Nun's Quadrangle

Pyramid of the Magician Uxmal.gif (2560 bytes)

The Nun's Quadrangle

Like the Nunnery in Chichen Itza, the number of chambers in this group of structures reminded early Spanish explorers of a convent and the name has stuck long past any notion that these buildings served that kind of function. The four buildings that make up the quadrangle are all situated on different elevations and while all are elaborately adorned, each displays a different style.

The western building of the quadrangle has the most complex ornamentation in the group. Over the central doorway is a relief of a throne with a canopy of feathers with a seated figure. As with the other buildings masks of the god Chaac are also a repeated motif. Less commonly seen, this building has intertwined snakes bordering the panels. In this picture the Great Pyramid is visible in the background. >>>

Nuns Quadrangle West Pyramid View (16KB)

Nuns Quadrangle East Pyramid View (16KB)

<<<The eastern edifice (on the left here) is slightly smaller that the rest of the group but has five sections with two rooms apiece and a central chamber with four altars. The repeated design in the facade is also seen closer up here. The eight parallel bars end with serpent heads and surround a feathered owl head. Once again, also looking south, visible in the distance are the Great Pyramid, the House of the Turtles and the Governor's Palace.

The north edifice (from where the two photos above were taken) is on a platform over 300 feet wide and is the dominant structure in the group with 26 chambers and entrances on both the front and back. The stairway leading to the platform is around 100 feet wide and is flanked by temples on either side.

Nuns Quadrangle Relief Detail (15KB)

Chaac masks and serpents on the frieze of the western facade...

Nuns Quadrangle Relief Detail (11KB)

Two-headed serpents over the doorways of the north temple...

The southern building is the smallest of the four structures and is at the ground level of the central courtyard. It contains the archway that is the main entrance to the group.

All of the buildings in the group were probably constructed between 900 and 1000 AD, although some of the ornamentation appears to come from later periods.

Nuns Quadrangle Janet on Steps (13KB)

Janet on the steps of the North Temple with the Pyramid of the Magician behind the East Temple.