Uxmal, Yucatán (Mexico), virtual tour

The Governor’s Palace, Uxmal (Mexico)

The Governor’s Palace is a long low building on a large terrace that is located just south of the Pyramid of the Magician in the central quarter of the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal in the Puuc region of the Yucatán Peninsula, easternmost nowadays Mexico.

The structure comprises three sections where the middle is elevated to about 20m and links to the other two lower flanking equivalents through vaulted corridors oriented towards the main pyramid of Cehtzuc southeast.

Furthermore, the decorations of the facade of the building contain nearly 400 glyphs of Venus in masks of rain god Chac while it features eight bicephalic serpents over the main entrance.

The Pyramid of the Magician, Uxmal (Mexico)

The commanding Pyramid of the Magician is a step Puuc-styled pyramid that shapes the central and tallest structure of the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal in the Puuc region of the Yucatán peninsula, easternmost nowadays Mexico.

Measuring roughly 40m high and 81m wide, it was built in phases over three centuries between the 6th and 9th century AD in the so-called Classic Period following the traditional Mayan pattern of superimposition, comprising no less than five nestled temples.

Temple V, known as the House of the Magician or Soothsayer, shapes the final piece that tops off the pyramid dating to the 9th century for that matter.

Legend has that sky god Itzamna raised the pyramid in a single night employing his might and magic but another that a dwarf of no mother completed the pyramid in as much time as part of three tasks assigned by the ruler of Uxmal in order to prove his worth and save his life.

The pyramid is located on the eastern side of the ancient city, overlooking the Nunnery Quadrangle on its west, so that the western stairway faces the setting sun at the summer solstice.

Uxmal, meaning ‘thrice built’ in Mayan, was among the largest cities of Yucatán Peninsula boasting a population of as many as around 25000 at its height and flourished between roughy 600 and 1000 AD, considered the pinnacle of late Mayan art and architecture.