Global Treasures: Uxmal

Television Director: Ullman, Frank

Producer: Scarson, Peter O.

---

Catalogue Number: GTR-DVD-1108

UPC: 879061007071

---

Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.

Surrounded by nature and located 80 kilometers south of the Mexican city of Merida is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Yucatan, Uxmal.

Legend has it that the 38-meter-high Pyramid of the Magician, or Pyramid of the Dwarf, was given its name because it was believed that it had in just one night been built by a dwarf. Uxmal is believed to be a classic example of Puuc architecture and is therefore a historic relic of ancient Mayan culture.

Little is known about the exact history of this city, but it is thought that it flourished mainly between the 8th and 11th century. According to archaeologists, Uxmal's most important buildings were built during this period.

Adjacent to the Pyramid of the Magician is the Nunnery Quadrangle, a rectangular building that was given its name by the Spanish. This building, with its large inner courtyard and tiny doorways, was mistakenly thought by the Spanish to have been modeled on a European convent. It was actually built during several different epochs.

The magnificent and elegant Governors' Palace is decorated with an immense variety of stone mosaics and masks of the rain god, Chac, and architecturally is among the most beautiful of Mayan structures.

The old Mayan buildings merge harmoniously with the beautiful Mexican landscape and create an unforgettable impression of this unique cultural period of Latin America's history.