How does one differentiate between “Mayan Temples” and “Mayan Ruins”? Temples and Ruins in modern language have always been mistaken for each other. But in fact, temples are specific structures within a collection of ruins:a part of a whole. Temples where considered the sacred structures where the Kings made important decisions, politicos and philosophers congregated, and structures that were built as homage for the gods.

Notable Mayan Temples include the Temple of Kukulkan in Chichen Itza, Temple I in Tikal, the Temple of Inscriptions in Palenque, and the Coba Temple in Coba. These temples had distinct functions and applications that, contrary to popular belief, had little to do with tombs and religious ceremony. The following is an account of the function of temples to shed light on the difference between Mayan ruins and Temples.