Magician's Pyramid

Pyramid of the Magician Uxmal.gif (2560 bytes)

The Pyramid of the Magician

At Uxmal, once you pass the visitor's center you walk up a path, crest a little ridge and are confronted by this view. This is the thing you first encounter and it is just the beginning. Even from this point you can see the outside of the Nun's Quadrangle and the Governor's Palace in the distance.

Pyramid of the Magician and Flowers (11KB)

You can’t climb this pyramid. Part of it is being actively restored and the couple of tiers of temples on the top are not yet renovated. It differs from the one in Chichen Itza in that it has rounded sides and the stairway is elaborately adorned on both sides.

<<This seems to be everyone's favorite picture out of this set... I have higher resolution scans if anyone would like a copy.

Pyramid of the Magician Courtyard Wall Detail (10KB)

Carvings of birds decorate the facade surrounding the courtyard on the west side of the pyramid.

Excavation / Restoration work going on on the west side of the pyramid.

Pyramid of the Magician Restoration (8KB)

Legend of the Magic Dwarf

"In the long ago times in Kabah, near Uxmal, an old witch by magic brought forth a baby boy from an egg. As he grew older he gained intelligence but not stature and remained a dwarf all his life. One day, the dwarf found a magic tambourine and drum that the old woman had carefully protected and hidden. When he played the magical instruments, it could be heard throughout the region and it frightened the lord of Uxmal. In fear of an ancient prophecy that predicted the bearer of such instruments would take over the throne, he challenged the dwarf to a number of tests.

The last test required the dwarf to endure the pain of a hard fruit (the cocoyol) being broken on his head. The dwarf accepted the challenge with the condition that if he passed the test the governor would endure the same fate. The old woman concealed a flint headpiece under his hair so the dwarf survived. The ruler was not so lucky (or clever) and did not.

Pyramid of the Magician Framed by Doorway (11KB)

As his first ruling act, the dwarf by magic erected three pyramids in one night: the Palace of the Governor to serve as his ruling palace, the House of the Old Woman for the grandmother, and the Temple of the Magician for himself."

Most consider this a symbolic tale that represents the takeover of a new regime of rulers as Uxmal was in its decline and other ruling groups (like in Chichen Itza) were gaining prominence.