Maya architecture
The Mayan architecture of the Maya civilization spans across several thousands of years, several eras of political change, and architectural innovation before the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Often, the buildings most dramatic and easily recognizable as creations of the Maya peoples are the step pyramids of the Terminal Preclassic Maya period and beyond. Based in general Mesoamerican architectural traditions, the Maya utilized geometric proportions and intricate carving to build everything from simple houses to ornate temples. This article focuses on the more well-known pre-classic and classic examples of Maya architecture. The temples like the ones at Palenque, Tikal, and Uxmal represent a zenith of Maya art and architecture. Through the observation of numerous elements and stylistic distinctions, remnants of Maya architecture have become an important key to understanding their religious beliefs and culture as a whole.
Urban design
As Maya cities spread throughout the varied geography of Mesoamerica, the extent of site planning appears to have been minimal, their cities having been built somewhat haphazardly as dictated by the topography of each independent location. Maya architecture tends to integrate a great degree of natural features. For instance, some cities existing on the flat limestone plains of the northern Yucatán grew into great sprawling municipalities, while others built in the hills of Usumacinta utilized the natural loft of the topography to raise their towers and temples to impressive heights. However, some semblance of order, as required by any large city, still prevailed. At the onset of large-scale construction, a predetermined axis was typically established in congruence with the cardinal directions. Depending upon the location and availability of natural resources such as fresh-water wells, or cenotes, the city grew by connecting great plazas with the numerous platforms that created the sub-structure for nearly all Maya buildings, by means of sacbeob causeways. As more structures were added and existing structures re-built or remodelled, the great Maya cities seemed to take on an almost random identity that contrasts sharply with other great Mesoamerican cities such as Teotihuacan and its rigid grid-like construction.At the heart of the Maya city existed the large plazas surrounded by their most valued governmental and religious buildings such as the royal acropolis, great pyramid temples, and occasionally ballcourts. Though city layouts evolved as nature dictated, careful attention was placed on the directional orientation of temples and observatories so that they were constructed in accordance with the Maya interpretation of the orbits of the stars. Immediately outside this ritual center were the structures of lesser nobles, smaller temples, and individual shrines: the less sacred and less important structures had a greater degree of privacy. Outside the constantly evolving urban core were the less permanent and more modest homes of the common people.
Classic Era Maya urban design could easily be described as the division of space by great monuments and causeways. In this case, the open public plazas were the gathering places for the people and the focus of the urban design, while interior space was entirely secondary. Only in the Late Post-Classic era did the great Maya cities develop into more fortress-like defensive structures that lacked, for the most part, the large and numerous plazas of the Classic. In the Postclassic in Peten, Guatemala, smaller protected settlements emerged in defensible locations, for example on peninsulas and islands in the Petén Basin. These sites had diminutive plazas, and smaller ceremonials structures and the canons of architectural design were modified from the previous Classic period but were recognizable designs shifts from the Classic patterning.
Architectural styles
Maya architecture can be identified, depending on the region and the corresponding period, into different styles. The regional architectural styles have unique characteristics, features and elements that show diverse social and political aspects of the different regions and history periods of the Maya civilization.Puuc
The Puuc style is the most complex and detailed, considered the pinnacle of Maya architecture, implementing architectural, constructive and highly elaborated decorative aspects. It is the distinctive architectural style of the Puuc region of northern Yucatan that developed during the Postclassic period. The buildings are mostly great pyramids, temples and palaces richly decorated in the upper façades with intricate stone mosaics, alternating repeated geometric figures with more elaborate sculptures. A common feature found in its ornamentation are columns with god Chaak masks, usually placed in the corners. the Puuc style also represented a major architectural advance of the Maya civilization, the Puuc style used coated concrete on walls and vaults, and these were covered with stones of finely carved edges replacing the use of large stones set on top of one another using mud mortar for structural support of earlier Classic period Maya styles. Example: Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, LabnaPetén
It was one of the main styles of the major sites of the central and southern Maya Lowlands it developed since the late Preclassic period of Mesoamerica until the end of the Classic period with the collapse of the Maya civilization that caused the abandonment of the major sites in this region. One of its most recognizable features are enormous buildings and tall pyramids with long staircases and temples at the top some of which have flat roof combs. The temples and facades of the structures in this style are flat and lack of decorations. The Petén style was highly influenced by Teotihuacán architecture in features such as the use of the talud-tablero and stepped platforms. Example: Calakmul, Tikal, Naranjo, Dzibanche, IchkabalPalencan
It was developed by Palenque and its the distinctive unique style of the city, it was also imposed in the subordinated sites of the kingdom of Palenque. The buildings and temples are on pyramidal bases with elegant sculptures in stucco and carved stone. The buildings have vaulted rooms and high Maya arches, as well as staircases with alfardas. The temples have facades with 3 or 5 wide entrances which gives clarity and light to the interior of the rooms. At the top of the buildings there are large double-walled roof combs with rectangular openings and decorative sculptures. Example: Palenque, Xupa, Chancalá.Megalithic
Developed in the great city of Izamal and diffused in near sites, the style is characterized by buildings, temples and pyramids of great size and height built with huge flat blocks and slabs of finely carved stone. The buildings include wide attached staircases, inclined slopes and stepped vaults.It is also found in the Yalahau region. Example: Izamal, Ake, X'baatún.Pixa'an
It is a style unique and characteristic of the city of Kohunlich, the structures have smooth stone walls, niches in the facades, stylized rounded jambs at the entrances and embedded columns, also characterized by using dry stone without mortar for the buildings. Example: KohunlichChiapas Highlands
Pyramid shaped buildings of different levels in a quadrangular shape with stairs flanked by alfardas and altars built on natural elevations, also characterized by the use of stonemasonry walls in the buildings. Example: Chinkultic, Tenam Puente.Gulf Coast
The constructions in this style are made from dirt and clay with stucco-covered bricks due to the natural features of the region, the buildings are mainly stepped pyramids with front stairs, sloping walls and platforms decorated with sculptures and masks alluding to mythological events, aquatic animals and rulers. The funerary enclosures are formed by pyramidal bases. Example: Comalcalco.Pacific Coast
Small platforms and low-rise flat pyramidal bases with features influenced by major sites of central Mexico, characterized by the simplicity of the constructions as well as the lack of decoration and very low detail in the structures. Considered the simplest architectural style it developed in the middle and late Postclassic period. Example: Iximche, Mixco Viejo, Gumarcaj.Building process
All evidence suggests that most stone buildings existed on top of a platform that varied in height from less than a meter to 45 meters depending on the importance of the building. A flight of stone steps often split the large platforms on one side, contributing to the common bi-symmetrical appearance of Maya architecture. Depending on the prevalent stylistic tendencies of an area, these platforms most often were built of stucco and cut stone exteriors filled with densely packed gravel. As is the case with many other Maya reliefs, those on the platforms often were related to the intended purpose of the residing structure. Thus, as the sub-structural platforms were completed, the grand residences and temples of the Maya were constructed on the solid foundations of the platforms. As all structures were built, little attention seems to have been given to their utilitarian functionality and much to external aesthetics; however, a certain repeated aspect, the corbelled arch, was often utilized to mimic the appearance and feel of the simple Maya hut.Though not an effective tool to increase interior space, as it required thick stone walls to support the high ceiling, some temples utilized repeated arches, or a corbelled vault, to construct what the Maya referred to as pibnal, or sweatbath, such as those in the Temple of the Cross at Palenque. As structures were completed, typically extensive relief work was added to the layer of stucco. However, many lintel carvings have been discovered, as well as actual stone carvings used as a facade. Commonly, these would continue uninterrupted around an entire structure and contain a variety of artwork pertaining to the inhabitants or purpose of a building. Though not the case in all Maya locations, broad use of painted stucco has been discovered as well.
Though the Maya did not use a specific measuring unit, their buildings were still proportioned according to the golden mean. For their homes, the Maya would begin with a square then use a cord or vine to measure the square corner to corner. Then by arcing the cord down, a new base length could be established based on the previous square. The new rectangle's length would be the square root of two, which is a proportion found in nature. Since the Maya had religious connotations for which proportions they used and when their form of measurement is called sacred geometry. It was also practiced by the Egyptians. The Maya played with different proportions in their temples and homes to yield symmetrical and harmonious designs all without the use of actual units.
It has been suggested that, in conjunction with the Maya Long Count Calendar, every fifty-two years, or cycle, temples and pyramids were remodelled and rebuilt. It appears now that the rebuilding process was often instigated by a new ruler or for political matters, as opposed to matching the calendar cycle. However, the process of rebuilding on top of old structures is indeed a common one. Most notably, the North Acropolis at Tikal seems to be the sum total of 1,500 years of architectural modifications.
Building materials
The Maya civilization used very simple tools for building their structures. The most common tools use were made of stone found in surrounding areas. Limestone was a huge part of the Maya tool making, as limestone was geographically very abundant in most settlements. Locations of the Maya cities were chosen with the access to necessary stones in mind. This allowed most quarries to be right outside the city for easy access to blocks needed for construction. Top limestone quarries used were Palenque and Tikal. Though limestone was the most important material, they still collected sandstone from Quiriguá and volcanic tuff from Copan.
The Maya people had taken advantage of mortar on most structural projects. The Mayas used a very difficult process of limestone under large amounts of heat to create their mortar. The mortar was so widely used, the Mayas even used it for sculptures, facades, and floor layers. Their mortar was very effective on a large building lifetime, but humid climates can have a negative effect on the mortar.
For more important construction projects the Mayas would cover the entire structures exterior with stucco, followed by bright paintings, prioritizing red, yellow, green, and blue.