Hispanic Heritage Month: Mayapán and Yaxchilán

Hispanic Heritage Month celebration was initially celebrated for a week starting in 1968, and was expanded to a month in 1988. The great ancient civilizations of Mexico, Mesoamerica and South America have been celebrated by American Latinos artistically in a big way since the fabulous mural movement from the late 1960s into the early 1970s. The cities of the ancient Maya contained fabulous architecture and art that certainly rival that of the ancient cities of Europe, India, and the Far East that arose in roughly the same time period. Mayapán and Yaxchilán are two Maya cities that are not as well known as such cities as Teotihucán, Monte Albán, Chichén Itzá, or Palenque, but they have left behind equally as stunning architectural monuments. 

Maya, Pyramid of Kukulkan, Mayapán, Mexico, ca. 1260–1440. Image © 2025 Ron Wiedenhoeft / Saskia Ltd. (KMA-0067)

Mayapán was a Mayan city that was once the capital of the Yucatán, southeast of modern day Meridá. It became an important city during Post-Classic Times (ca. 1000–1300 CE). The art and architecture of the city were believed to have been modeled on, but were inferior to, the nearby city of Chichén Itzá. The city belonged in a league of cities that included Uxmal and Chichén Itzá. After the latter declined (around 1300), Mayapán became the dominant political entity on the Yucatán   The most impressive monument in Mayapán, as in Chichén Itzá, is the Pyramid of Kukulcan (also called the Castle in Chichén Itzá), a temple dedicated to the creator/sun god Quetzalcoatl. Like most Mayan pyramids, it is of the stepped variety, with access stairs in all four cardinal directions, and is a smaller version of the “Castle” in Chichén Itzá. The combined number of steps on the four sides is 260, which are the number of days in the sacred calendar (the Tzolkin).

Maya, Structure 33, Yaxchilán, Mexico, ca. 756 CE. Photo: Arian Zwegers. CC BY 2.0. (APAH-155C)

Structure 33 is on a steep hilltop 60 meters (200 feet) above the Main Plaza. It may have been a residence, storeroom for ceremonial paraphernalia, or served religious purposes. It was built during the reign of Bird Jaguar IV (ruled 752-768 CE). Terraces extend from the Main Plaza to this structure creating an impressive cascade of platforms, most likely meant to heighten honorific ceremonial displays. The three doors lead into a single, long chamber. The perforated roof comb (a common feature in Mayan buildings) is geometric in pattern, running the length of the building, and is supported by internal buttressing. As in most Mayan cities, buildings like Structure 33 would have been stuccoed and painted in bright colors. The painting helped diffuse the brilliant sunlight that would otherwise reflect blindingly off the white limestone.

Yaxchilán developed on a southwest bank of the Usumacinta River in the state of Chiapas, on the border with Guatemala. The name in Mayan meant "green stones" which scholars attributed to the color caused by algae in the nearby Arroyo Yaxchilán River. Much of the history of the city is known from the numerous, rich reliefs that decorate its buildings and steles. The city began to rise to importance during the Early Classic Period (ca. 200–400 CE). By the 500s CE, the city was strong and important enough to have formed rivalries with Palenque and Bonampak, and had already established trading ties with Tikál in Guatemala.

The buildings of Yaxchilán were constructed of cut limestone with high, narrow, stone-vaulted rooms. Many of the buildings had porticoes. Porticoes helped inhabitants stay cool and dry in the harsh humidity of the Usumacinta River region. Porticated buildings also appeared in Palenqué and Piedras Negras. Elaborate roof combs were also a distinctive feature on Yaxchilán. Like other Mayan cities, these roof combs were stuccoed and painted with great detail. Dwellings and administrative buildings were set on stepped platforms. Most of the buildings in Yaxchilán face the Main Plaza along the river basin.

The Maya were one of the first major civilizations to emerge in the Americas in Mesoamerica (Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama). The historic periods of Mexico roughly coincide with the rise and fall of the major urban centers. The Archaic Period (before 1500 BCE) saw the transition from a nomadic existence of hunting game and gathering wild produce to a more settled life made possible by the development of agriculture.

The Formative or Preclassic Period (1500 BCE–250 CE) saw the development of major urban centers in many areas.  The Classic Period (250–900 CE) continued the developments of the Preclassic Period. The era was one of prosperity and relative peace among the different regions. The Late Classic Period (ca. 900–1000) ended with a period drought which taxed the agricultural resources of the heavily populated urban areas. The older cities declined, and new ones emerged during the Postclassic period (1000–1520 CE) to become the centers of economic and military power.

During the Preclassic Period, the Mayans occupied Chiapas in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala between 400 and 50 BCE when they began to spread to the Yucatan Peninsula. After centuries of egalitarian village living, there evolved a hierarchic, autocratic, city-state way of life. Although the reasons for the change are unknown, the platform pyramids, organization of cities, and the rule of warrior-priests represent the influence of Olmec culture and that of another early city-state culture in Teotihuacán.

By the 200s CE, the Mayan lands included El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico. One of the greatest civilizations of antiquity, the Mayans developed a sophisticated society which included development of a very accurate calendar, a complex hieroglyphic script, water conservation and irrigation techniques, a system of mathematics, and an accurate system of astronomical predictions.

Correlations to Davis programs: Explorations in Art 2E Grade 1: 1.1, 2.8, 3.1, 5.3; Explorations in Art 2E Grade 2: 6.1, 6.4; Explorations in Art 2E Grade 3: 4.2, 4.7; Explorations in Art 2E Grade 4: 3.5, 3.8; Explorations in Art 2E Grade 5: 2.8; Explorations in Art 2E Grade 6: 4.2; A Community Connection 2E: 1.5; A Global Pursuit 2E: 8.5; Experience Art: 5.3; AP Art History, Content Area 5 Indigenous Americas: required image #155