Uxmal Ruins - Other sites of interest - Ruin - Mexico

At the Uxmal Ruin complex, the big draws are the Magician's Pyramid, the Governor's Palace and the Nunnery Quadrangle. But there are other areas of interest for ruins buffs and historians to check out:

Ballcourt (Juego de Pelota)

The ballcourt, 34 meters long (110 feet) and 10 meters wide (32 feet), is notable because it bears a Late Classic Period inscription: Dedicated by King Chan Chak K'ak'nal Ajaw in 901 AD

House of the Turtles (La Casa de las Tortugas)

A parade of stone turtles crawl across the cornice of this elegant little structure. Turtles were an important link to the rain god Chac, the crucial one at water-starved Uxmal.

House of the Doves (El Palomar)

The crumbling roof “comb” on top of this unreconstructed building reminded Spaniards of a dovecote, or pigeon house, but the Maya did not house birds here. The comb is delicate and haunting, one of the prettiest sights at Uxmal.

The Great Pyramid (Gran Pyrámide)

Originally nine stories tall, the summit of the Great Pyramid provides an amazing view over Uxmal.

House of the Old Woman (Casa de la Vieja)

It’s unlikely this was the house of the dwarf magician’s mother, but it might be a temple of the fertility goddess Ixchel, and built around 700 AD.

Temple of the Phallus (Templo de los Falos)

Not accessible, but the temple’s enormous fertility sculptures of penises are displayed in the Old Woman complex.

Ruin