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Local
descendants of the ancient Maya relax by the south gate of the
Nunnery Quadrangle of Uxmal, surrounded by lush and tangled greenery.
In contrast, the ancient ruins in the background have a dry, dusty
feel that reminds one of Catherwood’s previous travels to
Egypt, Greece and Palestine. The buildings seen in the distance
include the House of the Governor (also seen in Plates 9 and 10).
In
Maya religion there were thirteen gods of the upper world and
nine lords of the underworld. The Maya placed the buildings at
Uxmal (seen in the background of this print) upon natural hills
in order to bring the sacred structures closer to the heavens.
This notion was similar to the Maya’s story of the rising
and setting of the sun. The Maya believed that during the day,
the sun was in the realm of the upper world, and during the night
it had to battle its way through the underworld in order to return
to its place in the heavens. These concepts were an essential
part of Maya religion, which organized daily life. [Spanish
version].
CHARLOTTE BALLANTINE and MERCEDES PEPPER |
