Nestled within the lush landscapes of the Yucatan Peninsula, the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal is an unusual site, combining unique architecture with Mayan mythology. At the heart of this archaeological marvel stands the Pyramid of the Magician, a captivating structure that defies convention with its unique elliptical design.
This exceptional cityscape boasts a rich tapestry of history and legend, with the tale of a dwarf and a witch building the temple and weaving magic and mystique into the very stones of Uxmal.
The Magic Egg
Due to the fact the legend of the Pyramid of the Magician wasn’t documented in ancient texts the only versions of the legend we have are oral retellings that have been passed down over the years by the indigenous Maya people. Exactly how old the stories are, as well as the pyramid’s original name is unknown. There are many different versions of the story with relatively minor variations.
The most well-known and best-recorded version of the legend was told to John Lloyd Stephens, an American explorer, writer, and diplomat who made two visits to the site between 1839 and 1841. It was he who made the pyramid famous in his book, Incidents of Travel in the Yucatan. In 1840 Stephens interviewed a local Maya native and was told the following story.
The story tells how long ago where the pyramid now stands was a hut owned and lived in by an old woman, said to be a witch. This old woman one day began to mourn because she had no children.
Hellbound and Down 