Model of a Maya Temple

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Maya structures unearthed are designated from 1 upwards. A notable example at the British Museum showcases the primary architectural feature of a Maya temple, Structure 23, in Yaxchilan - a thriving Maya metropolis built by powerful Maya leaders between AD 400 and AD 800. Lord Shield Jaguar and his son, Lord Bird Jaguar, ruled this city during the seventh and eighth centuries AD. Many Maya structures were positioned to align with either summer or winter solstice sunrise, whereupon the rays of the rising sun would illuminate sculptures of rulers through doorways, casting a warm glow. Exterior decorations featuring similar sculptures once adorned these structures, but only a few have endured till the present day.