RR4

RR4                                     A Steep Focus mixed with Astrological Greatness

The Mayan ruins in the Tikal National park are impressive to say the least, but the attention to Astronomy in their detailed stylings is impeccable.



(This image was found at: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Tikal&qpvt=Tikal&FORM=Z7FD#x0y0)

• These Mayan ruins' history begins in 292 C.E. but its peak was around 700 C.E. 
• This area lent challenges such as swampy land that created the need for inovation in its design, such as causeways and stone-lined cisterns. 
• It was through civic organization and hydraulic engineering that these Mayans prospered.

"The swampy land had to be sectored by raised causeways that provided access to the cultivatable land and also allowed for travel and transport.  For [their] dwellings, [they built] more permanent stone platforms."  (Ching p264)



(This image was found at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Tikal_Guatemala_Templo_I_2008.jpg)

"Though the central buildings of the Mayans are used for ceremonial and religious functions and also sometimes as markets, the city itself was spread out in the form of urban settlement.  Whereas the priestly class and ruling elite probably lived in the palaces associated with the shrines, the rest of the Mayans visited the centers sporatically for distinct purposes."  (Ching p264)

• The shrines here at Tikal dominate their subcultures, which gives and extremely steep profile.
• Because of this design style of stacking nearly straight up towards the heavens the visual focus of the entire composition is at the shrine's entrance. 
• This particular architectural design style cannot be found anywhere else in Central America. 

I have personally been to these ruins and can not only acknowledge the particular steepness of this profile but also can claim a touch of vertigo when making my way down these relatively difficult set of steps.



(This image was found at: http://www.eveandersson.com/photos/guatemala/tikal/templo-2-large.jpg)

These particular complexes, or temples, were "reskinned" many times.  "When a ruler of some significance died, he was burried in the acropolis, and a new stone layer was added to it." (Ching p264)  "Their engineers constructed Tikal's base by building up the higher zones into platforms with mud and stone.

• Astronomy was the determining factor for the location of these main temples.  It was the visual sitelines that made for their placement.
• The top of Temple I faces west towards Temple III which marks the setting of the sun at the equinoxes.  Facing towards Temple IV, marks the sunset on August 13, the day the world began according to the Mayan calender.
• Also at the twin pyramid complexes, their collective steps add up to 365, which is one year on the Mayan calender.



(This image was found at: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/travel/16Tikal.html)

Through creativity, innovation, and attention to design detail these structures of a people of the past still stand firm and erected today.  This area still hosts many gatherings for past, present, and future astrological occurances.  I've been to one of these parties and it's sweet!