being less well protected, have vanished, and their decay has often contributed to the downfall of the structure; at the same time the fact that many of the buildings have not suffered to any extent from the removal of the lintels emphasizes the monolithic character of the Maya building. Windows are practically non-existent, though openings in the walls between chambers are common, especially at Palenque (Fig. 77; p. 329). As stated above, the typical Maya building is a simple rectangular chamber, as shown in the plan, Fig. 76, 1. But it was capable of considerable elaboration, and the succeeding plans show some of the variations produced by the addition of subsidiary chambers and the breaking of the wall by means of doorways. The highest degree of complexity is seen at Palenque, where the main building contains a specially-built cell, furnished with a separate roof, to enshrine the mural tablet which probably served as an object of worship (Fig. 77). [Illustration: FIG. 76.--Ground-plans and elevations of Maya temples. 1. Single-chambered building (Fig. 75, _a_). 2. „ „ wall broken by doorways. 3. Two-chambered building. 4. „ „ with circular columns. 5. Temple “El Castillo” at Chichen Itza. 6. Temple of Palenque type (Fig. 77). 7. Temple at Menché. 8. Temple at Piedras Negras. 9. Temple at Tikal. 9_a_. Elevation of 9. 10. Temple at Copan. 11. Temple at Tikal with single chamber and hollow roof-crest.] [Illustration: FIG. 77.--Section through the Temple of the Cross, Palenque (lintels restored): see Fig. 76, 6. _a._ Stairway. _b._ Pillar (restored). _c._ Vestibule. _d._ Doorway to inner side chamber. _e._ Large doorway to inner main chamber. _f._ Doorway to shrine. _g._ Shrine. _h._ Original position of mural tablet. _i._ Masonry arch-brace. _j._ Capstones of doorway arch. _k._ Partition-wall. _l._ Steps for ascending roof-crest through middle floor. _m._ Middle floor and roof of roof-crest. (_After Holmes_)] [Illustration: FIG. 78.--Plans and section of building at Santa Rosa Xlabpak. A. Plan, ground floor. C. Plan, second floor. B. „ first floor. D. Section. (_After Spinden_)]