The Ancient Mystery Of Belize's Temple Of The Jaguar

The Jaguar Temple, officially known as Lamanai Structure N10-9, is a stepped pyramid structure at the Maya archaeological site of Lamanai in Belize. The temple dates back to the Classic Period, between 500 AD and 600 AD, and is one of the last major pyramidal structures to be added to the site. The Jaguar Temple is characterised by two jaguar masks on its base, with slots for the eyes, mouth, and nose, which were used for leaving offerings to the Jaguar God.

The Jaguar Temple was built in the 6th century AD

The Jaguar Temple, officially known as Lamanai Structure N10-9, is a stepped-pyramid structure at the Maya archaeological site of Lamanai in Belize. The temple was built in the 6th century AD, dating from the Classic Period, between 500 AD and 600 AD.

The Jaguar Temple is adorned with angular (blocky) jaguar heads on its front, in the same style as the other temples at the site. The stone patterning on the lowest level forms two cleverly designed jaguar faces, which date from the initial 6th-century construction. The Jaguar Temple is located at the southern end of Lamanai's ceremonial strip of buildings and is one of the last major pyramidal structures to be added. It was built in a style similar to the second phase of the High Temple, with a single wide stairway and a large terrace on the first tier.

The Jaguar Temple was modified several times after its initial construction in the 6th century AD. Major construction work was undertaken during the 8th century, which drastically altered the front of the structure. An extra pyramidal structure with rounded corners was added to the front of the existing pyramidal base, creating a second terrace three-quarters of the way up. On this terrace, a second temple was built. Further modifications were made between the 12th and 13th centuries, though these changes appear to have been primarily for repair rather than functional purposes. The temple was continuously used until Lamanai was Christianised by the Spanish in the 15th century, as evidenced by the addition of niches at the foot of the stairs during this period.

The Jaguar Temple is one of three temples that have been uncovered at the Lamanai site, the other two being the Mask Temple and the High Temple. The Jaguar Temple is believed to have been in use until the 15th century.

It was modified several times until the 15th century

The Jaguar Temple, officially known as Lamanai Structure N10-9, is a stepped-pyramid structure at the Maya archaeological site of Lamanai in Belize. The temple was initially built in the 6th century AD, between 500 and 600 AD, and was modified several times until the 15th century.

The Jaguar Temple was one of the last major pyramidal structures to be added to the site. The temple was built in the style of the High Temple's second phase, with a single wide stairway and a large terrace on the first tier.

In the 8th century, major construction work was undertaken on the Jaguar Temple, drastically changing the front of the structure. An extra pyramidal structure with rounded corners was added to the front of the existing pyramidal base, creating a second terrace three-quarters of the way up the base. This new terrace supported a second temple.

Between the 12th and 13th centuries, more construction work was carried out on the temple, though it is believed that this work was primarily for repairs after a period of disrepair. Lamanai may have been semi-abandoned following the Classic Maya Collapse in the 9th and 10th centuries, which left very few cities standing.

In the 15th century, additional niches were still being added at the foot of the stairs, indicating that the temple was continuously used until the Lamanai people were converted to Christianity by the Spanish in the 15th century.

The Jaguar Temple is shorter than the High Temple

The Jaguar Temple, officially known as Lamanai Structure N10-9, is a stepped-pyramid structure at the Maya archaeological site of Lamanai in Belize. It is named after the two jaguar masks on its base, constructed from carved stone. The Jaguar Temple was built between 500 AD and 600 AD, during the Classic Period, and is located at the southern end of Lamanai's ceremonial strip of buildings. It is one of the last major pyramids to be added to the site.

The High Temple, also located at Lamanai, is known as Structure N10-43. It was built around 100 BC and was the tallest structure in Mesoamerica at the time. The High Temple stands at 125 feet and offers panoramic views of the surrounding jungle and a nearby lagoon from its summit.

The Jaguar Temple, while an impressive structure, is shorter than the High Temple. The exposed height of the Jaguar Temple is twelve feet shorter than the High Temple. However, it is important to note that a significant portion of the Jaguar Temple is underground, covered by dirt and jungle foliage on its front and left sides. If fully excavated, the Jaguar Temple would be significantly taller than the High Temple.

Both temples share design similarities, with each featuring a single wide stairway and a large terrace on the first tier. The Jaguar Temple underwent major construction in the 8th century, adding an extra pyramidal structure to the existing base, creating a second terrace for a second temple. This modification significantly altered the front of the structure.

The Jaguar Temple is located at the Maya archaeological site of Lamanai

The Jaguar Temple, officially known as Lamanai Structure N10-9, is a stepped-pyramid structure located at the Maya archaeological site of Lamanai in present-day Belize. Lamanai is a Mesoamerican archaeological site that was once a major city of the Maya civilisation, located in the north of Belize, in the Orange Walk District. The name "Lamanai" comes from the Maya term for "submerged crocodile", a reference to the crocodiles living along the banks of the nearby New River.

The Jaguar Temple dates back to the Classic Period, between 500 AD and 600 AD, and is one of the last major pyramidal structures added to the Lamanai site. The temple is characterised by two jaguar masks on its base, made from carved stone, with angular (blocky) jaguar heads adorning the front in the same style as the other temples at Lamanai. The structure is built in a similar style to the High Temple, featuring a single wide stairway and a large terrace on the first tier.

Over the centuries, the Jaguar Temple underwent significant modifications, particularly during the 8th century, when an extra pyramidal structure was added to the existing base, creating a second terrace for a second temple. The temple was continuously used and modified until the Spanish Christianisation of Lamanai, with niches still being added at the foot of the stairs during the 15th century.

The Jaguar Temple is shorter in exposed height than the High Temple, but a significant portion of it remains underground, covered by dirt and jungle growth. The temple is located at the southern end of Lamanai's ceremonial strip of buildings, with a 100-yard-wide plaza in front of it.

The Jaguar Temple is named after the jaguar masks on each side

The Jaguar Temple, officially known as Lamanai Structure N10-9, is a stepped-pyramid structure at the Maya archaeological site of Lamanai in Belize. The temple is named after the two jaguar masks on each side of its base. The Jaguar Temple is one of the last major pyramidal structures to be added to the site, dating back to the Classic Period between 500 AD and 600 AD.

The jaguar masks on the Jaguar Temple are made from carved stone, a different approach from the moulded stucco plaster used on other temples. The builders of the Jaguar Temple cleverly designed the jaguar masks by arranging bricks to create a stylised image, saving them the effort of carving out the jaguar's features. This design also created niches that were perfect for leaving offerings to the Jaguar God.

The Jaguar Temple was modified several times, with major construction work undertaken during the 8th century that drastically changed the front of the structure. An extra pyramidal structure with rounded corners was added to the front of the existing pyramidal base, creating a second terrace three-quarters of the way up. This additional terrace supported a second temple. Further work was carried out between the 12th and 13th centuries, possibly for repairs after a period of disrepair following the Classic Maya Collapse in the 9th and 10th centuries. Niches were still being added at the foot of the stairs during the 15th century, indicating that the temple was continuously used until Lamanai was Christianised by the Spanish.

The Jaguar Temple is shorter in exposed height than the High Temple, but a significant portion of it remains underground, covered by dirt and jungle growth. If fully excavated, it is believed that the Jaguar Temple would be taller than the High Temple.

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