Artifact: Artisan Articulation

The Maya placed great importance on Nature. Animals were usually given their own myth and some were also considered to be affiliated with certain aspects of life, such as the jaguar being regarded as the protector of the Underworld. Spider monkeys also had their own significance. They were believed to have been descended from the Hero Twins', Hunahpu and Xbalanque, older half-brothers. The half-brothers were very skilled at the arts: pottery, writing, dancing, etc. One day, they were tricked by the Hero Twins to climb a tall tree. The tree then grew, creating a tall void between the ground and tree, and disabling them to climb back down. The Hero Twins told their half-brothers to wear their loin cloths as tails to help them climb down, but instead turned them into spider and howler monkeys. Therefore, spider and howler monkeys became the gods of artists and writers, and had many artifacts dedicated to them. Statues of the half-brothers were prayed to in order to embody some of their skill to the artist or artwork being created. The simian artifacts are usually found in artisan-oriented places. Those spaces specifically designed to aid craftsmen in their work. The ornamentation on the artifact inspires the worker's mind in the details of ceramics, or the architect's articulation of buildings. The monkey god is also depicted during the crafting of a mask held in between his hands, hinting to the program of the place in which the artifact should be located.

Much like artifacts were created for specific events or situations, constructions were created with specific programs. Maya city planners realized the importance of compartmentalization, so different constructions were erected for singular purposes: The Governor's Palace used as the ruler's residence, The Ball Court used for sporting ceremonies, or The House of Birds speculated to have served as military headquarters.

Edge Constructs as Quadrangular Regulators II

The articulations in the constructed edges help to define the overall composition of the interior space and act as a partition between the exterior and the interior. The detailed articulations regulate the rhythm of divisions and establish a rhythmic path along the edge in order to enjoy and speculate on the edge as a whole.

Edge Constructs as Quadrangular Regulators

The articulations in the constructed edges help to define the overall composition of the interior space and act as a partition between the exterior and the interior. The deailed articulations regulate the rhythm of divisions and establish a rhythmic path along the edge in order to enjoy and speculate on the edge as a whole.

Imitation of Astrological Perfection

The orientation and location of the buildings is established by orders already found in nature, specifically the firmament. All of the main constructed structures were carefully designed and located where the sun would hit the ground at twenty-eight day intervals, which placed the constructs under an astrological sign. By following the celestial plan, the Maya wished to bring down that perfect order to earth and enjoy the "beneficent influences from the stars."

Hierarchy in scale is established by the contrast of smaller private spaces created inside the constructions and larger exterior spaces enclosed by the edges of the constructed masses. The contrast between the two scales informs the occupant of their function. Smaller spaces invite the occupant into them for a more personal experience, while the open courtyards offer a panoramic view of the entire complex and its orientation, which allow the constructions, and the paths connecting them, to be put into perspective in a human scale.

Sources

Hagar, Stansbury. The Zodiacal Temples of Uxmal.

Vocabulary

- Topography
- Layer
- Puuc
- Corbel arch
- Building Imprint
- Stela
- Cenote
- Cistern
- Enclosed courtyard
- Boot stone

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.

Theory: Private and public spaces

Uxmal offers diversity in scale in terms of spaces. Buildings were designed in accordance to their function. Those in the the Nunnery Quadrangle consisted of enclosed spaces in order to separate the occupant from the outside, since they were thought to be used to train students in healing, astrology, and priesthood. The courtyard created by the buildings in the Nunnery Quadrangle are a stark contrast from the interior spaces that are enclosed in the buildings. The difference in scale establishes an organized spatial hierarchy that both draws the individual in for private space, and out to the open courtyard to experience the rest of the complex.

Theory: Horizontal quadrangles against free-standing pyramids

Buildings in the Uxmal ruins are easily identifiable by their comparison to adjacent structures. Buildings used for social gatherings or other social events have horizontal orientation, while important landmark buildings, such as temples and pyramids, were more vertically oriented. In this way, circulation was simplified, because destinations points were easily seen from ground level, and it also established the tilted axis that aligned other buildings.

Artifact

The monkey artifact depicts how the Maya personified certain animals and adorned them with Mayan jewelery. The composition of the statue also shows organization used in Maya city planning, as seen in Uxmal:
- Smooth and horizontal base vs ornamented vertical movement.
- Enclosed, interior space vs infinite, unbounded space.
- Deviation from strong grid orientation to align with natural contours.

Theory:Caressing the Contours of the Land

The Maya ruins of the Uxmal complex are the best example left from the Puuc style of architecture. This style demanded that a new temple be built on top of the old one every fifty two years, symbolizing rebirth for the city, and a new era of prosperity. The layering results in a complex multi-system, where each system is complete on its own but is still incorporated into the structure as a whole.
Puuc architecture was also based on the natural shape of the land. All the buildings are oriented according to the land, and placed in the most logical pathway which the land permits. The Maya used the topography of the site: hills, depressions, etc; as the armature that dictates where the important structures should go, specifically using height as an indicator.