EK'BALAM "Black Jaguar"

2010-03-08T06:42:00.000-08:00

Lak'ech Ala K'in "I am you, and you are me." Maya Greeting

Ek’ Balam, Maya Empire of TOH

Ek’ Balam, the capital of the Maya Empire of TOH, had a population of more than 15,000 inhabitants in 12 square Kms. approximately.
45 structures are surrounded by two concentric stone walls plus there is another one that unites the central buildings.
The walls were used to control the access. The city was one of the longest continuously inhabited Maya sites.

Ek’ Balam was a large and powerful city that was part of the Maya Talol Empire.
Surrounded by protective walls and four beautiful arches, the architecture of this City is completely different to others in the Yucatán.
The arches are at the entrance of the Sacbéob (Scabé), the Maya roads made of shells, lime, and sap of the Zapote tree and raised with stones. The roads connected the city with other Maya cities and within the Temples and pyramids of the center. The Maya traveled at night to avoid the heat, and, by using shells on the roads, the light of the moon was reflected on them making them white.
This great city was a ceremonial place where everything was planned. There is a ball court, temples, and beautifully carved monuments known as the hieroglyphic serpents.
There are several architectural styles but there are details that make them unique, like the winged warriors on top of the Acropolis or main temple.
The city was founded by the priest Ek' Balam or Coch, which arrived from the East and governed the city for 40 years.
The Maya King Coch-Cal-Balam, founded Ek' Balam, but, U'kil-Kan Lek-T'ok, was the powerful ruler that is buried in the main pyramid called the Acropolis.

Arches are at the entrance of the Sacbéob - M.O.B

THE ACROPOLIS

This magnificent structure has life-sized stucco figures that were excavated in perfect condition. 1200 years ago there were carefully buried.

U'Kil-Kan Lek-Tok ruled the Talol Empire for thirty years. During his reign, Ek' Balam became the greatest power in the northeastern region of the Yucatán PenÍnsula.
Large masks, glyphs and statues with references to the jaguar and to the rulers of the city have been found.
The cult to Kukulcán, the snake-flying-god, which flew to earth to create this incredible civilization, is reflected in their glyphs.
A tomb, with offerings of marine snails shells, pectorals, nacar conch, objects of jade, fragments of necklaces, representations of fish, shrimps in shells, and more than 25 containers of deer femurs with inscriptions, were found with the name of one of the governors: U'kit-Kan Lek.
There is a beautiful oval palace, ball court, sweat lodge and other impressive structures.
Temples and structures are perfectly aligned, designed and planned.
There are several plazas and an incredible water system on the left side of the main pyramid.
One of the monuments depicts the ruler of Ek' Balam, U'kit Jol' A'hkul, wearing a headdress with stacked monster snouts holding a scepter and an offering.
Above the ruler, is U'kil-Kan Lek-T'ok, the powerful man that ruled Ek' Balam in 800 AD.

The Winged Warriors - M.O. B.

The Acropolis, the impressive fortified pyramid, is the tomb of U'kil KanLek-T'ok. His name has been deduced from a glyph in the tomb. The emblem glyph named the ruler as the "Divine Lord of Talol."

Talol was the name of the kingdom in ancient times.

The pyramid or Acropolis was reconstructed several times; a symbol of renovation or re-incarnation.
There is a great amount of vaulted quarters in different levels, several passages and rooms. Underneath the straw roofs, protecting the façade, we can appreciate the complex detail of art and the symbolism in the sculptures that adorn this temple.
The structure has 525 ft. (160 m.) of length, 230 ft. (70m.) of width and 102 ft. (31 m.) of height.
The Acropolis is an impressive building crowned by a Temple that has a jaguar's mouth with beautiful winged Maya warriors on the top.
The Acropolis sculptures are perfectly preserved because it was discovered until 1999. Before that, it was a minor site.
There are two sculptures of a snake head on lower level stairs. Their tongue is covered with glyphs.
Take your time looking at the different symbols. It is worth it to take a guide and then walk on your own.
The Chenes-Style serpent-mouth at the top of the Acropolis, is the entrance to the tomb that the Maya covered with dirt when they abandoned the city.
The column in the center is the monster's nose.
The figures of the winged Maya warriors are about the height of a Maya.
Not long after Ukit Kan Le'k Tok' was buried inside the building, it was carefully filled with powdered limestone and rocks and then the entire façade was covered and forgotten for centuries.
Every day new discoveries on the site are changing the History books.

M.O.Baum

TIPS:

When you climb to the top, pay special attention to the painted figures on the side of the right door. They are similar to the ones found in Egypt.

12/09 - As you leave the site, turn right to visit the Maya Village of Ek' Balam, where wonderful crafts and hammocks are made. Most of the people still speak Maya. The priest visits the town sporadically, the teacher comes from far away and there is no doctor.

Visit Ek-Balam and climb to the top before someone falls from the top of the pyramid, as it happened in Cobá, where thanks to that incident, nobody is allowed to climb.

UPDATE:

07/2010 - 2 students running from the top of the Acropolis fell and died.

CULTUR, a state organization created to receive revenue from the archaeological sites, closed the site for the locals, where the Chamánes were healing people, built fences, made a new entrance, and charge an extra fee to enter. To enter the site you have to pay to the INAH and to Cultur.

With great disappointment we found out that in Ek'Balam, the healers and the healing hut is gone. The Mexican Government has built fences around the place. The locals can't go in unless it is at a specific time, when they are allowed.
Please read how the Wixáritari Indians fight the Mexican Government and a Canadian Mining Company that is destroying their Sacred Desert Site in Toltec - "The Wise Men."

- Hat, sun block, repellent and good shoes!

- Ask the guides about the Aluxes (alooshes), the small ethereal beings that take care of the Sacred Maya sites and punish the people that don't take care of them. Local people built a small hut at the entrance of the archaeological site for the Aluxes. Sometimes is used as a healing place, please respect the people that are being healed and don't interrupt them. Have fun and enjoy this magical place!

- 26 km north of Valladolid and 186 km to the east of Mérida, on the highway to Cancún.

- Mo-Sun: 8:00 to 17:00 hours.

TIPS:

- Visit Ek-Balam and climb to the top before someone falls from the top of the pyramid, as it happened in Cobá, where thanks to that incident, nobody is allowed to climb.

UPDATE: 07/2010

- 2 students running from the top of the Acropolis fell and died.

- CULTUR, a state organization created to receive revenue from the archaeological sites, closed the site for the locals, where the Chamánes were healing people, built fences, made a new entrance, and charge an extra fee to enter. To enter the site you have to pay to the INAH and to Cultur.

M.O. Baum

Driving to Ek'Balam

COBÁ - Ek'Balam:

Wonderful road; one and a half lanes on each side. In México the half lane is a courtesy lane to allow people to pass. Bare to the right half lane when you see another vehicle coming to allow them to pass. Watch your speed. Take the road to Valladolid approximately 40 Km. Ek-B'alam is 8 miles North of the "Cuota" (Toll Road) on the road from Valladolid-Tizimin. On the Cuota road they accept dollars (12/09) and Mexican Pesos; NO credit cards. I have to update this: On the cuota road sometimes they accept dollars. (07/10). Beware of the "TOPES", to slow you down and the "PEATON", signs, where the right of way is for the people that are crossing the street.

VALLADOLID

Take the road Valladolid-Tizimin. Cross over the highway via TIZIMIN - After Tizimin you will see the signs on your right. Go straight and the archaeological site is straight ahead. To your left will be the road to Ek Balam.

Journey to the Magical World of the Maya

M.O. Baum

Chichén-Itzá to Ek'Balam

40 Km approx.; take the Cuota road (toll road) which is faster or the state road (one lane each way) towards Valladolid; the exit is via Tizimin.

M.O. Baum

Don't miss the Ek' Balam town that was, until recently, separated from the rest of the modern world. MAYA SYMBOLS AND MYTHOLOGY

- Cancún to Ek-Balam: 100 Miles West of Cancún.

- Valladolid-Ek-Balam: 19 Miles -Valladolid is a colonial town midway between Cancún and Mérida.

Main attractions: Cathedral; built on top of a sacred Maya sacred place and pyramid, as the Spanish used to do. They destroyed the pyramids, used the stones to construct their churches; that way the locals were used to worship in that site.

The Zócalo, or Main Square is pretty, there is a Museum. There are 7 Churches around the town and all of them are on top of a Maya sacred site or pyramid.

San Bernardino Convent was built over the Cenote Sis-H'a, a sacred entrance to the underworld for the ancient Maya. The other Cenote in the town is Zaci, with a restaurant that has a view of the Cenote; people swim in it. This is an open Cenote and there is a small fee charge for the entrance.

On the old road Valadolid-Chichén-Itzá, you will find the Cenote Dzitnup, a beautiful Cenote that I will not visit again. Young children dive from the top, about 40 ft., to get some pesos.

UPDATE

11/07/10- We just got out of the site. We love the place but we are extremely disappointed. Now there are two entrance fees in Yucatán. One for the INAH that makes a wonderful job of restoring and exploring the sites, and, the other one for Conatur, the tourism state owned office that needs to raise money to pay for the land that the archaeological site of Chichén Itzá is in and is owned by a Spanish family. That is the explanation we got from one of the workers. The X-Canché Cenote, is 1.5 km from Ek' Balam. Open: Monday to Sunday from 8:00 to 16:30 hours. Rappelling and zip-line rope climbing, with a service of kayaks, cabins, dining room and rest areas.

Human Femur, EK'BALAM

MAYA CALENDAR

MEXEKBALAM

DRIVING IN YUCATAN

MAYASYMBOLSMYTHOLOGY

INAH The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) investigates, conserves and divulgates the national archaeological, anthropological, historical and paleontological heritage, to strengthen the identity and memory of the society that holds it.

Ek'Balam - "The Great Talol Maya Empire"

EK'BALAM "Black Jaguar"