Hormiguero Structure II Pyramid
Hormiguero Pyramid · Structure II de Hormiguero · Hormiguero Monster Mouth Pyramid
Late Classic Maya (650–850 CE, Rio Bec–Chenes peak)·Maya (Rio Bec–Chenes, Hormiguero style)·🇲🇽 Campeche, Calakmul Municipality, 22 km south of Xpujil between Xpujil and Rio Bec, Mexico
About
About Hormiguero Structure II Pyramid
Most theatrical Rio Bec city (650–850 CE peak) with Structure II central 8-chamber palace-pyramid 12 m high, Structure V twin-tower pyramid and mask façades. Structure II north edge plan is complex palace over platform with monster-mouth portal (7 m wide Witz mask) and side towers false stairs. Sculptural chromatic palette studies show red-yellow-blue stucco masks. Found Ruppert-Dennison 1933, excavated Enrique Nalda et al. Most completely excavated Rio Bec building and most 'wildly theatrical' per Ruppert.
Why it mattersMost theatrical and most completely excavated Rio Bec building; defines Rio Bec palace-pyramid hybrid; chromatic stucco study center.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chromatic palette choice red-yellow-blue symbolic
- 02Eight chambers vs plaza orientation
Theories
- 01Palatial pyramid as staged theatre for elite descent rites
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.700–800 CE Structure II palace-pyramid built
- Period
- Late Classic Maya (650–850 CE, Rio Bec–Chenes peak)
- Culture
- Maya (Rio Bec–Chenes, Hormiguero style)
- Purpose
- Palatial pyramid with monster-mouth portal — elite residence-temple hybrid on Rio Bec frontier
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.700–800 CE Structure II palace-pyramid built
Initial construction / foundation
c. 850 CE
Major use phase and refurbishment
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
18.5460° N · 89.4160° W · 210 m · 3 mapped features
Structure II monster-mouth pyramid
pyramid45×35 m palace-pyramid with 7 m Witz portal
18.5460° N · 89.4160° WStructure V twin-tower pyramid
pyramid20 m high twin-tower pyramid east side
18.5458° N · 89.4158° WNorthern group palace
palace8-chamber complex with columned hall
18.5462° N · 89.4162° W