Welcome To Tulum
The Mayans created one of the great cultures of Mesoamerica during the pre-Hispanic era, building ceremonial centers where they developed mathematics, astronomy and the calendar, hieroglyphoc wititng, architecture and various aspects of art and culture. Their territory stretched over what are now the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Tabasco and eastern Chiapas in Mexico, most of Guatemala, Belize and the west of Honduras and El Salvador.
Tulum stands upon a cliff overlooking the Caribbean on the coast of Quintana Roo. As the most important Maya archaeological site on the coast, it is 127 kilometers south of Cancun and 47 kilometers southeast of Coba. The city, defended by a wall on three sides and by the sea on the forth, arose and grew between the 12th and 16th centuries A.D., in the Postclasic period.
Tulum means fence, trench, or wall, and is the name given to the site in recent times because of the wall surrounding it, although its ancient name was possibly "Zama", a corruption of "Zamal"(morning), associated with the dawn. This is an ideal name for the site, as sunrise in Tulum is a superb sight.
The inhabitants of Tulum were devided into three social strata: the ruling class, who devoted themselves to goverment, religion, war and trade; the middle class, which included the assistants of the ruling class and craftsmen, and the lower class, consisting of farmers, fishermen, and hunters. The members of the first two classes lived inside the walled area. The lower class, which was the largest, lived outside the wall.
Religion was very important, as demonstrated by the numerous alters, temples, and shrines in Tulum. Remains of mural paintings and other works show military and religious subjects, especially the Decending God, propitiatory crermonies for rain and good harvest, and the worship of other deities associated with the fertility of the Earth.
The beauty of Tulum is one that can not be expressed in words. The Only true way to appreciate all that Tulum has to offer is to see it in person.
Temple of the Wind
Tulum Overview
Tulum Overview 2
The Castle
Other Sights
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