Yucatan - February 2009
Chicanna
Group A
Temple III

Temple III was the least excavated and restored of the 3 temples.  I did not feel anything from this temple.  I spent most of my time at Temple II, and to a lesser extent, Temple I.


According to the INAH Plaque accompanying this temple, Temple III is composed of several buildings joined together over the course of time as a result of carrying out multiple modifications.  The Mayans erected the oldest part of Temple III between 300 and 450 A.D.; this part corresponds to a substructure or existing construction within the pyramidal base on the west (left in the above picture) side.  The Mayans modified this part from 450 to 550 A.D.  By the end of the Classic Period ( A.D.), the Principal Plaza was no longer restricted to celebrating ceremonial events but its use was amplified to include housing.  The Mayans built the 2 rooms which look out to this plaza around 950 A.D.  The entrance step to each of them was shaped like an amphibian (frog or toad).  Later on, the Mayans erected 7 other rooms behind and to the sides of these 2 rooms, forming 2 asymmetric courtyards.  The Mayans covered some of the rooms with the typical Mayan vault and other rooms were thatched with perishable materials such as wood and the huano palm.

The front of Temple III in Group A at Chicanna