Labna

Labná is a ruined city of the Maya in Mexico. It is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, about ten kilometers east of Sayil - another important Mayan ruin.

The name Labná means something like " old house " where the city only in modern times was given this name in rediscovering. The original name is not known. The heyday of the town was probably in the 7th to 9th century AD and it is believed that it was inhabited by about 2,000 people.

History of Research

Was rediscovered by two researchers Labná John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood in 1842. Catherwood The drawings from this period are among the most famous designs of the Mayan culture (especially the drawings of the arch ). A later visitor was also here in 1886 Teobert painter, followed the next year by Edward H. Thompson. A modern depth investigation comes from Harry ED Pollock .. Since the mid- 1990 years is taking a Mexican archaeological project under Tomás Gallareta Negrón an exploration of Labná and the immediate surrounding area and reconstruction work from.

The Palace (Gran Palacio )

The palace is in the center of a flat surface on which is the major part of the settlement, on the southern slope a few meters high rock collection. Here first arose the first buildings, later, the gap was filled in between the rear wall of the building and the surface of the hill, thus creating an area for several independent buildings that give the impression of a second floor in this way. This work had not been completed in the task of building activity. The palace extends over a width of 110 m and should include 67 rooms.

Unlike other palaces in the Puuc region of the palace for a long time by constant additions and changes has grown little organic. In broad terms, one can say that the higher the hill the more younger the construction phase.

South Wing

The oldest part of the building is entirely in the plane, at the lowest level of the platform of the palace, and he runs approximately north-south. It is simple, consisting of five rooms with entrances from the east, with the northernmost room was added only during the course of construction. Has the design of the facade with smooth walls with irregularly cut and set stones wall and a simple cornice jumping high over the doorways, and there a very small mosaic line, show the part of the building to the Early Puuc style.

Middle section

On a slightly more elevated part of the platform, the first, consisting of three rooms section of the palace was built, but even without the later built superior fourth room. On him aims of the level crossing on sacbé. This central component stands out also through the lush decor and was probably the most important part of the palace. The base ( zweigliederig, simple) and cornices ( tripartite with a central Säulchenreihe ) correspond to the usual, go to the upper wall surface meander with Säulchenfeldern and wide Chac masks on the inputs from. At the corners of snout masks are to be found. Striking, however, is the lower wall surface: In addition to the doors remember three little columns with triple binding to the houses of perishable material. The smooth wall surfaces next to it are vertical fields in which a braid pattern can be seen. This is undoubtedly a play on words, which the plaited mat shown is referred to Mayathan than pop, which at the same time also refers to the corresponding seat made ​​of a ruler, and the building as popol na, identifying them as a consulting company of the local upper class. Also, the three bundles of the thicker corner pillars underlines the importance of this component. Has the protruding space inputs of all three sides and as a decorative wall columns onto the wall surface and at the corners. The base is four members, which alternate in the second row bellied little columns with meanders and other motives. The back wall of this room is decorated unusually rich: stepped fret, rows standing on top of squares and, very unusually, used horizontally short column drums, presumably to remind us of wooden buildings again. The rear half of the space is increased by three steps, and is formed as a platform, the front is designed as a four -membered cornice. Just imagine that here have been expected on the popol na deliberations.

West Wing

On this construction was somewhat later added to the west again of three rooms, but only with two inputs of existing building, which partially covers the Eckmaske of the foregoing. While he continues the facade decoration of the previous building in the upper panel and the cornices, the lower wall surface is completely smooth and therefore lifts the popol na particularly pointing. This component connects to a dreiräumigen building at the western end of the palace, which was something previously started but not completed in connection with the construction of the part just described. In this western part follows on a tripartite base with continuous Säulchenreihe in the middle of a smooth wall surface. The middle and upper cornice cornice same the base. The upper wall surface is a continuation of the adjacent east somewhat modified.

East Wing

With an inserted later arc that forms a passageway, the eastern wing of the palace is added. The floor plan is L- shaped, the shorter, north facing road behind the other rooms, but only one input has. Behind the rooms is a non- accessible area in ancient times, was probably set up from the beginning as a cistern.

The long wings of six rooms is well preserved only near the west corner, the eastern part was heavily reconstructed. The building has a tripartite base with an average number of very high small columns, in order to bridge the consequent level difference to the interiors, a large entrance platform was built with two to four steps in front of each entrance. The lower wall surface is usually smooth, but there are groups of three simple little columns on both sides of the inputs, only the pillars of the triple bundle at the corners are thicker and with binding motif. The middle cornice is decorated unusual: it consists of three bands, the lower is smooth and cantilevered, the average depth and consists of a continuous series of T-shaped elements, above which is a smooth band on which from time to time with rosettes Gehände are attached. The upper panel shows lush decor: stepped fret, Chac masks and individual human figures, of which only remnants remain. There is a large mask whose tortuous trunk bears a date that corresponds to the equivalent of 18 September 862 ( Julian ) About the only entrance on the west side. At the corner of the base has a plastic configuration with a human face. The middle cornice shows the open mouth of a reptile mask, with one out -looking face. Next to the entrance to the westernmost room is a staircase to the level of the upper floor, which passed over the facade is.

North Wing

The outermost wing, which runs from the eastern end of the north to the side of the hill, was never completed. The walls extend up to the maximum approach of the vault, rubble of a collapsed vault with its characteristic arched stone does not exist. The facade of small residues exhibited in the lower, mostly smooth wall half fields with cross stones.

Upstairs

The appearing as the second floor of the palace is actually composed of four buildings that were built on the hill at the height of the roof of the first floor. The two southern buildings have approximately the same floor plan. There are four rooms in a row, the middle have one of two columns with capitals supported input. Located just behind the medium-sized rooms each another, which is accessible through it. Of these two structures is the east, and that obtained in its central part. The facade is in the lower part smooth, with lining stone medium workmanship. The central ledge consists of three members, one of which is filled with up-and downward Sägesteinen mean the widest. The upper panel is obtained only half the height, they will alternate between fields with cross stones, groups of two small columns with (originally three) bonds and about the middle of the inputs Chac masks. It is a simple version of the mosaic style. On the remains of a building roof ridge were present. The back is, like that of the upper wall of the western half of the building, from raw stones, which has led to the assumption here an extension would be planned but has not been performed. Since, however, not the wall cladding for the planned interiors has been carried out as in such cases is more likely that a further terrace with a core of rubble should be added, on the perhaps another floor could arise.

The third building is back on and collapsed everywhere. These may have contributed to the thickness of the walls is significantly lower than usual. HED Pollock, who encountered the central part still standing, describes an entrance with two columns and capitals. The floor plan is labyrinthine. Pollock suspected 11 rooms. The middle room is unusually wide. The facade is formed by relatively small, inaccurate worked stones. At only the simple decoration, consisting of a band above average cornice is to call, the two stone columns widths jumps over the input to the top. Above the pillars of a series with simple decor of triangular stones. The upper panel is slightly recessed and also smooth in the same stone quality, allocation to the Early Puuc style is unquestionable. The most backward a small, L- shaped building is four spaces. Receive and partially exposed is a directed east entrance with a column and capital, which leads into a relatively small space, from which a side door leading into the lying in the corner of the two leg room. Hatches can not get an assignment to Early Puuc style is therefore not secured.

Temple (El Mirador )

The temple stands on a 13 meter high pyramid, which was A stepped on the sides probably as a monumental staircase leading up to the facade of the temple from the south side. The temple had originally four rooms in an unusual layout: In the middle are two rooms one behind the other, with the rear (northern ) is to enter through the southern room. On both sides of this room are arranged at right angles narrow spaces, the entrance is on the southern narrow side. Receive only the western side of the entrances to the rooms. The temple building corresponds to the early Puuc style, which is characterized by the smooth facade and simple cornice. The upper half of the wall has numerous projecting blocks of stone that once getrag just figures and other decor. A remnant of a figure is still preserved on the southwest corner. Directly on the wall surface sits readily cornice on the roof ridge, which is, as usual, broken by numerous slit-like openings. He was not dressed with stone but with figures and ornaments in stucco, of which little remains are still visible. Early photographs seem to show in the ritual ball game players. Halfway up the stairs former is located on the western side a single heavily destroyed room, which must have belonged to an earlier building phase and stuffed before the establishment of the current temple with rubble.

Arch ( Arco Triunfal )

The approximately 14 meters wide and seven meters high archway is designed corbelled. This is one of the most important architectural achievements of the Maya. The arch served as a decorative passageway between two courtyards. Passages of this kind can be found in numerous places in the Puuc region, for example in Uxmal, Kabah, Oxkintoc, Xbanqueta and Dzekabtun. The two sides of the arch of Labná differ widely in the top panel: The south side has square, opposite meander and in between ascending and descending small squares in relief on a background of small columns on. The north side shows (similar to the Nuns Quadrangle of Uxmal and in Chacmultún ) high representations of houses with Palmmblattdach. These cottages are on either side accompanied by fields with cross-shaped cross bands. The tripartite cornices are equal on both sides: in the middle band of the middle cornice up and running oblique Sägesteine ​​, upside-down in the upper cornice staircase designs. About the gatehouse once stood a roof comb, are present of which only barely perceptible residues.

Säulchenbau or L- shaped building ( Edificio de las Columnitas )

The L-shaped building stands on an approximately two -meter-high building sub- southeast of the palace and probably served the upper class as a base. The layout follows a pattern that is common in L- shaped buildings. The longer leg building has 6 rooms, of which only five have an entrance from the outside, so that the symmetry principle remains ( odd number of inputs ) should be maintained. The last room, which is located on the inner corner, only accessible through the adjacent room. The short leg has two spaces. This leg and the last room of the long arm seem to have been added later, because you see the original northern side façade on the inner wall of the last room. The two rooms at the ends of the building have collapsed today, a restoration is still pending. The facade in small columns style gave the building the name, as all decorative elements of the building consist of continuous sequences of small columns: the middle bands of the tripartite cornices and the upper panel.

Sacbé

The nearly 1 meter high above the ground running street with brick lateral boundaries connects the palace with the Mirador Temple and the neighboring yard.

Twin buildings ( Grupo de los Gemelos )

About 700 m south-southwest of the arch lie on a hillside two small largely identical buildings, which are characterized by a particularly magnificent facade. The inputs are framed with small columns with multiple binding decor as well as other ornaments. The middle cornice shows either the motif snake rattle or bulbous little columns, alternating the stepped fret. The upper half of the wall contains small columns and stepped fret. Another special feature is that in both buildings an extension to another room was constructive prepared, it is for its execution but did not come. Access to this module located in the dense forest is not currently open.

Xcanelcruz

Outside the open for the tourism sector of Labná is something more than a kilometer north of the palace on a hill, the small palace of Xcanelcruz ( in the older literature, often under the name Chuncatzim but belonging to another located nearby locality ).

The building is a well preserved and very typical example of a four-sided, two-story building to a massive rubble core. Perhaps this was a three chain spaces of spaces of the first component. the rubble core was set to the on the three sides in each case a space was set in the middle of the back at him. Directly behind the rubble core is probably a later of attached smaller component of three rooms. Each of the rooms has direct access from the outside. About the facade and the entrance to the central room a staircase jump to the roof level, which leaves a passage along the facade. The second floor consists of four rooms, two lateral and one central with behind gelegenem second room. The facade fully adheres to the Säulchenstil: the middle cornice consists of three members: a smooth band, which is framed by two obliquely projecting bands, it can be found the same on the construction of the second floor. The upper panel is continuously filled with small columns without further decoration. The upper cornice is tripartite, between two smooth bands is a continuous series of low small columns. The uppermost, projecting obliquely final number is not obtained. The corners of our device as a second phase are formed by thick free- standing three-quarter columns. At the back of the cornice is facing unusually far.

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