Chicanna Structure II Pyramid
Chicanná Structure II · House of the Serpent Mouth · Chicanna Chenes Pyramid
Late Classic Maya (600–830 CE, Chenes-Rio Bec style peak 700–800 CE)·Maya (Chenes–Rio Bec, Calakmul polity sphere)·🇲🇽 Campeche, Rio Bec region, 8 km west of Becan near Xpujil, Mexico
About
About Chicanna Structure II Pyramid
Hillside Chenes-Rio Bec city (600–830 CE) core seven buildings in Main Plaza: Structure II is flamboyant Chenes pyramid-temple 20 m high with zoomorphic monster mouth doorway (Itzamna) opening through serpent-mouth, two false towers with non-functional stairways, and roofcombs. Structure I and III flank plaza. Decorated with Chaac masks and serpent heads. Excavated Jack Eaton 1966, later INAH. Rio Bec style defining site where Chenes baroque meets Rio Bec twin-tower pyramid.
Why it mattersType-site for Chenes monster-mouth; shows Rio Bec twin-tower pyramid evolution; Eaton 1966 first scientific Bec Valley city.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why false stairs non-functional theatrical towers
- 02Monster mouth iconography Itzamna vs Witz
Theories
- 01Theatrical stage for elite ritual descent through serpent mouth — cosmogram
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 pyramid-temple built
- Period
- Late Classic Maya (600–830 CE, Chenes-Rio Bec style peak 700–800 CE)
- Culture
- Maya (Chenes–Rio Bec, Calakmul polity sphere)
- Purpose
- Elite hilltop pyramid-temple with monster-mouth portal — Chenes theatrical architecture and astronomical stage
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.700–800 CE Structure II pyramid-temple built
Initial construction / foundation
c. 850 CE
Major use phase and refurbishment
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
18.5069° N · 89.4869° W · 195 m · 3 mapped features
Structure II monster mouth
pyramid20 m pyramid with 12 m serpent mouth portal
18.5069° N · 89.4869° WFalse northern tower
towerStone tower with dummy stairway north side
18.5070° N · 89.4868° WMain Plaza ensemble
plazaStructure I and III flanking plaza axis
18.5068° N · 89.4870° W