The tallest structure in the UNESCO city of Uxmal has interesting Mayan carvings and a mysterious legend of its ancient origin.
Archaeologists believe the Mayans built the Pyramid of the Magician in Uxmal in several stages more than 1,000 years ago. However, according to legend, a dwarf magician and his mother, a witch, built the huge structure in just one night. View the pyramid today, an impressive monument, no matter how it came to be.
The pyramid isn’t built on the typical square base. Instead it rises from an elliptical or oval base, ending with a temple at the top, about 100 feet (30 meters) above the ground. A steep staircase of 150 steps ascends on the western side, which lies in the path of the summer solstice sunset. Note that climbing on this monument is not allowed today.
Like other structures on the site, the Pyramid of the Magician displays detailed Mayan carvings. Look for masks of the rain god Chaak as well as serpents and geometric carvings. Surrounding the topmost temple are panels with a lattice pattern, which the ancient Mayans considered a symbol of power. At the time of construction, Uxmal was an important spiritual metropolis in Yucatán with up to 25,000 residents.
The pyramid measures about 230 feet by 160 feet (70 meters by 50 meters) at its base. Walk around the large stone structure to appreciate the engineering, artistic and spiritual planning and efforts that combined to create such a wondrous monument.
Imagine the manual labor required to accomplish this feat in ancient times without the cranes and powerful construction equipment of today. Surprisingly, not long after the final stage of construction of the pyramid, the entire city of Uxmal was abandoned by the Mayans. Preservation and restoration activities of the site began in the mid-1900s. The pre-Hispanic town of Uxmal was named as a UNESCO site in 1996.
To reach the Pyramid of the Magician, drive or take a bus from Mérida to Uxmal. Wander around the ancient Mayan site to see other fascinating structures including the Nuns’ Quadrangle, the long Governor’s Palace, the House of Turtles, the Pigeon House and the Ballcourt.
