Kabah (Maya site) Facts for Kids

This page is about the Mayan archaeological site. For Islamic holy site in Mecca, see Kaaba.

Quick facts for kids
Kabah
History
Codz Pop palace
Founded	7th century and 11th centuries CE
Periods	Late Classic to Terminal Classic
Cultures	Maya civilization
Site notes

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal
Criteria	Cultural: i, ii, iii
Inscription	1996 (20th Session)

Kabaah, portion of Temple of the Masks fascade, drawn by Frederick Catherwood, published 1843

Kabah (pronounced Kah-BAH) is an amazing ancient Maya city. It's located in the Puuc region of western Yucatan, Mexico. This special place is south of Mérida. Kabah is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was recognized along with Uxmal, Sayil, and Labna in 1996.

Kabah is connected to the famous city of Uxmal. An 18-kilometer long raised road, called a causeway, links them. This road was 5 meters wide and had grand arches at each end. Kabah is the second largest ancient ruin in the Puuc region, right after Uxmal.

You can find Kabah on Federal Highway 261. It's about 140 kilometers south of Mérida. Many people visit this historical site. The ruins spread out on both sides of the highway. Many structures are still hidden by the forest. As of 2003, archaeologists were working to uncover and restore more buildings. Kabah became a Yucatán state park in 1993.

Discovering Ancient Kabah
Images for kids
See also

Discovering Ancient Kabah

A Glimpse into Kabah's Past

The name Kabah means "strong hand" in the ancient Maya language. This name was first suggested in 1846. It is a very old name for the city. Some people also call it Kabahaucan, meaning "royal snake in the hand."

People lived in this area starting around the mid-3rd century BCE. Most of the amazing buildings you see today were built much later. They were constructed between the 7th and 11th centuries CE. This was a time when Kabah was very important. One special carving from a building shows a date of 879 CE. This was likely when the city was at its busiest. Another carving shows a date of 987 CE. This is one of the latest dates found in the Classic Maya style.

Exploring Kabah's Amazing Buildings

Palace of the Masks detail. 2002 photo

Map of the Kabah Maya archeological zone

The most famous building at Kabah is the "Palace of the Masks." It is also known as the Codz Poop. This name means "Rolled Matting" because of its unique stone patterns. The front of this palace is covered with hundreds of stone masks. These masks show the long-nosed rain god named Chaac. It's rare to see so many of the same design in Maya art. This makes the Codz Poop very special.

Why Chaac the Rain God Was So Important

You can find masks of the rain god Chaac on many buildings at Kabah. Archaeologists even found copal incense in some of the stone noses! Chaac was very important to the Maya people here. This part of Yucatán does not have natural underground water pools called cenotes. So, the Maya relied completely on rain for their water. They believed Chaac protected their harvests and brought the life-giving rain.

Kabah has many other interesting structures. There are palaces, stone buildings, and step pyramid temples. Most buildings show the Puuc Maya style. Some also have features from the Chenes style. Many carved stone panels, door frames, and decorative beams were found here. Most of these have been moved to museums for safekeeping. These carvings often show the city's leaders. They also show important events like battles.

The first detailed descriptions of Kabah were published in 1843. They were written by John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood.

Different Areas of Kabah

Kabah, Building 1A2. 1971 photo

The "Palace", building 2C2. 2007 photo

Kabah, building 1C1, West facade. 2010 photo

Kabah is a large site with many different building groups. Some groups are on hilltops, like the Northwest Group. These buildings offer views over the rest of the city. The East Group is the largest and most important collection of structures. It includes the famous Codz Poop. These buildings are also the best preserved. They face west, looking out over the central part of the city. Many other building groups are spread out across the site.

Art and Sculptures at Kabah

Archaeologists found many sculptures at Kabah. These include pieces of statues that might show important people or gods. One famous sculpture, called M1, looks like a clenched hand. This might be why the city was named "Kabah," meaning "strong hand."

Kabah also has many altars and temples. Most of the art and buildings are in the Puuc Maya style. However, some pieces show the Chenes style too. Many carved panels and door frames were once part of these buildings. Most of them are now in museums. Kabah boasts more large, impressive buildings than any other site in the Puuc region.

What Archaeologists Found at Kabah

Archaeologists have studied Kabah for many years. In 1955, researchers like Karl Ruppert explored the area. They looked at the types of houses found at Kabah. They wanted to compare them with houses from other ancient cities.

They found that most houses at Kabah had one room. Some were single rooms with a doorway. Others were several single rooms joined together. Each room had its own doorway. Many houses were built on raised areas or terraces. Some were near important ceremonial buildings. Others were separate. These studies help us understand how the ancient Maya lived.