Theory: Renewal and Creation

Mayan culture is heavily influenced by the belief in renewal and creation, much like mesoamerican cultures were influenced by birth and death. The layering of The Temple of the Magician demonstrates how often the Uxmal civilization renewed itself. Every fifty two years, a new layer was built on top of the old one in accordance to the Mayan calendar and to show the transition to a new reign. The new layer incorporated the interior spaces that were already present, thus showing how previous building design influences a newer one; the overall layering then functioned as its own history diagram, depicting the city's past in the stratification of the temple.