Uxmal's Axis

The plan of Uxmal was thought out to emphasize and glorify what was important to the Maya. Uxmal is an assemblage of four main structures placed along a tilted axis. This skewed alignment was deliberated slanted clockwise thirteen degrees to suit the site. Uxmal’s buildings and substructures progressively increase in height from north to south, ultimately ending with the lofty temple surmounting the South Pyramid. The stairways rise towards the south, mirroring the height progression of the substructures, causing the approach and entry to Uxmal to be from the north, reemphasized by the lack of stairs on the southern slope of the southern pyramid. This long, elevated approach leads you to the South Pyramid and Temple. The prominence of this location makes the importance of their sanctuary to the Maya apparent. The importance of the calendar and astrology to the Maya is evident in the tilt of the Pyramid of the Magician from the main axis, directed towards the horizon, for the doorway to act as a calendar in the sunlight.