The Yaxchilán Archaeological Zone It has something special that distinguishes it from others. Thanks to the importance that its monarchs gave to art, construction and history, dozens of stelae and lintels have been found in the city in perfect condition.
In addition to recounting the battles and victories of the city, these engravings are a sample of the level of beauty and skill reached by the Mayan artists of the time.
Discover everything that makes the Yaxchilán Archaeological Zonea majestic Mayan city located on the banks of the Usumacinta River, in the jungle of Chiapas.
Brief history of Yaxchilan
Yaxchilán had its peak between the years 600 and 800 AD C.., in what is known as the Late Classic Period. During this time, the city-state controlled the Usumacinta trade route, dominated smaller cities such as bonampak and faced rivals such as Piedras Negras and Palenque.
The most prominent ruler was Jaguar Shield II, who reigned for 60 years. During his tenure, a large number of buildings were built that transformed the center of the city. These buildings were adorned with lintels and carved stelaeas well as hieroglyphic stairs.
Your son, Jaguar Bird IVcontinued his legacy with an architectural expansion focused on promoting his legitimacy and his figure as a warrior.
Shortly after the year 800, the city was abruptly abandoned, as were many others during the events that marked the end of the Classic Period.
How to get?
From the beginning, Yaxchilan It stands apart from any archaeological zone you have been to. And there are two ways to get there, but neither is by land.
The first is by boat on the Usumacinta River. These boats are approached from Frontera Corozal, a town that is reached by a deviation from the federal highway 307 (Palenque-La Trinitaria). The boat trip lasts between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on the current.
The second is by air, since from Palenque, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Ocosingo, Comitán or Tenosiqueyou can hire small planes that land on a runway next to Yaxchilan.
The best of the archaeological zone of Yaxchilán
There are three main architectural ensembles in the area that are open to the public: the Great Acropolis, the South Acropolis and the West Acropolis.
He Building 33which is part of the great acropolisis the most iconic of Yaxchilan, thanks to its wide frieze full of niches. A sculpted step and a headless human figure in the center give clues to the grandeur that this enclosure once held. The style of the niches in this building is not frequently found in other Maya cities, but in Yaxchilán it is present in a large number of constructions.
He building 19known as the labyrinth, is a temple with rooms spread over three levels, connected by internal stairs. It also has a series of underground corridors that lead to small rooms. One of these corridors is still sealed and it is not known where it leads.
Among the more than 70 buildings found in the area, you will also see what was once a temazcal and a ball game.
The most extraordinary of Yaxchilan are its numerous stelae, altars and carved lintels, which tell the stories of greatness and conquest of monarchs and their ancestors. In total, there are 124 texts distributed in 30 stelae, 21 altars, 59 lintels and seven different inscriptions. The texts narrate the establishment of alliances or warlike conflicts and contain hieroglyphic texts and representations of the protagonists of the various events, mainly the rulers.
The beauty of the pieces and the quality of the work make it clear that Yaxchilan It was one of the most prosperous and advanced cities of the Mayan civilization.
The sculpture in Building 33 that represents a seated Bird Jaguar IV, was decapitated in the 19th century, when the ruins of Yaxchilan they were discovered. There is a Lacandon legend that says that when the ruler’s head returns to his place, the celestial jaguars will swallow all living beings and it will be the end of the world.
In what happens, take the opportunity to discover Yaxchilan, an archaeological zone like no other.