Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish AmericaJoyce, Thomas Athol
History
Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish America
Joyce, Thomas Athol
Mayas -- Antiquities; Mexico -- Antiquities
Uxmal, which, according to the Tutul Xiu account, was founded from
Chichen Itza, shows, as regards the majority of its buildings, a very
close correspondence with the Monjas group of the latter site. Most of
the buildings exhibit the true Yucatec character, including the mosaic
masks with projecting “trunks,” and pilastered ornament is also found.
A few however do not show these characteristics to the same degree,
and present abnormal varieties of cornice, while others display signs
of alteration and modification which imply at least that the site was
inhabited for a considerable period. The most striking buildings,
perhaps the finest in the true Yucatec style which exist, are the
so-called “House of the Governor” (Pl. XXX; p. 358), the “Temple of the
Magician,” peculiar in its oblong pyramid with rounded corners (Fig.
73, _h_; p. 321),[9] and the “House of the Doves,” distinguished
by a vandyked roof-comb ornamented with open-work tracery. Lack of
space forbids allusion to the many other Yucatec sites, such as Labna,
Sayil, Kabah, and so forth, but it may be said that they embody similar
forms of decoration such as the grotesque mosaic mask, and geometrical
and pilastered ornament (Pl. XXV, 1; p. 332), though the structures can
hardly be said to compare with those of Chichen Itza and Uxmal.
As regards British Honduras, mention has already been made of the
interesting building at Santa Rita, decorated with frescoes somewhat
akin in style to those at Mitla, though rather nearer the true Maya
in type. It is difficult not to see in this art an extension of
the “Toltec” influence so evident at Chichen Itza, combined with a
stronger element of the local Maya art. But buildings in this region
are few, though the substructures of former edifices are common. On
the Colombia branch of the Rio Grande is found an extensive two-tiered
foundation-mound, supporting a number of stepped pyramids, which recall
to some extent the site of Uxmal, in so far as the corners of most
are rounded. Both mound and pyramids are faced with cut stone, and
quantities of brick are also found which appear to have been used as
hearting and paving material.
[Illustration:
_PLATE XXIX_
1
_Photo. Dr. A. P. Maudslay_
2
MAYA
1. RESTORATION OF THE BALL-COURT TEMPLE AT CHICHEN ITZA,
YUCATAN; AFTER MAUDSLAY. (_See Plate XXVIII_)
2. BUILDINGS OF THE “MONJAS” GROUP, CHICHEN ITZA,
YUCATAN]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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