The Many Styles and Influences of Maya Architecture

When we throw around the term Maya architecture, we should be talking about Maya architecture. Exactly how many distinct forms of Maya architecture there are is a topic of debate, as several sub-variants exist. This article will cover the most distinctive forms of Maya architecture, their main features and some examples.

Puuc 

Detail of the facad of the Governor’s Palace in Uxmal, one of the grandest of all Puuc structures. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

The Puuc architectural form flourished in the Yucatán Peninsula during the Late Classic period beginning in the V century C.E. However, examples dating further back in time of a proto-Puuc style have been uncovered.

The Puuc style is best known for its use of repeating geometric patterns on building facades, which create complex patterns. The Puuc style is also known for its extensive use of Chaak rain god masks and cylindrical adornments. Some archaeological sites that best exemplify Puuc architecture include Uxmal, Kabah, and Oxkintok.

Izamaleño Megalitico

Pyramid in Aké Yucatán built in the Izamaleño style. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

The Izamaleño architectural style is a lesser-known but fascinating aspect of Maya civilization. It is associated with the city colonial city of Izamal where several large temples still survive to this day. One of the main features of Izamaleño architecture is its use of megalithic stones in the construction of its temples, which can also be seen on full display at sties like Aké and Acanceh.

Though clearly very manpower intensive, this style of architecture allowed for the construction of some truly enormous structures, such as the famous Kinich Kakmó in Izamal — one of the largest pyramids in México and the world.

Petén

Temple I and Temple II in Tikal’s main plaza. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Petén style architecture was dominant during the Classic Maya period, particularly in the north of Guatemala and the south of the Yucatán Peninsula. etén architecture is characterized by its towering, stepped pyramids used for ceremonial purposes.  Unlike other styles of step pyramids in the Petén form these tend to be considerably more steep, perhaps symbolizing an ascent to the heavens.

The archaeological site most often when speaking of Petén architecture is Tikal, although other sites including Uaxactún just a little north, and Itzamkanac in Campeche are also excellent examples.

Río Bec

The archaeological site of Dzibilnocac and its masive twin towered tower palace. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht

Named after the archaeological site of the same name, Rio Bec architecture is perhaps most recognizable for its use of towers and large-scale zoomorphic facades. Some Río Bec structures, such as Becan, incorporate defensive features such as moats and walls, suggesting they may have been used as fortified settlements.

The towers, actually referred to as false towers, are solid masses and have no rooms in their interior, rendering them inoperable for all but the purpose of making structures look even more formidable.

Chenes

The name Xtampak comes from the Yucatec-Maya language and is usually translated as old walls. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

The Chenes style flourished in the southern part of the Yucatán Peninsula. Known for its massive, fortress-like structures and intricate carvings, not all that dissimilar to the Río Bec style. In many ways the Chenes style is a sort of hybrid of the Puuc influence from the north and the Chenes architecture from the south; combining both the residential-palatial elements of the Puuc and the imposing fortifications of Río Bec.

The capital of the Chenes region is believed to have been Santa Rosa Xtampak which exemplifies the fusion of the architectural styles of southern Yucatán and Campeche. One of the aspects where Chenes architecture shines is in taking the zoomorphic elements of the Río Bec style and turning them up to 11 with through massive monster of the earth facades, as well as similar variations on the theme.

The Mexican or Toltec style

La Iglesia in Chichén Itzá features several styles of Maya architecture. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Nahuatl-speaking peoples are known to have migrated from the central valley of México as far away as Costa Rica. Naturally, they brought along with them their own ways of doing things and artist preferences. Because of a phenomenon known as recency bias, these additions give the impression that this sort of influence was actually much more widespread than it was, though one can not understate how important the movement of these peoples was on Mesoamerican history, not just the lands of the Maya.

The most famous example of this is the similarities between the city of Tula and Chichén Itzá and the widespread use of Tablero Talud construction methods implemented across Mesoamerica during this period.

Costa Oriental 

Temple del Alacrán, also known as Yamil Lu’um in the middle of two resorts in Cancún’s hotel zone. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Costa Oriental architecture is found along the eastern coastline of the state of Quintana Roo. Costa Oriental tends to be fairly low laying in height (with a few exceptions) given their proximity to the ocean and the constant threat of hurricanes. This type of architecture also shows a great deal of influence from the Mexican or Toltec style given that most of its grandest structures were built well in to the post-classic and terminal periods.

The Costa Oriental city per excellence is Tulum, though serval others like Xel-há and El Mecco also make for great examples. Costa Oriental structure can even be found on the beach tucked between hotels in Cancún or Playa del Carmen, as is the case with the Templo del Alacran.

Final note

Panoramic image of Palenque taken from the Temple of the Cross. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Because the habitation period of Maya cities tended to be extremely long it is difficult to strictly say that a single site exhibits X or Y style exclusively. In reality, the vast majority of these ancient cities feature a blend of styles and influences, just as contemporary architecture does today. So while it’s fair to call Chichén Itzá a sort of Toltec hybrid, there is no escaping the fact that it is also full of influence from the Puuc and Chenes styles as well.

— by Carlos Rosado van der Gracht     https://yucatanmagazine.com/maya-architecture/