Ek Balam
 

Here's a few shots from a trip out to Ek Balam this last week. In Mayan Ek Balam means black jaguar.

Here's a shot of the main temple or the Acropolis-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/...36a315.jpg?v=0

Each of the palpa style thatched roof areas cover detailed Mayan stone carvings. Here's a shot from ground level-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/...5769d6.jpg?v=0

Here's a shot from mid way up looking into the 5m tall jaguar's mouth area-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/...b32273.jpg?v=0
You can clearly see the rows of teeth surrounding the entrance to the jaguar room.

The area outside the jaguars room is adorn with "winged warriors"-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/...b20978.jpg?v=0

There also some more figures, some believe these to be of Mayan princes. But they could be warriors or priests-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/...e6b868.jpg?v=0

Once at the top of the 110 step temple here's a couple shots of the view-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/...3b9732.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/...8db59c.jpg?v=0

And finally here's what it looks like looking down the steps. Not sure the photo gives a realistic representation of just how steep it appears. Many people climb back down facing the steps-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/...14b095.jpg?v=0

Great carvings, thanks for sharing Tully. And yes, I would back down those steps myself.

Wow... lots of detail. I've been to Altun Ha and Chacchoben and they seem to have suffered more from erosion.

What a small world Uncle Phil and I were just at Chacchoben a couple weeks ago. I've never been to Altun ha, actually never heard of it. Had to look it up. Not sure the whole story but I believe part of the reason Ek Balam's detail survived is after being first found in the late 1800's it was mostly forgotten until 1996. I know the detail of Uxmal survives fairly intact in places yet in other places detailed stone carvings were removed and either sold or used to decorate the large haciendas that surround Merida.

Here's a shot of Uxmal taken inside the Nun's Quadrangle-

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/...29e67d.jpg?v=0

The detail work in the frieze is mostly still there. There is a large twin serpent that runs the length both top and bottom. But you can see (maybe not in this photo, I'll look for a better shot) that there are carving missing. There was a king sitting on a throne in the center, it's gone. Warriors and ball players were also there at one time. I've tours a few haciendas and it's not uncommon to find such pieces around the pool or in the garden.

Wonderful place. I would love to see that.

Thank you for taking the time to share them.

IIRC, there were a couple of pyramids at Chacchoben. One that was partially excavated and this one:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/...e19595aa_b.jpg

Altun Ha was mostly excavated and seemed to be a larger city than Chacchoben. Unfortunately, I didn't get a lot of pictures at Altun Ha. On my way to the top of the structure pictured below, a woman suffering from heat exhaustion fainted and I ended up tending to her and then walking her out.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/3...8da3f4de_b.jpg

Very nice shots.

Here's Phil and I on the "plaza" next to the first image you posted, least I think it the same temple.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...9cruise006.jpg

One of the things that blows me away about these sites in the Yucatan is they built up 10-30 meter to make the plaza area then built the temples.

I can't really find any good shots of showing detail at Uxmal, but I'm headed there again in the morning. I'll try to get better shots this time and post them. But don't hold your breath my photo skills are limited to whatever the camera will do on it's own. One of these days I'm going to spend sometime learning more about digital photography. It's on my list.

Wow Tully, these shots make me feel like I missed out on quite a bit during my recent trip to Mexico. Perhaps I should've sampled more than the beer and tequila...

Nice shots.

Thanks Skafe!

Here's some shots from Uxmal taken earlier today. Trying to show what the detail looks like there. Here's the Nun's Quad looking east-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/...cf6e06.jpg?v=0

Here's a view close up of the frieze detail-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3499/...b076e6.jpg?v=0

The center shows a serpent to the left and a warrior, sans one leg, to the right. On the far right is a stack of Chac Mul or the rain god. There three, one on top of the other.

Here's the serpent's head close showing human form/face inside the serpents mouth-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/...5ca292.jpg?v=0

Here the main throne at the south end of the Nun's Quad-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/...f772fd.jpg?v=0

I did some research this morning before heading out turns not only were several key pieces broken off and sold sometime around the turn of the 20th century an impending visit by a noble woman resulted in the removal of anything that appeared to be phallic.

some nice pics you got there tully. fnaqsa, its needless to say that as always your pics looks great!

sadly i wont be doing mexico soon and my peru trip is looking in jeorpardy. im still hoping to make it though.