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Mesoamerican pyramids form a prominent part of ancient Mesoamerican architecture. Although similar in some ways to Egyptian pyramids , these New World structures have flat tops (many with temples on the top) and stairs ascending their faces, more similar to ancient Mesopotamian Ziggurats .
The Maya, a civilization of Indigenous people in Central America, created a complex Mayan calendar and massive pyramids before their empire collapsed into ruins.
The stepped pyramids, temples, columned arcades, and other stone structures of Chichén Itzá were sacred to the Maya and a sophisticated urban center of their empire from A.D. 750 to 1200.
Maya Architecture is best characterized by the soaring pyramid temples and ornate palaces which were built in all Maya centres across Mesoamerica from El Tajin in the north to Copan in the south.
However Mexico is littered with crumbling Mayan cities built by their late ancestors, pyramids of stone abandoned for various reasons and left to be overtaken by the jungle. Many Mayan ruins have been excavated and opened to the public — but some, in particular, stand out more than others.
Maya architecture is vastly different from the others in Meso-American cultures. The blend of mythology and astronomical events can be found in nearly all Maya palaces or pyramid structures. One will also notice the heavy influence of the Toltecs in the architecture at Chichén Itzá.
With its pleasing radial symmetry, tidy stepped platforms, and crowning temple, El Castillo is one of the most recognizable Mesoamerican pyramids. It was probably built by the Toltec-Maya between 1050 and 1300 CE when the rest of the Maya population was dwindling.
Chichen Itza is a former Mayan city and current archeological site on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, known for pyramids like El Castillo among its preserved ruins.
Mayan Pyramids History. Mayans had started constructing pyramids even before the Classic Period and some pyramids can be traced back to the late Terminal Pre-Classic period. For instance, one of the major cities of Mayan civilization, El Mirador, was a thriving urban center in the 4th century BC.
Mayan architecture is most known for the majestic pyramid temples and lavish palaces that were constructed in all Mayan centers throughout Mesoamerica. Before the Spanish invasion of the Americas, Maya art and architecture spanned thousands of years, experiencing multiple eras of political transition and architectural progress.