One of the most important Mayan sites in the peninsula, it features all styles because of its long history

CT Staff

Located 50 miles south of Merida, Uxmal was the greatest metropolitan and religious center in the Puuc hills of Yucatán during the late Classic period, flourishing between the 7th and 10th centuries AD.

Uxmal means 'thrice built' in the Mayan language, and the numerous building phases found here reflect a variety of architectural styles. The city was abandoned in the 10th century after apparently coming under the rule of the Toltecs. The currently used names for many of the structures were coined by the Spanish conquerors and are neither indigenous, nor do they indicate the actual functions of the buildings. A good example is the Nunnery, so named for its similarity to the convents of the Spaniards. This structure was actually used as a school for the training of healers, astronomers, mathematicians, shamans and priests.

Founded in 700 AD, Uxmal had some 25,000 residents during its peak as a Mayan metropolis. The decoration of the buildings, which date from between 700 AD and 1000 AD, reveal much about the Mayans' religious beliefs and artistic talents. For example, the ceremonial center, which is built around the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, is comprised of various structures covered with symbolic motifs depicting Chaac, the god of rain. The ceremonial sites of Uxmal, along with Kabah, Labna and Sayil, are considered some of the best representations of Mayan art and architecture in the region.

The tallest structure in Uxmal is the 100-ft. Pyramid of the Magician. According to an ancient legend, which varies depending on who's telling it, a magician-god named Itzamna was single-handedly supposed to have constructed the pyramid in one night. However, archaeological excavation has revealed that the pyramid was constructed in five superimposed phases. The legendary association of the pyramid with a magician may be understood as an indication that this structure, and indeed the entire sacred part of the Uxmal complex, functioned as a school for shamans and a ceremonial center.

The Pyramid of the Magician has also provided valuable clues to archeologists about the Mayans' advanced knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. The building is oriented so that its stairway on the west faces the setting sun at the time of the summer solstice. The entire city, in fact, is aligned with reference to the position of the planets known at that time, with Venus predominating.