Want to learn how to fly for free? Click Here!
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...MEXICO - FOR A MAYAN ADVENTURE
In Mexico, a fantastic adventure awaits you, exploring the ancient temples of the Mayan Civilisation. For the adventurous, archaeologists, photographers and historians this is an exciting holiday visiting these World Heritage Sites. Explore one of the most powerful and mysterious empires of the ancient world.
Mexico, a vibrant and colourful country is home to the finest legacy left by the ancient Mayan Civilisation. The Mayans built magnificent temples and pyramids. These ruined limestone buildings, built originally in their huge cities, are amongst the world’s most impressive sites. Apart from religious functions these buildings were also used for sacrificial rituals. The Maya greatly respected death and rituals were an important part of their religion. Here are some of the larger, accessible sites:
Chichen Itza (”At the mouth of the well”) in the northern centre of the Yucatan Peninsula is one of the largest of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Dominating the centre of Chichan is the Temple of Kukulan. The Temple of the Warriors complex is a large stepped pyramid with rows of carved columns depicting warriors. Seven courts have been identified for playing a ball game by the Mayan where men attempted to hit a ball through a stone ring using only hips and shoulders to strike the ball. One story is that the loser was sacrificed on the spot! Other buildings include an observatory, El Caracol, the High Priests Temple and nearby are caves with idols still in position
Calakmul is one of the largest cities ever uncovered, being discovered from the air in 1930. The city probably supported a population of 50,000 and has a series of water management features, including the largest reservoir in the Mayan world at 22 square kilometers.
Palenque is a smaller site in Chipas State and contains some of the finest Maya architecture, carvings and sculptures. Important structures include, The Palace, which is a complex of connected buildings and courtyards, The Temple of Inscriptions and a set of four temples on top of stepped pyramids The Temples of The Sun, Cross and Foliated Cross.
Coba is 90 Km east of Chichen and is built around two lagoons. It contains several large pyramid temples, the tallest, known as Nohoch Mul being 42metres high. A unique feature is the elevated, stone causeways (sacbeob) which radiate from the centre of Coba. Some of these reach the Caribbean, with the longest being 100 Km in length.
Uxmal before any restoration was in better condition than many other cities due to the quality of its construction. Its architecture is only matched by that of Palenque. Its buildings include, The Governor’s Palace, the Adivino or Pryamid of the Magician and The Nunnery Quadrangle which was a government palace. There is also a large Ballcourt.
These are just a selection of the many temples and pyramids you can visit. This is truly a unique holiday experience seeing at first hand the marvels of this ancient Mayan civilization.
Share Thiscomments
Leave a Reply
Latest Images
-
