Dzibilnocac

Dzibilnocac is an archaeological Maya site located in Campeche, Mexico near the community of Vicente Guerrero in the Hopelchén Municipality, in the central part of the Chenes region. The initial occupation of the site dates back to the Middle Preclassic period around 500 BC, but it was until the Late Classic period of the Maya civilization when it reached its greatest development becoming a large Maya city in the Chenes region and an important regional political center with its own emblem glyph and control over a large territory.

The main plaza of the site extends over 1.32 km2 with large mounds that still remain buried, pyramids, buildings, rooms and platforms; all of this following a complex urban design. The main structure is an large palatial building in the Chenes architectural style, built on a long platform. The Palace-Temple of Dzibilnocac consists of several chambers and three stepped towers with temples at their top, richly decorated with masks of the rain god Chaac and monumental masks on their facades simulating the open jaws of the Earth Monster or Itzamna, representing a portal to the underworld. Inside the vaulted chambers of this structure were discovered numerous capstones decorated with fine mural paintings with hieroglyphic inscriptions and images of the god K'awiil symbolizing abundance in agriculture and food. The name of Dzibilnocac comes from the Maya language and means Painted Vault as reference to the painted capstones found at the site.