El Tajín: North Ballcourt and Ballcourt 17 and 27--page 4 (of seven pages)

300-600 C.E.



See map.

North ballcourt

Like the south ball court, relief carvings embellish the walls of the structure. (see below.) However, here the designs are eroded and it is difficult to discern a narrative. Still, the designs are carved in the distinctive style--a double outline in some areas with strong curvilinear qualities.
 
 
 
 

Structure 17 and 27--ballcourt looking south; relief sculpture in the corners



Continue to page 5.

Works consulted or quoted:
Andrew Coe. Archaeological Mexico. Emeryville, CA: Avalon Travel Publishing, 2001.
Michael D. Coe and Rex Koontz. Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs. Fifth Edition. London: Thames & Hudson, 2002.
Mary Ellen Miller. The Art of Mesoamerica: From Olmec to Aztec. Third Edition. London: Thames and Hudson, 2001.



Return to the El Tajín Index


Go to the Mexico Index.

Click here to return to index of art historical sites.

Click here to return to index of artists and architects.

Click here to return to chronological index.

Click here to see the home page of Bluffton University.


© 2009 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.