Ek_Balam 1: View from top of main Pyramid Ek' Balam
Ek Balam is a Yucatec Maya name that is translated as "the black jaguar" or "bright star jaguar." Dating from 100 BC the most important cultural period at Ek Balam was the late classic between 700 and 1000 A.D when it had a population of more than 15,000 inhabitants.
Ek_Balam 2: Entrance Arch, Ek' Balam
Ek Balam has a beautiful arch connecting to a sacbe (ancient road). In ancient times, these sacbes connected the Maya kingdoms. The arch is found where these sacbes intersect the entrance to the city. The roads connected the city with other Maya cities and with the temples and pyramids of the center.
Ek_Balam 3: Ball Court, Ek' Balam
One of the most identifiable structures is the Ball Court, which resembles those at Chichen Itza and other Mesoamerican sites . In the most widespread version of the game, the players struck the ball with their hips, although some versions allowed the use of forearms, rackets, bats, or handstones. The ball was made of solid rubber and weighed up to 4 kg (9 lbs) or more, and sizes differed greatly over time or according to the version played.
Ek_Balam 4: Stucco figure, Ek' Balam
The difference with Ek Balam's "El Torre," is that the decoration of it's building facades was not done with carved stone figures as at Uxmal or Chichen Itza but instead with stucco and limestone mortar modeled into distinct forms and then painted.
Ek_Balam 5:Ball Court, Ek' Balam
The rules of the ballgame are not known, but judging from its descendant, ulama, they were probably similar to volleyball where the aim is to keep the ball in play.
Ek_Balam 6: Stucco mask, Ek' Balam
The Acropolis was both a temple and a palace, which features remarkably well-preserved carvings about two-thirds of the way up. These decorate the exterior of the Tomb of Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’ and are astonishingly well preserved and ornate.
Ek_Balam 7Oval Palace, Ek' Balam
The Oval Palace is also known as “La Redonda” (The Round One) is perhaps the strangest structure at Ek Balam. It is a semi-spiral shaped round tower that looks very un-Mayan.
Ek_Balam 8 View from top of main Pyramid Ek' Balam
The Acropolis is a massive structure with dimensions over 160 meters long and 60 meters wide which makes it one of the largest structures ever excavated in the Yucatan and is more than twice the size of “The Castle” at nearby Chichen Itza. The core site is about 5000 meters in circumference surrounded by 2 low lying walls.
Ek_Balam 9 Oval Palace, Ek' Balam
The building is asymmetrical and the reason that it was built is a mystery, but one possible use is that it may have been used in astronomical ceremonies or observations.
Ek_Balam 10 Oval Palace, Ek' Balam
The Oval Palace is very similar to the Pyramid of the Magician at Uxmal which was long considered unique. The Palace may have had a residential role, with 15 exterior doorways leading into individual, windowless rooms with remarkably smooth and flat floors.
Ek_Balam 11: Ek' Balam Jaguar Altar Carvings
.An unusual aspect of the tomb are large statues of what look like winged warriors and also bring to mind Christian angels even though the figures were carved hundreds of years before Spanish conquistadors brought Christian iconography to the region.
Ek_Balam 12 Ek' Balam Jaguar Altar Carving
The elaborately-carved tomb of Ukit Kan Le'k Tok' is the main draw of the Ek' Balam archaeological site.
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