Ek Balam is a Mayan archaeological site located at the Yucatan Peninsula about 30 km.north of the city of Valladolid. Its name means "Black Jaguar" or "Star Jaguar" in Mayan.
From the year 300 B.C. until the arrival of the Spanish, the settlement in Ek Balam grew to about 12 square kilometers including a central religious area of 1 square kilometerwhere the elite resided. This small central area was protected by three walls.
Most of the buildings that have been brought to light are of the late classical period, but some of the recent discoveries of pre-classic show that the place was inhabited before.
The entrance to this site begins with a magnificent Mayan arch, you will find the buildingsimmediately after the ceremonial center, the palace oval and a Mayan ball game of good size.
From the year 300 B.C. until the arrival of the Spanish, the settlement in Ek Balam grew to about 12 square kilometers including a central religious area of 1 square kilometerwhere the elite resided. This small central area was protected by three walls.
Most of the buildings that have been brought to light are of the late classical period, but some of the recent discoveries of pre-classic show that the place was inhabited before.
The entrance to this site begins with a magnificent Mayan arch, you will find the buildingsimmediately after the ceremonial center, the palace oval and a Mayan ball game of good size.
The site has 45 structures including:
• The Acropolis. It is the largest structure and contains the tomb of UkitLe'k Kan Tok'. The carvings of stucco, beautifully preserved, are of the facade with open jaws and fangs of a serpent, above these the king on his throne and to the sides the figures of winged warriors.
• The circular building. Built at the south and known as the Oval Palace.
• The Ballcourt.• The Twin Pyramids.
• A stele depicting a ruler of Ek Balam, probably Ukit Jol Ahkul.
• A beautiful arch that served as a gateway or entrance.
• Two structures still not excavated to the east and west of the Acrópolis.
Mural painting at Ek Balam.
A sign of material and cultural richness as well as technological and artistic development at Ek Balam, is expressed at the mural painting, the craftsmen reach great mastery on decorating their buildings with stunning works of art, ranging from covered domes with monochromatic design to full domes covered with colorful and complex murals which traces reflect significant moments in the city. The pictorial style of Ek Balam is considered the best in the Maya area, since being naturalistic expresses on a very real way, with the right proportions and with remarkable delicacy and plasticity, representations of deities and mythical beings painted on the covers as well as human beings and animals represented on the walls of buildings.Ek Balam is a place different from all of the Maya area, is not like any other known archaeological site. Its mysteries yet to be discovered, the evidence of its ancient greatness and the astonishment to which leads each of its findings, make it be outlined as one of the most important archaeological sites in Yucatan.
