🏛️ Xunantunich Maya Temple
Belize
About This Sacred Site
Xunantunich, meaning 'Stone Woman' in Mayan, is an ancient Maya archaeological site in the Cayo District of Belize. The centrepiece is El Castillo, a 40-metre pyramid that remains the second-tallest structure in Belize. This ceremonial complex served as an important civic and religious centre during the Classic Period. The site's temples and plazas were used for elaborate rituals connecting the Maya people to their gods and ancestors.
Key Facts
- •El Castillo stands approximately 40 metres tall
- •The site was a major ceremonial centre during the Maya Classic Period (600–900 CE)
- •Features elaborate stucco friezes depicting astronomical and mythological symbols
- •A royal tomb was discovered in 2016 containing remains and jade artefacts
- •The name means 'Stone Woman' based on a local legend of a ghostly apparition
Location
Coordinates: 17.0889, -89.1417
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