Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico — The Yucatan Peninsula (The Southeast)
The Temple of the Stela
Templo de la Estela
Las estelas son monumentos de piedra generalmente de rectangulares y con superficies planas. En ellas, además de grabar figuras humanas, de animales y dioses, los mayas esculpían – y a veces pintaban – glifos y números que conformaban su escritura.
En el interior de este templo se encontraron fragmentos de una estela con representaciones de personajes y una fecha calendárica del siglo VI de nuestra era. Es decir, tiene unos 1300 años de antigüedad.
Este templo está techado con un arco falso o bóveda maya que aún se encuentra en buen estado. Su fachada tuvo una rica decoración. Al lado izquierdo de la puerta se conserva una figura de estuco en relieve; sobre ésta pueden verse restos de una escultura la pierna de una figura humana sentada que se situaba en el techo.
Las bóvedas se construían al ir acercando dos muros superponiendo las hiladas de bloques de piedra de manera que cada hilada sobresaliera de la inmediata inferior, hasta dejar en la parte superior un espacio que se cerraba con una losa.
English:
Stelas are stone monuments, generally rectangular and with flat surfaces. In addition to human figures, animals, and gods, the Maya carved – and sometimes painted – glyphs and numbers in their writing system.
Inside this temple fragments of a stela were found with representations of characters and a calendar date from the sixth century AD. That means it is about 1300 years old.
This temple is covered with a “Mayan arch” or “corbel arch” still in good condition. Its facade was richly decorated. The left side of the door retains a stucco figure in relief; above this one can see remnants of the leg of the sculpture of a seated figure, which used to be on the roof.
The vaults were built by bringing together two walls, laying rows of stone blocks so that each row extended past the one immediately below it, leaving a space at the top that was closed with a slab.
Erected by Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes de México (CONACULTA).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture • Man-Made Features • Native Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1300.
Location. 20° 12.859′ N, 87° 25.746′ W. Marker is in Tulum, Quintana Roo. Marker can be reached from Carretera Cancún - Tulum (Route 307). The marker is just south of the Temple of the Stela at the Tulum Archaeological Site near the town of Tulum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tulum QR 77700, Mexico. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Castle (within shouting distance of this marker); Temple of the Descending God (within shouting distance of this marker); The Palace of the Great Lord (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Trade and Navigation (about 120 meters away); The Caste War 1847-1900 (about 180 meters away); The House of the Cenote (about 210 meters away).
Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 297 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 3, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.