Mayapan is a site located on the Yucatan Peninsula forty-seven kilometers southeast of Merida, the capital of the State of Yucatan, Mexico. The ruins are linked to the end of the Post Classic Period, considered the last of the pre-Hispanic development of the Mayans. Mayapan is said to have been founded in 1007 by Kukulkan. Kukulkan ruled before the formation of a joined government, which lasted two hundred years. Under the leadership of Hunac Ceel, the alliance dominated the Yucatan. Although the city was founded in 1007, the city was not dominant until the 1200's after the fall of Chichen Itza. In 1194, Mayapan broke the alliance and captured Chichen Itza and Uxmal forming the League of Mayapan. The city of Mayapan was the most important center of the Maya civilization before the arrival of the Spanish. It was the capital of a Maya Confederation, which included Chichen Itza and Uxmal.
The city of Mayapan is a walled city covering about four square kilometers centering on one central plaza in which the main buildings are located. Not many Maya cities were built surrounded by walls which is a clear hint of the unstable situation the city faced with its neighboring cities. The city once contained within its walls and fortifications some three thousand dwellings and is believed to have been inhabited by nearly 12,000 people. The quality of construction and decoration in Mayapan is less pronounced than that of Chichen Itza. The rulers of the time may have been more interested in warfare than pleasing the gods with extravagant temples.
Followers of the Toltec ruler Cuculcan constructed a round temple different from all others in the country. The temple somewhat resembles the larger Caracol at Chichen Itza. The temple has four entrances and is thought to have been used in the worship of Ehecatl, the wind god. The grounds contain scattered statues and numerous decaying stepped pyramids.
Mayapan continued to prosper between 1250 and 1450. The mid 1400's marked the end of the city when a rebellion overthrew Mayapan and nearly destroyed the city.
Resources:
“Mayapan” Differentworld.com http://www.differentworld.com/mexico/places/mayapan/mayapan.htm 25 Nov. 2000.
“Mayapan” JOP Yucatan Travel http://www.mayanroutes.com/mayapan.html 25 Nov. 2000.
“Mayapan” The Net Traveler.com http://www.thenettraveler.com/mayapan_in.html 25 Nov. 2000.
“Mayapan: The Round Tower” Athena Review http://athenapub.com/mayrount.htm 25 Nov. 2000.
“Mayapan.” Visits to the Yucatan Peninsula (8 Nov 2000) http://www.wohlmut.com/Maya/mayapan_site.htm 25 Nov. 2000.
“The Post Classic: Tulum and Mayapan.” Mayan Ruins http://www.snowcrest.net/goehring/maya/pclassic.htm 25 Nov. 2000.
Written By William Dietrich