Edzná
Coordinates: 19 ° 35 ′ 50 ″ N , 90 ° 13 ′ 45 ″ W.
Edzná , rarely Etzná , is a Maya archaeological site in the Edzná Valley in the state of Campeche in the west of the Yucatán Peninsula , Mexico . The technology developed here for the drainage of rainwater and the extraordinary facade of the so-called “palace pyramid” make it one of the most interesting Mayan cities. In Edzná there are numerous temples, administrative buildings and palaces on an area of around 25 km². The architecture was influenced by the Puuc , Petén and Chenes styles. The simple Mayan huts of the common people were scattered outside the stone-built ceremonial center.
location
Edzná is about 55 km (driving distance) in a south-easterly direction from the city of Campeche at an altitude of about 30 m above sea level. d. M .; the city of Mérida is about 195 km to the northeast. The nearest airport is Campeche .
Water management
Due to the predominant loamy soil type, the Edzná valley is often flooded after rainfall - this can happen all year round due to the rainy and humid climate. To remedy this evil, the Mayans there developed an advanced system of irrigation canals that drained the valley to a lagoon. This lagoon was in turn used as a reservoir for the irrigation canals. Not only did these channels ensure optimal soil moisture, they were also used for fish farming, transportation routes and, in some cases, defense. The rainwater was - as in many places in the Yukatán - collected in artificial cisterns ( chultúnes ) and used as drinking water.
Place name
The name comes from an old Maya-Yucatec word that may be an allusion to the Itzaes , a name given to several groups from southeast Campeches. In this case Edzná would be called "House of the Itzaes". Another possible meaning would be “House of the Echoes”, one of which has already been heard between the highest buildings in the town. A third possibility would be "House of Grimaces", based on a stucco mask that is said to have been on the top of the tallest building.
history
The first indications of a settlement in this area go back to 400 BC. BC, when a society developed that was engaged in agriculture and, to a lesser extent, cattle breeding (e.g. turkeys ). In the centuries that followed, a complex social structure emerged that made it possible to build monumental structures and irrigation canals.
In the first centuries of our era, a centralized system of government developed in Edzná, which was legitimized by the relationship between the rulers and the gods . In the years between 400 and 1000 AD, the city became a cultural center of the western Yucatán; the population at that time is estimated at around 70,000. During the late classical period , Edzná belonged to Calakmul's sphere of influence . The last transmitted date of the Long Count comes from the year 810. Between 1450 and 1500 Edzná, which at that time was in the catchment area of the Cuchcabal Canpech and Chan Putun , was abandoned.
Main structures
- The Plaza Principal (main square) is a wide rectangular square where most of the monumental structures are located. To the north and south of the square are two piled up and paved roads ( sacbés ). The buildings on the square include the “Platform of the Knives” ( Plataforma de los cuchillos ) and the “Courtyard of the Ambassadors” ( Patio de los embajadores ), which is bordered in the west by two buildings with four columns each, which on the period decrease between 1000 and 1200.
- The structure called Nohochná (“big house”) was probably used for administrative tasks, and there was probably something like spectator seats for important ceremonies on the Plaza Principal . This structure had four wide galleries in its upper part, accessed through niches formed by large pilasters .
- The Templo del Sur ("South Temple") contains five structures with protruding moldings. Their corners converge in their lower part with a wide embankment over which the temple rises. It is dated between 600 and 900.
- The ball playground ( juego de pelota ) consists of two parallel structures, in the upper part of which there were buildings that may have been used to store equipment and images of gods related to the ball game .
- At the Templo de los mascarones ("Temple of the Masks") you will find two anthropomorphic representations of the sun god with zoomorphic headdresses. With his squinting eyes, ground teeth and nose and ear jewelry, he corresponds to the ideal of beauty of the elite of that time.
- The Pequeña acrópolis ("small acropolis") consists of a base that dates back to around 200 BC. Is dated. There are four buildings on it that form a central courtyard. Some of Edzna's oldest finds come from here: a pre-classical stucco mask , three steles from the eighth Baktun (i.e. between 41 and 435 AD) and ceramics from between 400 and 250 BC. Chr.
- The Gran acrópolis ("great acropolis") is a wide rectangular square where some monumental structures rise, namely the "house of five floors" ( Edificio de los Cinco Pisos ), which, like a pyramid, has five each Clearly stepped structures rise in steps over a base. On these floors there are numerous rooms with cantilever vaults and in the upper part the actual temple with a cross-shaped floor plan, whose roof structure, once decorated with stucco figures, is still partially preserved. The large - sometimes double - door openings in the facade of the building are absolutely unusual; they led to speculation as to whether the whole building could have served as a temple pyramid and at the same time as a “palace pyramid” (cf. also the niche pyramid of El Tajín ). On the roof of the temple a towering multi-part decorative comb ( crestería ) rises . Entering the Edificio de los Cinco Pisos has not been possible since 2010.
- The Templo del norte ("North Temple") consisted of a base with a wide staircase. The sanctuary at the top has changed at least four times over time. In front of the temple there is a "C" -shaped platform, which belongs to the most recent settlement period of Edzná (1200–1400 AD).
- The area called Patio puuc is bordered by some ashlar stones that are elongated, rectangular or round. In the building to the north there are also such stones with large triangles and circles as markings. In addition, there are reliefs composed of these elements, which represent Chaac , as well as some dates from the Mayan calendar. Right at the entrance there was a kind of steam bath that was used for religious cleansing.
- The main building called La vieja hechicera ("old witch") Edznás is located approx. 800 m northeast of the Edificio de los Cinco Pisos . The corners of the building base are rounded and there is a flight of stairs on the eastern side. There was a small sanctuary in the upper part of the building.
Web links
- Edzná, short report of the excavation 1993 with sketches and references (PDF; Spanish; 951 kB)
- Edzná - description
- Edzná - photos + information
Individual evidence
- ↑ Edzna - map with altitude information
- ↑ Nikolai Grube (ed.): Maya, Gottkönige im Regenwald. Potsdam 2012, pp. 48, 51, 63f and 444.