In the Yucatan pennisula, south of the Puuc hills, a distinctive style exists known as the Rio Bec or Chenes style of Mayan architecture. In this style (sometimes treated as two separate styles) ornamentation is the dominant factor. In the photo to the left is the monster doorway at Chicana, Campeche, Mexico. The doorway itself is the mouth of the monster. Although highly stylized, look for the eyes above the door and a series of pendulant teeth below the eyes and hanging into the doorway. Nowhere has ornamentation and simple delusion been taken to such extremes as at the sites of Rio Bec, Xupuhil and Becan. In this form of construction functionality has given way to effect. At these sites, the builders -- not willing or not able -- to complete spectacular pyramid building as at Tikal, simply built facades. The pyramids seen here at Becan were built only for effect. The stairs up are impossible to walk on and the "buildings" at the summits are solid and have no rooms. Surely this indicates that the mrere presence of the pyramids, even phony pyramids, were an important part of legitimizing the site.

©1996 Ken Goehring