(After Holmes)

Fig. 78.—Plans and section of building at Santa Rosa Xlabpak.

(After Spinden)

The methods of the Maya builder, and in particular his ignorance of the true arch, rendered the construction of an edifice of more than one storey (apart from the roof-comb) a matter of considerable difficulty. Nevertheless buildings of two, and even three tiers of chambers are known, though the plan on which they were erected was extremely wasteful of material and space. Usually the higher or highest tier was supported on a solid construction, around which the chambers of the lower tier or tiers were grouped (Fig. [78]). The whole edifice thus resembled in the main a huge stepped mound, with rooms built in each of the steps. Sometimes the outer chambers of a superior tier would overlap those of an inferior to some extent, but in such cases the floor of an upper chamber was almost always supported on the dividing wall of two of the lower. The cave-like structure of Maya buildings is particularly evident in such architectural monstrosities. However, many of the sites do not include buildings of more than one floor (apart from the roof-comb). In some cases, as at Tikal, the upper tiers must have been reached by ladders, as no stairway leads to them, and it is interesting to note in this connection that more than one stela at Piedras Negras represents a god seated in a niche to which a ladder gives access from below (Pl. [XX]; p. 224). The finest example of a three-tiered building is found at Santa Rosa Xlabpak (Fig. [78]), but in this case a broad stairway leads from the ground to the highest tier. Two remarkable buildings of more than one storey call for mention, if only as exceptions to the general rule. These are the square tower at Palenque, and the circular edifice known as the “Caracol” at Chichen Itza. The first (Fig. [75, f]) had originally at least three floors, as well as two intermediate blind storeys, the chambers of which are grouped around a square core of masonry in which is built a staircase. The second (Fig. [75, e]), which has two storeys, is constructed round a circular core, in which is a very small spiral stairway. The essentials of construction are the same, the chief differences lying in the facts, firstly, that whereas the chambers of the Caracol are all vaulted, those of the Palenque tower are in some cases furnished with flat ceilings of beams, and secondly, that while the upper storey of the Caracol is considerably less in diameter than the lower, the square tower retains the same diameter throughout. Architecturally the latter is considerably superior to the former, but the shape of the Caracol is interesting since it is the only circular construction now existing in the Maya country, though Landa states that a circular temple to Kukulkan was built at Mayapan, and further remarks that this shape of building was particularly related to this god. It will be remembered that circular temples, according to tradition, were erected to Quetzalcoatl, his counterpart, in Mexico.

The Maya architects did not attempt to handle large masses of stone in the construction of their buildings; no blocks comparable in size with the great lintels of Mitla enter into the composition of Maya temples and in the art of masonry the Maya were far behind the megalithic builders of the Peruvian and Bolivian highlands. The only attempt at stone building, where regularly squared blocks are laid in rows with due attention to the breaking of courses and the bonding of corners, is found at Copan, and that too in only a very small proportion of the ruins of that site. Elsewhere no regard is paid to these two important architectural points, and this fact has contributed in some degree to the downfall of many of the buildings. However, the fault is the less serious owing to the extreme solidity of the stone-and-mortar hearting. As stated above, Maya buildings were faced with a veneer of blocks dressed on the exterior surface; these were usually cut away to some extent behind, so that the mortar in which they were set extended in tongues nearly to the outer face of the wall, just as at Mitla; but in many cases the tenon-like backs of the surface-blocks were not sufficiently prominent, and in consequence they have fallen away from the core of stone and mortar, leaving the latter exposed. This method of facing enabled the builders to ornament their temples with the most elaborate mosaic designs, which are seen in their greatest complexity in Yucatan (Pls. [XXIX, 2], and [XXX]; pp. 350 and 358). The designs here fall roughly into two classes, geometrical patterns, which often appear to be based upon textile art, and grotesque representations of the human face (e.g. Fig. [86, g]; p. 356). The latter is particularly characteristic of the region, and represents probably the face of the god B, the counterpart of the Mexican Tlaloc, whose nose is frequently prolonged into a regular trunk (see Pl. [XXIX, 2]). Some of the geometrical patterns are produced by the regular repetition of a small element, and these naturally were easier of construction since they are composed of similarly carved blocks; but many of the designs are formed of blocks each of which has been carved to fit the particular place which it occupies in the whole scheme of ornament, and this fact not only bears witness to a vast amount of patient labour, but implies also that the architect was working in accordance with a definite plan prepared beforehand. In Chichen Itza grotesque masks are found in some of the buildings, composed of details which do not fit into the scheme, a fact which proves that the Maya mason was not above utilizing material gleaned from the ruins of former buildings, besides affording evidence that such structures are of later date. It has already been mentioned that circular columns are peculiar to Yucatan, and it may be added that a variety of ornament derived from them was also applied to the outer surface of buildings, in the form of series of pilasters, such as are found at Sayil, and Labna and elsewhere (Pl. [XXV, 1]; p. 332).

PLATE XXV

Photo. Col. F. H. Ward