Pyramid of the Magician
Uxmal · Yucatán, Mexico · ~10th century (construction phases, 6th–10th centuries); Terminal Classic into the Early Postclassic of the Maya
The Pyramid of the Magician (Adivino) is the tallest building at Uxmal and one of the most unusual Maya temple pyramids: its oval base and rounded tiers are unique in Mesoamerica. Over five centuries it grew, "embracing" the earlier sanctuaries. Its name comes from the legend of a dwarf magician who supposedly built it in a single night.
Dossier
- Type: Stepped structure
- Ancient city: Uxmal
- Modern location: Yucatán, Mexico
- Dedication: Dedication unknown; legend credits a dwarf magician (Adivino) who became ruler of Uxmal
- Dating: ~10th century (construction phases, 6th–10th centuries); Terminal Classic into the Early Postclassic of the Maya
- Builders: no builder is named in any text; the pyramid is the result of five successive rebuildings that "wrapped" earlier temples; legend holds that a dwarf magician raised it in a single night
- Material: limestone (Puuc and Chenes styles, decorative Chaac masks)
- Plan: the only Maya pyramid with an oval (elliptical) base and rounded corners; ~69×49 m; the three lower levels are oval, the fourth and fifth prismatic; two steep stairways (eastern and western)
- Base: 69 × 49 m
- Height (surviving): about 35 m
- Tiers: 5
What matters
The Pyramid of the Magician grew through five construction phases between the 6th and 10th centuries: each new shell "embraced" the previous temple, hence its unusual oval shape. Its final appearance took shape around the 10th century. Its height is estimated variously, most often at about 35 m; the base measures roughly 69×49 m.