What is so special about the Mayan ruins?

The ruins left by the Maya are the remnants of a civilization going back 5,000 years ago. The remaining constructions are the living testimony of the sophisticated lifestyle they had. The Mayan temples, stelae and ceramic artifacts have an appealing history that attract curious visitors from all over the world.



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Features of Maya architecture include multi-level elevated platforms, massive step-pyramids, corbelled roofing, and monumental stairways. Exteriors were decorated with sculpture and mouldings of Maya glyphs, geometric shapes, and iconography from religion such as serpent masks.

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Deep in the Yucatan jungle lie the remains of ancient Maya cities that many call the “Egypt of the Americas.” The Maya ruins of the Yucatan are awe-inspiring and provide a deeper understanding of Mexican history.

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If you broke a law you appeared in court where the local leaders or nobles served as judge. In some cases the king would serve as judge. At the trial the judge would review evidence and listen to witnesses. If the person was found guilty, the punishment was carried out immediately.

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Even though fines for trespassers who attempt to climb the Unesco heritage site can reportedly range from $1,800-9,000, the tourist was fined $412 for the transgression, a spokesperson for INAH was quoted as saying by the Mexico Daily Post.

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The sacrificial pyramids' steps were used as a mean to “finish off” the sacrificed bodies by throwing them from the top of the stair to the bottom of the pyramid. The steepness in that case insured that the body would indeed roll all the way down.

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The term “Maya,” while describing the Maya people as a larger cultural unit, also refers to the Mayan language family. The Maya don't actually speak Mayan. Rather, they speak Tsotsil, Mam, K'iche' or any of the various languages in the Mayan language family.

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The first Maya encountered by Europeans in the early sixteenth century were exceedingly warlike, but by the 1940s the earlier Classic Maya (AD 250–1000) were widely perceived as an inordinately peaceful civilization. Today, in sharp contrast, conflict is seen as integral to Maya society throughout its history.

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Descendants of the ancient Maya abound throughout southern Mesoamerica. The population is estimated at eight million, likely as many as there were at the time of conquest.

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