Uaxactun is an ancient sacred place of the Maya civilization, located in the
Petén Basin region of the Maya lowlands, in the present-day department of
Petén, Guatemala. The site lies some 12 miles (19 km) north of the major
center of Tikal. The name is sometimes spelled as Waxaktun.
Uaxactun has a characteristic architecture of platforms decorated with large
stucco masks. The best known of these platforms is the E-VII sub structure,
which is famous in several ways. It presents a typical feature of Mayan
architecture: each reconstruction covers the previous building. As the last
state of the E-VII structure was very dilapidated, it was decided to restore
the building which was below, which is one of the finest examples of
preclassical architecture. This structure is part of an E-shaped group, each
side of which has a staircase flanked by sixteen masks representing lords or
Witz monsters. The themes of these masks are similar to those found at Cerros,
Belize. This pyramid was supposed to be an astronomical observatory: its east
side faces three small temples aligned so that the sunrise at the solstices
and equinoxes could be observed.
|
Entrance to Uaxactun.
Entrance to the archaeological site of Uaxactun, starting with Group D
and heading towards Group E. Entrance to Groups D and E is from
northwest towards southeast.
|
|
Getting an introduction.
Blandine Gautier explains the importance of Uaxactun.
-
Uaxactun is made up of eight architectural groups or complexes (A-H)
currently separated by a disused runway, Groups A, B and C being to
the west, while Groups D, E, and F are located to the east of it.
Group G, is a group to the west of the site and has so far been left
out of the available maps.
|
|
Ceiba tree.
The Ceiba, or ya’axché (in the Mopan Mayan language), symbolised
to the Maya civilization an axis mundi which connects the planes
of the Underworld (Xibalba) and the sky with that of the
terrestrial realm.
-
This concept of a central world tree is often depicted as a Ceiba
trunk.
-
The unmistakable thick conical thorns in clusters on the trunk were
reproduced by the southern lowland Maya of the Classical Period on
cylindrical ceramic burial urns or incense holders.
-
The Ceiba tree is represented by a cross and serves as an important
architectural motif in the Temple of the Cross Complex at Palenque.
-
See more at
Ceiba - Wikipedia.
|
|
Towards the Temple of the Masks.
|
|
The Temple of the Masks.
One of the most notable monuments in Uaxactun is the so-called Temple of
the Masks (Templo de los Mascarones, Structure E7), built with
archaic forms of very balanced proportions.
-
It has stairs on all four sides and on its upper platform or
superstructure you can see the holes to possibly support a gazebo in
the shape of a ranch topped by a wood and thatch roof.
-
The name Masks is due to the fact that said temple has sixteen large
figures that represent a mixture of humans and jaguars, distributed
four on each side.
-
This structure is possibly the main astronomical observatory structure
from which the Maya observed the equinoxes and solstices.
|
|
Structures E1, E2 and E3.
Structures E1, E2 and E3 are to the east of Structure E7.
-
These three structures are the ones that marked the position of the
sun, the equinoxes and solstices.
-
From E2, which is in the center, they observed the spring equinox on
March 21.
-
From Structure E1 on the left side they observed the summer solstice
on June 21.
-
And again in E2 on September 21 the autumnal equinox was marked.
-
And finally in Structure E3 on December 21 the winter solstice was
marked.
|
|
Stelae 18 and 19.
Stela 18 (left) and Stela 19 (right) are located in front of Structures
E1, E2 and E3.
-
In front of these structures and stelae, there is an altar on the
ground currently used by Mayan shamans.
|
|
Climbing to the top of the Temple of Masks.
|
|
On top of the Temple of Masks.
Finally we reached the platform above the Temple of Masks.
|
|
View from the Temple of the Masks.
View from the top of the Temple of the Masks towards the east, where
Structures E1, E2 and E3 are located (in the background). In front of
them are Stelae 18 and 19. In the middle of Group E's square is the
contemporary altar on the ground. In the foreground is Stela 20 (bottom
centre).
-
Stela 20 is one of the most sumptuous early classic monuments
and seems to be an affirmation, in this monument, of a certain
independence from the tutelage of Tikal.
-
It depicts the ruler A-22 in a frontal position wearing one of the
most fantastic headdresses in this type of representation, and there
are two captives kneeling at his feet.
|
See also
Source
Location
