Fancy seeing a Mayan mural that’s still vibrant after centuries? You’re standing before the Temple of the Frescoes. It is one of Tulum’s best-preserved buildings. This temple holds secrets painted on its walls.
Tulum was a vital seaport built in the late thirteenth century. It traded turquoise and jade. Unlike other Mayan cities, Tulum was built on the coast. It was also protected by a strong wall. This wall helped preserve the seaport. Now, let’s focus on this special building the Temple of the Frescoes.
Look closely inside. You’ll see a mural divided into three sections. The first level represents the Mayan world of the dead. The middle level shows the world of the living. The highest level depicts the creator and rain gods.
Here’s a curious detail. In the living section, there’s a god riding a four-legged animal. Some believe it’s a horse. If so, it would mean Mayans were here in 1518. That’s when the Spanish arrived bringing horses for the first time.
Above the temple doorway, notice the figure with bird wings and a tail. This is the diving god. Mayans believed this deity protected them. You’ll see this figure on other buildings around Tulum too.
The Temple of the Frescoes had both social and religious importance. Its murals, decorations and sculptures point to a place of deep veneration. The mural in the back room has red, green, black and yellow colors. It shows male and female deities and intertwined snakes. There are also flowers, fruits and ears of corn offerings to the gods.
Originally, this temple served as an observatory. Mayans tracked the sun’s movement from here. The temple itself is a two-story structure. The first floor has two rooms. Four columns form the entrance gaps. You’ll also spot three niches with the diving god figure in the center. Standing figures flank it on both sides. The second floor is smaller. It features red handprints as decoration.
The outside of the Temple of the Frescoes has three horizontal strips. Above the doorway, there’s another niche with the diving god. In its first phase, a chamber with an altar was built. Murals adorned the facade. The entrance was decorated with a human figure his head down. Later, a gallery with column entrances was added. Plaster figures decorated these columns. Part of the gallery was filled with stone. This created a base for the upper temple.
The Temple of the Frescoes stands in the center of Tulum. It faces the funerary platform. Imagine Mayan priests and nobles coming here to worship. They sought guidance from the gods. They observed the skies. They left offerings for a good harvest. This temple wasn’t just a building. It was a link between the Mayan people and their beliefs. It was a place of profound meaning. As you leave the Temple of the Frescoes, carry with you a piece of Tulum’s history. Remember the vibrant murals. Think about the Mayan people who once walked here. Their stories are etched in stone and paint. They whisper on the Caribbean breeze.