Uxmal, Yucatan--page 4 (of six pages)

Classic Period; founded about 700-750 CE; declined between 920-50 CE




This site includes the following:

Pyramid of the Magician--page 1 (12 images)
Quadrangle of the Birds--page 2 (10 images)
The Nunnery, East and West Buildings--page 3 (9 images)
The Nunnery, North and South Buildings--page 4 (10 images)
The Ball court, House of the Turtles, Great Pyramid, and smaller buildings--page 5 (14 images)
Governor's Palace--page 6 (12 images)
sculptural works from the Uxmal Museum--page 2 (2 images)


Nunnery, The North Building

This building is raised up on a high platform and is entered by a wide staircase in the center. There are thirteen entrances into the building (one at each end and eleven along the south facade). It has 26 rooms and is topped by an elaborate roof comb. The frieze motifs are similar to those on the other facades of the Nunnery Quadrangle.
 

The North Building

At both ends of the staircase, the roofs of small temples act as the floor for the terrace above. The temple at the left is named the Venus Temple, a misnomer based on early scholars interpretations of the carvings inside--mistakenly associated with the planet Venus.
 

Nunnery, The South Building

The lowest of the four buildings, it is penetrated in the center by the beautiful Mayan arch, which was probably the main entrance to the Quadrangle.
 

From the south, looking back at the Nunnery, South Building

The vaulted gateway of the South Building opens up to the large plaza to the south, which contains the Ballcourt.


Continue to page 5.


Go to the Mexico Index.

Click here to return to index of art historical sites.

Click here to return to index of artists and architects.

Click here to return to chronological index.

Click here to see the home page of Bluffton College.


© 2004 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.

Page created by Mary Ann Sullivan