MAYAN ARCHITECTURE: CHARACTERISTICS, STYLES, EXAMPLE OF CONSTRUCTIONS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The architecture Maya includes the set of buildings and structures that were built in the various towns that belonged to this civilization. One of the great works that constitute a legacy for humanity are the pyramids and temples.

Mayan architecture is defined by large constructions with impeccable artistic details. Among the types of Mayan buildings, the palaces stand out, structures of great beauty destined for the use of people who belonged to the upper classes.

Source: wikimedia.

The temple of the warriors is one of the most important representations of Mayan architecture. It is located in Chichen Itzá in Mexico.

One of the characteristics of this culture is that the geographical location of its cities was located in different territories, including countries such as Honduras, Mexico and Guatemala. It should be noted that the first Mayan settlements correspond to 2000 BC. C.

The Mayans were excellent builders and transmitted their artistic majesty through the pyramids, large buildings that in many cases functioned as religious temples.

The cities were built based on the proximity to the elements or materials that were used for construction.

One of the main materials used in the erection of buildings was limestone and sandstone, among others. The rocks granted the Mayans a double utility in view of the fact that they were used as raw material for construction and also as a tool for cutting stones.

Evidence of the great advances in the architecture of this civilization corresponds to the skill in the use of the materials used. For example with the creation of burnt lime cement, the use of stucco and mortar for the beautification of buildings.

The Mayan architecture also included astronomical observatories, ceremonial platforms, fields for ball games, and houses for domestic use.

characteristics

Mayan architecture was characterized by its great development in the field of construction, as well as by its adaptability which resulted in the diversity of materials used.

He chose the location of large buildings and temples within cities based on the characteristics of the terrain. The distance between Mayan cities allowed that the architectural styles were not uniform, on the contrary, differences in the buildings could be observed.

However, despite the broad differences, the architecture retained common characteristics in all the Mayan cities.

The culture of this civilization was characterized by having a high degree of development, which was manifested through works of great quality and architectural richness. An example of this are the great pyramids with excellent finishes, as well as artistic expressions such as sculptures or paintings so characteristic of Mayan architecture.

To review the stairways, which extend from the base to the top of the pyramids and which, in some cases, were carved with stories of the culture. Careful ornamental details that were masterfully placed around the most important buildings, as well as its strategic location for astronomical observation.

Elements of Mayan architecture

The style of architecture developed by the Mayan civilization has a variety of elements that can be observed together or separately in buildings.

One of the characteristic features are the so-called crests that are associated with the great pyramids or temples, on which a large element is placed in the upper part. The function of this ornament is to cause a higher altitude effect on the structure.

The well-known Mayan vaults or false arch are decorative structures similar in appearance to a frame, although much narrower. These elements were designed so that all the stones that make it up would support a roof effectively.

In fact it could be quite effective for the Mayans, however it is only functional in small and narrow structures.

The way in which the false vaults were built was by placing stones on each side, which at a certain height must be joined in order to form a false arch.

The stelae, for their part, were works of art carved in an extraordinary way in stone in which the notes of the events of a religious nature were reflected.

Materials used in construction

For the development of its architecture it adapted to the natural resources that were available in its environment. In this way they discovered the properties of limestone, one of the materials that they used to include for the manufacture of their works.

In fact, the Mayans made the choices regarding the territory in which they would settle based on the resources available in the area.

It should be noted that they not only used limestone in the manufacture of buildings or homes. They integrated tuff and sandstone into their architectural creations and also used wood, cement, mud and lime.

In order to give the walls fine finishes, they used stucco, which is a mixture of various materials, including plaster, lime and cement.

The Mayan culture created a kind of concrete to cover the walls based on burnt lime cement. In addition, to achieve the smooth effect on the walls, they sometimes used mud.

It should be noted that based on the geographical location and the natural resources available in the immediate environment, some or other materials were chosen to erect the buildings.

Organization of cities

Although the architecture in each of the Mayan cities was quite similar, there was no specific construction plan that defined an order within the city. On the contrary, in many cases it was the characteristics of the terrain that defined the location of a certain building.

A characteristic that defined the architecture of the Mayan cities was related to the fact that all the constructions that were raised were located around a central plaza.

Within the Mayan city an order was carried out regarding the location and distribution of the main buildings that was based on the ease of access for all citizens.

In these cities, the most important buildings such as those for public use, pyramids, fields for ball games, temples, palaces could be found in the center of the city.

On the other hand, the houses in which the common citizen lived were distributed throughout the entire city. Starting from the center, each of these houses are located in different sectors of the city.

Architectural styles

Mayan architecture has diverse architectural styles with considerable differences between them.

Usumacinta style

The so-called Usumacinta style can be seen in the buildings that make up the ancient city of Palenque, which is located in the state of Chiapas in Mexico. The buildings manufactured under this style have walls on the facades that are small or light in relation to the structure.

On the other hand, they are characterized by showing smaller dimensions in the height of the constructions with respect to other styles. On its walls and facades, this style shows quite striking decoration in which geometric elements are generally incorporated.

Petén style

In reference to the Petén style, whose constructions are distributed in the city of Uxmal (current state of Yucatán), it is associated with large buildings and are located in front of the squares.

Source: wikimedia.

The Petén architectural style is one of the most important in Mayan architecture.

The main detail that defines this style is related to a greater amplitude at the base of the structure that adds a great height. The dimensions of these buildings can reach 70 meters in height.

The structures made with the Petén style generally have a strategic orientation from an astronomical point of view, for example towards the cardinal points.

Examples of constructions (main pyramids and others)

Mayan architecture was characterized by the variety of buildings, which obeyed a specific use as well as the characteristics of the terrain.

The constructions of the Mayan culture were classified into palaces, ceremonial platforms, ball fields, houses for domestic use, astronomical observatories, temples and pyramids.

The pyramids and temples were characterized by their majesty, which was demonstrated through their large dimensions as well as the ornaments with which they were decorated.

The elements used to adorn the pyramids and temples were sculptures or carvings in high relief. Writing was also used, which was reflected in some of the constructions, in each of the stones.

An example of this is the hieroglyphic staircase located in the ancient Mayan city known as Copán, which is located in Honduras. It comprises 63 stone steps that lead to a temple located at the top of a pyramid in which the history of the city was captured.

Another of the outstanding constructions of Mayan architecture is the temple of the warriors that was built in Mexico, in the ancient city called Chichen Itzá.

References

1. Pure Architecture. Mayan architecture. Taken from arquitecturapura.com
2. Wake up! (2001). The Mayans, past and present. Magazine Awake!
3. Mayan architecture. Taken from ecured.cu
4. Hilliard, B. (2019). The Famous Mayan City of Copán: A Place with Art and Hieroglyphics in Abundance. Taken from Ancient-origins.es
5. Peoples Mexico. The style of Mayan Architecture. Taken from pueblosmexico.com.mx