View of steps leading up to the House of the Cenotes in Tulum, Mexico. “The name of this building is derived from the fact that it was built on top of a cave containing water. Originally it was just a rectangular building with two rooms, between which a tomb was found. Later, another room was added directly on the roof of the cave. As is typical in this type of construction, there was a small sanctuary at the back where the occupants celebrated religious ceremonies,”—Site placard.
View looking up stairs to the southeastern colonnade at the Plaza of the Thousand Columns at Chichen Itza, Mexico. “Originally, this colonnade was a large space covered with a vaulted roof, which rested upon a long row of columns. This building, which encloses the southeastern angle of the Plaza, clearly shows the modifications it underwent due to the construction of multiple inner walls. It is not clear whether these walls were necessary to offset the instability of the building, or were related to changes in the use of the original spaces. It has access to the Steam Bath Courtyard and others towards the Plaza of the Thousand Columns,”—Site placard.
View of El Castillo at Chichen Itza, Mexico. "Immediately to the south of the palace structures is the main pyramid. This is the tallest structure at the site, rising up maybe 15 feet/4 meters. The one stairway faces to the south towards El Rey, and the pyramid itself lies along the causeway that once linked the two together. A small temple crowns the pyramid summit, and was built in the East Coast Style with a columned entryway. Investigations have revealed three distinct building phases, a common practice of the Maya,"--Mayan Ruins website.
View of steps going up El Castillo at Chichen Itza, Mexico. "Typical of Mayan pyramids, El Castillo serves as a monumental representation of the Mayan calendar. The structure is made up of nine levels which represent the nine levels of the ‘afterlife’. Each of the four sides consists of a series of terraces which total 18 – the number of months in the Mayan year. Each side has a staircase which slants at a perfect 45-degree angle. Each staircase has 91 steps, which combined, and including the top platform, totals 365 – one for each day of the year ... The temple on top of the platform features walls that continue the pyramid’s slanted angle before transitioning to vertical. Vertical stone shafts similar to those found in Hindu architecture are found above the frieze, surrounded by bas-relief carvings of animals and fruits. The apertures to the pyramid temple are divided using twin circular columns which are carved as serpents,"--Designing Buildings Wiki.
Detail view of steps leading up to the Temple of the Big Tables at Chichen Itza, with two columns at the top. Text from placard: "This is a small pyramid formed by a four tiered plinth (base or foundation) with a building on top where there are some rectangular altars supported by small 'atlases', from whence comes the name of the structure. The access steps lie to the west, the principle side. There are representations of warriors on the door-jambs as well as on the temple pillars. On the upper part of the outside walls there are friezes with plumed serpents and jaguars. This construction covers an earlier one, rich in decoration with serpents on the vaulting and warriors on the pillars."
View of steps leading to the Upper Temple of the Jaguars at Chichen Itza, Mexico. "The very large building is called the Temple of the Jaguars, which looks down into the ball court from the east platform, with a lower chamber opening outside into the main plaza. The second story of the Temple of Jaguars is reached by an extremely steep stairway at the east end of the court, visible in this photo. The balustrade of this staircase is carved to represent a feathered serpent. Serpent columns support the lintels of the wide doorway facing the plaza, and the doorjambs are decorated with typical Toltec warrior themes. A frieze appears here of a jaguar and circular shield motif in a flat relief, similar to that found at Tula,"--ThoughtCo website.
Detail view of four steps of the stepped pyramid, El Castillo at Chichen Itza, Mexico. "Typical of Mayan pyramids, El Castillo serves as a monumental representation of the Mayan calendar. The structure is made up of nine levels which represent the nine levels of the ‘afterlife’. Each of the four sides consists of a series of terraces which total 18 – the number of months in the Mayan year. Each side has a staircase which slants at a perfect 45-degree angle. Each staircase has 91 steps, which combined, and including the top platform, totals 365 – one for each day of the year ... The temple on top of the platform features walls that continue the pyramid’s slanted angle before transitioning to vertical. Vertical stone shafts similar to those found in Hindu architecture are found above the frieze, surrounded by bas-relief carvings of animals and fruits. The apertures to the pyramid temple are divided using twin circular columns which are carved as serpents,"--Designing Buildings Wiki.
View of El Castillo at Chichen Itza, Mexico. "Kukulkan Pyramid was built for astronomical purposes and during the vernal equinox (March 20) and the autumnal equinox (September 21) at about 3pm the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid's main stairway. This causes 7 isosceles triangles to form imitating the body of a serpent roughly 37 yards long that creeps downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. Mexican researcher Luis El Arochi calls it "the symbolic descent of Kukulkan" (means the feathered serpent), and believes it could have been connected with agricultural rituals,"--Chichen Itza website.
Detail view of the nine steps of El Castillo in Chichen Itza, Mexico. "Like other Mayan pyramids, the El Castillo has 9 levels which represent the 9 levels of the afterlife, and 365 stairs which represent the days of the year. The stairs climb at a perfect slant, 45 degree angle. The upward progression of the pyramid tiers evidently was carefully planned out,"--Architecture Revived website.