eastern slope there is a staircase decorated with mosaics and numbering 364 steps.

The city was destroyed at the beginning of the 13th century. The fire, as scientists suggest, forced the city's residents to leave. Until the end of the eighteenth century, Europeans did not know about the existence of El Tajin. It was only in 1875 that the Pyramid of Niš was discovered by chance.

2 Tula

Tula is the ancient capital of the Toltecs, one of the main pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. It is usually identified with the mythical city of Tollan. Tula is located 65 km northwest of Mexico City on the banks of the river of the same name.

The most famous of the surviving structures is the Pyramid of the Morning Star, on the platform of which stands a group of five-meter stone sculptures of warriors who once supported the roof of the temple. At the entrance there are large statues of snakes.

In the 13th century, Tula was destroyed. The huge figures of warriors at the foot of the pyramid were ritually buried and thanks to this they have been preserved to this day.

3 Tzintzuntzan

The city of Tzintzuntzan was founded by the Purépecha people in the 13th century. In the same century, it became the capital of the state known among historians as Tarasco. The area of ​​the city was about 7 km². Ancient Tzintzuntzan is located on a slope, slightly higher than the modern city.

The ritual structure of the Purépecha people was a platform consisting of 10 steps (total height 13 m). On the platform stood five burial pyramids, numbering 12 steps.

The Spaniards, who arrived in Tzintzuntzan in 1529, burned alive the ruler of Tangahuan II and destroyed the city in order to use its stones for construction. Catholic cathedrals and houses for the Spanish administration. But the pyramids have partially survived.

4 Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan is an abandoned city located 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City in the municipality of San Juan Teotihuacan. The pyramids of Teotihuacan are among the most famous Mexican pyramids. They are often called Aztec pyramids, although this is not true.

Very little is known about Teotihuacan. It was abandoned 700 years before the Aztecs arrived there in the 15th century and gave it its name. The first settlements were founded in these places in the 5th century BC, and in the 5th century AD Teotihuacan was the largest city in Central America. Modern researchers believe that the area of ​​this ancient settlement was 26−28 sq. km, and the population is about 200 thousand people.

Some of the main and oldest buildings of Teotihuacan are the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in the city of Teotihuacan and one of the largest in Mesoamerica. It is located on the Road of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Citadel in the shadow of the massive Cerro Gordo mountain and is part of a large temple complex.

The pyramid is a 5-tier structure with a flat top, on which a small temple once stood. The height of the pyramid is almost 64.5 meters, the length of the base sides is 211, 207, 217 and 209 meters, the total volume is 993 thousand cubic meters. The Pyramid of the Sun is made of cobblestone, clay and earth, lined with stone. It is likely that the orientation of the pyramid has some anthropogolic significance. It is oriented with a slope to the northwest towards the point of sunset on the horizon, when twice a year - August 12 and April 29 - the calendar year of the Teotihuacans was determined.

At the northern end of the Road of the Dead is the Pyramid of the Moon - an almost exact copy of the Pyramid of the Sun, but reduced by a third. Its height is 42 m, the base is 150 by 130 m. But due to the features of the relief, the tops of the pyramids are located on the same level.

5 Xochicalco

Xochicalco is an ancient pre-Columbian settlement in the western Mexican state of Morelos, located 25 km south of the city of Cuernavaca and 85 km south of Mexico City.

The main ceremonial center and housing structures (most of which have not been excavated) are located on long terraces on the slopes of an artificially leveled hill. The settlement was first founded in 200 BC. e., but developed into an urban center only by the period 700 - 900 AD. e. Almost all surviving buildings were built during this period.

The settlement now contains the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, temples in the form of terraced pyramids, palaces, three ball fields, steam rooms, an unusual row of round altars and a cave with carved steps.

6 Cholula

Cholula is a city located in the Mexican state of Puebla. Cholula is home to the Toltec pyramid, also known as Tlachihualtepetl. This is the largest pyramid in terms of volume in Mexico, and in general in the world. The length of its base is 440 m, its height is 77 m.

The ancient pyramid is hidden under a layer of clay, making it look more like a natural mountain than a ancient place worship. On the top of this hill the Spaniards built the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Most of the Cholula Pyramid was built from unbaked bricks. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, archaeologists excavated and restored one side of the pyramid, which is lined with stone. Moreover, there are often inserts made of well-processed granite blocks with ornaments applied to them. Archaeologists also discovered tunnels piercing the pyramid in various planes. Some of them are open to visitors.

7 Monte Alban

Monte Alban is a large pre-Columbian settlement in southeastern Mexico, in the state of Oaxaca. Situated on a low mountain ridge running through the central Oaxaca Valley.

The foundation of Monte Albana dates back to approximately the 4th century BC. e. At the time of its heyday (200−700 AD), the city occupied an area of ​​40 square meters. km, and its population exceeded 20 thousand people. On the artificially leveled giant square at the top of the hill, step pyramids still stand today. On the terraced slopes, the remains of palaces, steles with inscriptions, a 40 m wide stone staircase and other structures have been preserved. The walls of the buildings were decorated with mosaics, frescoes, and reliefs.

The main god local residents was the rain god Cocijo. The main pyramid of the city, crowning the top of the hill, was dedicated to him.

8 Palenque

Palenque is the largest ruin of an ancient Mayan city located in the northeast of the Mexican state of Chiapas. More than a thousand buildings have been discovered here, only some of them have been studied and restored in detail.

The Spaniards named the city Palenque; in Mayan times it was called Lakam-ha - “Big Water”. Originating around 100 AD. e., the settlement reached its peak in the period from 630 to 740. After 900 Palenque was deserted. The surrounding area is known for the highest level of precipitation in Mexico, due to which the city gradually disappeared behind dense tropical thickets and fell into oblivion until 1746, when it was discovered by the Spaniards.

In the center of the settlement, on a ten-meter platform, rises a palace that served as the residence of local rulers. This is a majestic structure with an area of ​​104x80 m, consisting of galleries, stairs, intricate labyrinths of underground passages and many rooms with exits to four courtyards.

To the southeast of the palace is the Palenque Triad, which includes the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Cross, and the Temple of the Foliated Cross. All these names are given to religious buildings, thanks to the motifs that prevail in the painting of their walls and altars.

Also in close proximity to the palace is the Temple of the Inscriptions. This is the most tall building complex, the height of its pyramid is 23 m, and to get to its top you need to overcome 69 steps.

9 Comalcalco

Comalcalco is a former Mayan city located approximately 60 km northeast of the city of Villahermosa in the Mexican state of Tabasco.

Comalcalco is home to the westernmost of the Mayan temples. Due to the shortage of limestone, buildings in this city were constructed from baked bricks, which were held together with lime mortar from ground oyster shells.

The buildings mainly date from the Late Classical period, 700-900. n. e. Many bricks are decorated with images. The most famous buildings: the northern square, the Great Acropolis and the Eastern Acropolis pyramids.

10 Calakmul

Calakmul was a formerly powerful Mayan city, the capital of the Kanul kingdom. Located in the Mexican state of Campeche, deep in the jungles of the Peten Basin region. The heyday of Calakmul falls between 200 and 700 AD. e.

In 1931, Calakmul was discovered by the American Cyrus Lundell. Calakmul occupied an area of ​​​​approximately 30 km² and consisted of more than 100 large buildings, and the total number of buildings was about 5000. Among the structures, two pyramids, commonly called “Structure I” and “Structure II”, 45 m high, dominate. great pyramid has a side length of 140 m.

11 Etzna

Etzna is an archaeological site of the Mayan culture in the north of the Mexican state of Campeche. The city was already inhabited in 400 BC. BC, and was abandoned around 1500 AD. e. In the late classical period, Etzna was part of the state of Calakmul. The city was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century.

The classical period of Etzna's existence occurred, as elsewhere in Yucatan, in 600−900 AD. It was then that the most significant architectural monuments of this city. Among them is the main temple, standing on a pyramidal base forty meters high.

The city stood on a swamp. The Indians did a great job of draining the area, building a complex and extensive system of canals and reservoirs.

12 Uxmal

Uxmal - large city Maya in the north-west of the Yucatan Peninsula, 68 km south of the city Merida.

Uxmal was inhabited in the 8th century BC. e., at the peak of power (about 800−900 AD) had about 25,000 inhabitants. It was during this period that most of the surviving monuments were built. But the prosperity did not last long. When, at the turn of the 10th-11th centuries, the Toltecs took control of the Yucatan Peninsula, construction in Uxmal ceased, and the city began to decline. And shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, it was completely abandoned.

The Magician's Pyramid is the most tall monument(35 m) and the main attraction of the archaeological complex of Uxmal. It is also called the Dwarf's Pyramid. Both names come from the legend of a magical dwarf. Hatching from the egg, he became an adult in one day and built this pyramid in one night. In fact, archaeological excavations show that the Pyramid of the Magician was erected as a result of five stages of construction on top of previously built pyramids. Beginning in the 6th century, it regularly increased in height until the 10th century.

13 Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza - political and cultural center Maya in the northern Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Located 120 km east of the city of Merida.

The city of Chichen Itza was probably founded around 455. It can be conditionally divided into two groups. The first includes buildings dating from the 6th-7th centuries. n. e. and dating back to the Mayan period. The second group of buildings dates back to the Toltec period of the 10th-11th centuries. n. e.

The city was captured by the Toltecs in the 10th century. In the middle of the 11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital of the Toltec state. In 1178 it was defeated by the united army of three city-states - Mayapan, Uxmal and Itzmal. By the time of the Spanish conquest, Chichen Itza was a ruin.

El Castillo (aka the Pyramid of Kukulcan) was the main structure of the city. The pyramid with a square base has nine steps. Leading to the top are four staircases bordered by a balustrade, which begin on the ground floor in the form of a slightly raised snake's head and continue on their way like a snake's body to the upper floor. Each staircase consists of 91 steps, and if the number of steps is multiplied by the number of stairs, then the result is 364 steps and the 365th step at the top of the pyramid symbolizes the last day of the past year. At the top there is a temple, the entrance to which, decorated with columns in the form of snake bodies, is located on the north side.

East of El Castillo is another famous structure of Chichen Itza: the Temple of the Warriors. It consists of four platforms, surrounded on three sides by round and square columns. The square columns are carved in the shape of Toltec warriors. During the restoration, some of the columns were restored and put in their original place. At the top of the Temple of Warriors there is a sculpture of Chaak-Mool in the shape of a reclining man.

The observatory is another famous attraction of Chichen Itza. The Spanish word El Caracol means "spiral staircase" (it is located inside). Through holes in the walls of the tower, Mayan astronomers observed the movements of Venus, the Sun, the Moon and other celestial bodies, calculated the spring and autumn equinoxes, and the summer solstice. The Mayan astronomical skills even helped predict solar eclipses.