Kabah is a Mayan archeological site in the Puuc region of Yucatan, Mexico. It is the second largest ruin in the area after Uxmal. The most famous structure at the Kabah is the Palace of the Masks, also known as Codz Poop. The palace’s facade is covered with around 300 stone masks of Chaac, the long-nosed rain god, or the sky serpent according to Mayan mythology. The area had been inhibited in the 3rd century BC, but most works on the site are from the 7th and 11th centuries BC.
Due to its dry climate, lack of water was an important concern for the area people. They were heavily dependent on rain. There are no streams, cenotes, or springs in the area, which is why water-retaining systems were incorporated into many of the structures. For example, aguadas (either natural or human-made ponds) were lined with stucco to act as reservoirs. For these reasons, the rain god Chaac was an important figure in the Mayan culture so they wanted to honor him with these masks.
Codz Poop, another name for the Palace of the Masks, means ”Rolled Matting” and refers to the pattern of the stone mosaics on the facade. This repetition of a single set of elements is unusual in Mayan art and that makes the Palace of the Masks different from other Mayan ruins. Each mask is composed of 30 intricately crafted mosaic stones. They are executed in a Mayan style known as ”Chenes”, in which the facade of the building is covered with ornamental motifs.
