---
title: The Maya Altar at San Gervasio
author: James Blake Wiener
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8310/the-maya-altar-at-san-gervasio/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# The Maya Altar at San Gervasio

_Authored by [James Blake Wiener](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jbw288/)_

## Image File

[![The Maya Altar at San Gervasio](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8310.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8310.jpg)

## Image Caption

This structure had a ceremonial use for the [Maya](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Maya/) people as it lies in the middle of the plaza at San Gervasio, which is located on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. It therefore must have served as a dais from which the speaker addressed the people who would gather here. On can observe two different construction periods for this altar: to the west, there are balustraded steps, completely covered with stucco, which is the oldest part of the construction and dates to the Terminal Classic Period (c. 1000-1200 CE); the later structure, which cover the first one, belongs to the Post Classic Period (1200-1650 CE).

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

James Blake Wiener has a particular interest in cross-cultural exchange and world history. He is a co-founder of World History Encyclopedia and formerly was its Communications Director.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswiener)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Wiener, J. B. (2018, March 14). The Maya Altar at San Gervasio. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8310/the-maya-altar-at-san-gervasio/>
### Chicago
Wiener, James Blake. "The Maya Altar at San Gervasio." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 14, 2018. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8310/the-maya-altar-at-san-gervasio/>.
### MLA
Wiener, James Blake. "The Maya Altar at San Gervasio." *World History Encyclopedia*, 14 Mar 2018, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8310/the-maya-altar-at-san-gervasio/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [James Blake Wiener](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jbw288/ "User Page: James Blake Wiener"), published on 14 March 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.