Master Builders
Pyramids, Palaces, Temples, Stelas, Ball Courts

The Mayas were master builders.  They did not use metal. Their tools were made of stone, wood, and shell.  Without metal tools, they built huge cities with strong buildings and pyramids that were 200 feet high.  Here are some of the things they built:

Cities:  The Mayas built many cities.  Each city was built in a similar way. Each Maya city had a central marketplace. Every city had a large plaza where people could gather. Every city had huge pyramids, temples, at least one ball court, and a palace for the city ruler. Each city was a center of learning and religion for the people who lived nearby. Cities were connected with extremely well built roads that run for miles through the jungle and swamps. Two of their largest cities were Tikal (tee KAHL) located in the present day country of Guatemala, and Copan (ko PAHN) located in the present day country of Honduras.

Palaces: The Mayas built palaces for their rulers. One noble family ruled each city. So, each city had a palace built for that city’s ruler. The job of ruler was hereditary. When one ruler died, his son took over.  Typically, there was one palace per city.  The Palace was often built around a central garden or court for protection and privacy. 

Pyramids:  A Maya pyramid is a base with four triangular sides. The Mayas built two kinds of pyramids. Both pyramids had steep steps leading up to a flat top, but only one type of pyramid was designed to be used. The other was designed to be admired - it was designed to honor a god. Tikal, one of the major Mayas cities, had an especially large number of pyramids. Some were designed to be climbed, and some were not. 

The type of pyramid that was designed to be used was used by the priests. Priests climbed the pyramids to conduct ceremonies on the steps where everyone could see them.  The most important ceremonies were conducted at the very top of the pyramids. Because some ceremonies were held at the top of pyramids, Maya pyramids had flat tops.  

The other kind of pyramid looked remarkably similar. These pyramids also had flat tops and steep steps, but the steps were not to be used. These pyramids were built to honor a god. Of course, you could climb the steps, although they were very steep. You might even find a doorway here and there. The doorways led to tunnels that went nowhere. Some tunnels were rigged with deadly traps. 

The Maya people knew which pyramids were designed to be used and which were designed to be honored. But archaeologists today must tread very carefully, because it is sometimes hard to tell the two different types of Maya pyramids apart. 

Temples:  Temples were places of worship, and home to the many priests of the Maya civilization. At the foot of the temple was typically where the Mayas placed their ball courts. Like the palaces, temples had a central courtyard offering privacy to those who lived there. Pyramids were sometimes used as tombs for the royals, as well as for other purposes, but temples were never used as tombs. Temples were homes. 

Ball Courts:  Each city had a huge ball court similar to the stadiums we have today.  Tiers of bleacher seating surrounded each open air ball court. Ball courts and the games played within them were important to the Maya people. Many people came to watch the games played in the ball court. To learn more about the ball courts and ball games, click here.

Stela: A stela is a very large stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics. Stelas were always built to celebrate the K'atun, the special festival held every 20 years. But a stela might be built to honor any important occasion. The hieroglyphics inscribed on the stela told about the event. Stelas were placed where people could see them. Often, stelas were designed with drawings so that people could understand them.

Virtual Maya Stela of Today's Date (Have ancient artists chip one for you)

Maya Pyramids

Maya Pyramids - Hear the sounds

Were Maya Pyramids Designed to Chirp Like a Bird?

1300 year old pyramid chirps - stone sound coding!

Secrets of the Maya Glyphs - Interactive Temple

Photo Gallery Ruins of Maya Temples

They lived where? (Cities of the Maya)

The Ball Courts

Festivals & Celebrations

Free Presentations in PowerPoint format

 Free Clip Art

Return to The Maya Empire for Kids  

All Rights Reserved    Clip Art Credit: Phillip Martin Have a great year!