{"id":2278,"date":"2019-04-16T12:18:59","date_gmt":"2019-04-16T17:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/?p=2278"},"modified":"2022-10-03T04:40:36","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T04:40:36","slug":"xcambo-architecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/xcambo-architecture\/","title":{"rendered":"Xcamb\u00f3 Architecture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Xcambo architecture has old elements of the early Mayan style, it seems that there was a generalized taste for the early constructive features, which are always present combined with the subsequent architectural influences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four of the postclassic structures were erected associated with two buildings in the Main Plaza:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In one of these, two vaulted miniature temples were built into the basement known as the Temple of Sacrifices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were also 3 platforms or altars near the Pyramid of the Masks.<br> All these buildings are of analogous construction to those of the sites of the eastern coast during the post-Classic, architectural features that did not extend throughout the site of Xcamb\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe style=\"width:100%; height:450px;\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/360\/xcambo\/plaza-central-xcambo.html\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Xcamb\u00f3 Architecture of the Main Plaza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Main Plaza was made up of 11 buildings that made up most of the volume, they also have the best-carved stones, and a particular arrangement of the buildings that make them stand out among the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this square, both religious and administrative activities that governed the life of the community took place here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nine of its buildings flank its four sides and three small platforms were built towards the center-south of the quadrangle in front of the Pyramid of the Masks. There are also two important elements inside the square, the small springs known as &#8220;freshwater eyes&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Pozo-para-sal-en-Xcambo-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Fresh water eyes in Xcamb\u00f3\" class=\"wp-image-2281\"\/><figcaption>Fresh water eyes in Xcamb\u00f3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Xcamb\u00f3 East Plaza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Plaza-Este-en-Xcambo-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"East Plaza in Xcambo\" class=\"wp-image-2282\"\/><figcaption>East Plaza in Xcamb\u00f3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Towards the east of the Main Plaza, at a distance of 250 m, there are three public structures whose arrangement forms a small open plaza. These structures are not \u201cinside\u201d the main archaeological site. I would recommend you get there by car on your way back because it\u2019s located a few meters away from the same road you used to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From these same structures, there\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sacbe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Sacbe (opens in a new tab)\">Sacbe<\/a> that reaches a residence located at 110 m, studies suggest that this seems to define the limit of the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">West Plaza<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"2283\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Zonas-Habitacionales-en-Xcambo-desde-la-capilla-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Zonas Habitacionales en Xcambo desde la capilla\" class=\"wp-image-2283\"\/><figcaption>Zonas Habitacionales en Xcamb\u00f3 desde la capilla<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"2284\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Zonas-Habitacionales-en-Xcambo-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Zonas Habitacionales en Xcambo\" class=\"wp-image-2284\"\/><figcaption>Residential area in Xcamb\u00f3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Panoramica-de-Zonas-Habitacionales-en-Xcambo-1024x158.jpg\" alt=\"Panor\u00e1mica de la zona residencial en Xcamb\u00f3\" class=\"wp-image-2285\"\/><figcaption>Panoramic view of the residential area in Xcamb\u00f3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To the west of the main plaza, there are other residences and areas of domestic activity where the rulers and other important people lived. These are foundations on which the masonry walls of the houses roofed with palms were built, located around small spaces in the form of lower patios or small contiguous quadrangles and generally joined by a common construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pyramid of the Masks in Xcamb\u00f3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The NE-23 Building, commonly known as the Pyramid of the Masks is the most recognized of the Xcamb\u00f3 Architecture, it presents at least three construction periods and several renovations. In its final phase, it was entirely covered by several stepped bodies made of rough blocks of different sizes, and only one stairway was built on the main fa\u00e7ade made of megalithic blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Pyramid-of-the-Masks-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Pyramid of the Masks in Xcambo\" class=\"wp-image-2280\"\/><figcaption>Pyramid of the Masks in Xcamb\u00f3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the third body of its east side and close to the figurehead a caste was embedded; in the third body on the west side of the main fa\u00e7ade, the remains of three high-ranking individuals were found, one of them had obsidian incrustations on his incisors and as offerings, they had high quality and imported vessels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"2287\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Left-mask-in-Xcambo-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2287\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"2288\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Right-mask-in-Xcambo-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2288\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The large plastered and painted masks represented the Celestial Monster which is composed of the opposing pair Venus and the Sun. As the morning star Venus guides the Sun out of the Underworld, it travels next to it until the sunset. The concept of this journey and its direction is implied by the position of the masks in the temple; this same design is present in contemporary sites such as lzamal, Acanceh and <a href=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/dzibilchaltun-archaeological-site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Dzibilchalt\u00fan (opens in a new tab)\">Dzibilchalt\u00fan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Steam bath<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The structure NE-24 or &#8220;Steam Bath&#8221; has in its interior a wide bench all around its walls, directly in front of the entrance there\u2019s a small place built to be used as an oven to vaporize the water. A porch with a roof of perishable materials was erected in front of the room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The steam bath was used by the ruling class, like priests and high-ranking merchants. Another similar bathroom was located in the East Plaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Temple of the Virgin of Xcamb\u00f3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Virgin-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Temple of the Virgin in Xcambo\" class=\"wp-image-2293\"\/><figcaption>Temple of the Virgin in Xcamb\u00f3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Temple of the Virgin in Xcamb\u00f3 is obviously not part of the original Xcamb\u00f3 Architecture, but it&#8217;s now an important building among natives and visitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was built in the middle of the last century on top of a Mayan construction. This is due to the tradition of the people of the town of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Dzemul (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/QsNciXkoVzJ2\" target=\"_blank\">Dzemul<\/a>, name of the town where Xcamb\u00f3 is found, which says that since ancient times there has been a belief that among the ancient Mayan buildings lives a Virgin who only appears before those who have faith. For many of his devotees, she is the true owner of the archaeological zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"2290\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Templo-de-la-Virgen-en-Xcambo-desde-un-lado-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Temple of the Virgin in Xcambo viewed from one side\" class=\"wp-image-2290\"\/><figcaption>Temple of the Virgin in Xcamb\u00f3 viewed from one side<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"2291\" src=\"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Templo-de-la-Virgen-en-Xcambo-por-dentro-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Inside the Temple of the Virgin in Xcambo\" class=\"wp-image-2291\"\/><figcaption>Inside the Temple of the Virgin in Xcamb\u00f3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The legend told by elderly people from the village of Dzemul says that:<br> There are three Virgins from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/mexico\/yucatan-peninsula\/izamal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Izamal (opens in a new tab)\">Izamal<\/a>, Dzemul, and Xcamb\u00f3, the three of them are sisters. The Virgin of Xcamb\u00f3 was very jealous and wanted to be respected. She didn\u2019t like to share the veneration, so that&#8217;s why she went to the mountain and only appears to people who have faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Physical description of Xcamb\u00f3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The dimensions of Archaeological Site of Xcamb\u00f3 are 700 m East-West and 150 m North-South, covering completely the natural plane by means of the construction of a Main Plaza and a smaller square, both surrounded by the home platforms of the rulers and those of the rest of the population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Some features identified in Xcamb\u00f3<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The stepped body pyramids.<\/li><li>The use of rounded corners.<\/li><li>Indent corners.<\/li><li>Slope Bases.<\/li><li>Small stairs that seem to be decorative.<\/li><li>The use of flat and modeled stucco.<\/li><li>The decoration on the exterior facades by huge painted masks made of stucco.<\/li><li>Use of large blocks of stone in the construction of walls and stairways.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Xcamb\u00f3 was linked to three other Mayan cities Xtamp\u00fa, Dzemul and Misnay through roads known as Sacb\u00e9.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xcambo architecture has old elements of the early Mayan style, it seems that there was a generalized taste for the early constructive features, which are always present combined with the subsequent architectural influences. Four of the postclassic structures were erected associated with two buildings in the Main Plaza: In one of these, two vaulted miniature [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-xcambo-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2278"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2278\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4524,"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2278\/revisions\/4524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mayanpeninsula.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}