Art

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Art Architecture of Uxmal and Palenque

• Created by Sarah VanWyk

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Table of Contents

• Palenque.Slide 3
• Architecture of PalenqueSlide 4-6
• Art of PalenqueSlide 7-8
• UxmalSlide 9
• Architecture of Uxmal..Slide 10-13
• Additional Information.Slide 14

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Palenque

• Region Palenque is set in the foothills of the
  Tumbalá mountains of Chiapas, Mexico. The site
  is located in the western lowland Mayan region.
  
• This region receives the highest average rainfall
  in Mexico, suggesting that the ancient Palenque
  inhabitants were able to practice agriculture and
  obtain resources for building their city.

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Architecture of Palenque
                                                                                                   

• The architecture of Palenque is very impressive
  for the ancient time period. The Mayans used
  very inventive methods to create their city.
• Openness is a unique feature to Palenque. The
  buildings contain many doors and windows,
  allowing a lot of light into the structures.
  Windows are usually rare in Mayan architecture,
  but are common at Palenque, taking the shape of a
  T.

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• The openness was created by modifying the
  structures to make them lighter. By making the
  roof and its crest lighter, open areas were able
  to be created.
• The corbel arch or the Mayan arch is a false
  arch achieved by stepping each successive block,
  from opposite sides, closer to the center, and
  capped at the peak.

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• The Palace has architecture unique to the Mayan
  world as well.
• -It has a very unique tower, unlike any
  other building in the Maya World. The tower of
  the Palace is thought to have served as
  observatory or watchtower during ancient times.
• -Steam baths and water distribution
  installations have been found in this building as
  well.

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Art Stucco Painting - Decoration in relief,
molded in stucco, reached a high degree of
perfection in Palenque. Stucco was a very fine
paste made of lime with a bit of sand in it,
which was in turn applied over stone supports
anchored to the walls, ceilings or crests. In
many cases, the interior side of the walls were
covered with stucco and later painted. The
Temple of Inscriptions -Inside the temple, two
large vaulted chambers contain three glyphic
panels which are the second longest known
inscriptions by the ancient Maya.
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• An example of stucco sculpture in Palenque is the
  representation of the God of Death

Click to view additional resources on Palenque
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Uxmal

• Flourished in the Late Classic Period (600-900AD)
• Region Located in the northern Yucatán
  peninsula in the Puuc hills. It is thought that
  rich soils were brought to the site when rain
  washed down the slopes during rain storms,
  allowing for agriculture to take place.

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Architecture of Uxmal

• Characterized by low horizontal palaces set
  around courtyards.
• The site is in the Puuc form of architecture.
• -structures are decorated with mosaic facades
  on the upper sections and more simple in the
  bottom sections.
• -decorated with limestone mosaics and carved
  masks that represent the god Chac, the god of
  rain.

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The Pyramid of the Magician

• Stands 117 feet high.
• Consists of 5 temples.

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The Nunnery Quadrangle

• Consists of 4 buildings
• Each building has a unique façade and is built on
  a different level.
• Many references to Chac, a Mayan god, are found
  here.

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The Palace of the Governor

• Some say the Palace is one of the best existing
  Puuc architecture examples remaining in the Mayan
  world. The lower portion is fairly plain
  compared to the richly decorated top.

Click to view further information on Uxmal
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Additional Information

• The Maya
• The Art and Architecture of Ancient America
• Palenque
• Palenque Secret City of the Maya

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Review Questions

• 1. Name one unique feature to Palenque.
• Click here for the answer.
• 2. What is corbel arch?
• Click here for the answer.
• 3. What is Stucco painting?
• Click here for the answer.
• 4. What type of architecture can be found at
  Uxmal? Then, describe this type of
  architecture.
• Click here for the answer.