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MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



was little used. Taking the single rectangular room as 

 the unit of construction the width was limited to the 

 span of the vault, which seldom exceeded twelve feet, 

 while the length was indeterminate. 



The first variation from the temple with one rectan- 

 gular room was the two-roomed structure with one 

 chamber directly behind the other. In this case there 

 were two vaulted compartments separated from each 



Fig. 20. Cross-section of Typical Mayan Temple in Northern 

 Yucatan: a, upper cornice; b, medial cornice; c, upper zone; d, lower 

 zone; e, wooden lintels; /, exterior doorway; g, interior doorway; h, 

 offset at spring of vault; i, cap stone. 



other by a common supporting wall pierced by one or 

 more doorways. The inner room was naturally more 

 dimly lighted than the other one and as a result was 

 modified into a sanctuary, or holy of holies, enhanced by 

 sculptures and paintings, while the outer room devel- 

 oped gradually into a portico. The outer wall was cut 



