Mayan Revival architecture
Maya Revival is a modern architectural style popular in the Americas during the 1920s and 1930s that drew inspiration from the architecture and iconography of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures.
Mayan Theater, Los Angeles
Detail of the intricate pattern work characteristic of classic Maya art, 450 Sutter Street.
Kukulkanob public pavilion in Mérida, Mexico.
An example of Mayan decorative paneling, 450 Sutter Street.
The Mayan architecture of the Maya civilization spans across several thousands of years, several eras of political change, and architectural innovation before the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Often, the buildings most dramatic and easily recognizable as creations of the Maya peoples are the step pyramids of the Terminal Preclassic Maya period and beyond. Based in general Mesoamerican architectural traditions, the Maya utilized geometric proportions and intricate carving to build everything from simple houses to ornate temples. This article focuses on the more well-known pre-classic and classic examples of Maya architecture. The temples like the ones at Palenque, Tikal, and Uxmal represent a zenith of Maya art and architecture. Through the observation of numerous elements and stylistic distinctions, remnants of Maya architecture have become an important key to understanding their religious beliefs and culture as a whole.
Archaeological site at Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico
Temple of the Cross, Palenque
Remains of the Palace of Sayil, Yucatán
Tikal, temple pyramid with prominent roof comb