Uxmal
One of the most favorite Mayan ruins in Mexico
are located at Uxmal, a big pre-Columbian ruined city of the
Maya civilization south of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, although
many of the buildings and structures located there have a
Spanish name that doesn't tell you what the building might have
been used for, like the term "Uxmal", which is thought to be an
archaic term in the Mayan language that some "assume" means
"built three times". This site contains some of the finest and
most complex examples of the regional Puuc-style of
architecture, with outstanding pyramids and beautiful structures
that have made it one of the best ruins to visit. There has been
extensive works completed on the buildings, although not too
much significant archaeological digs or research have been
accomplished, so that the ruins' dates of occupation and other
information is not known. They do believe that the majority of
the construction occurred when Uxmal was the capital of a late
classic Mayan state from 850 to 925 AD, but then, after 1000 AD,
Toltec invaders would conquer it and the majority of its
construction would cease by 1100 AD. Mayan chronicles state that
the city would be founded in 500 AD by Hun Uitzil Chac Tutul
Xiu. That family, the Xiu, would rule the city for many
generations, and become one of the most powerful cities in the
region. The Xiu would eventually move their capital to Mani,
after losing a significant alliance with the Chichen Itza, which
began the decline of the city and its population.
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