Temple

==Mesoamerican temples==
{{main|Mesoamerican pyramids}}
[[File:Chichen Itza 2.jpg|thumb|[[El Castillo, Chichen Itza|Temple of Kukulcan]] in [[Chichen Itza]] located on top of Kukulcan pyramid.]]
Temples of the [[Mesoamerican]] civilization usually took the shape of [[Mesoamerican pyramids|stepped pyramids]] with temples or shrines on top of the massive structure. They are more akin to the ziggurats of Mesopotamia than to Egyptian ones. A single or several flight(s) of steep steps from the base lead to the temple that stood on the plateau on top of the pyramid. The stone temple might be a square or a rounded structure with a door opening leading to a cella or inner sanctum. The plateau on top of the pyramid in front of the temple is where the ritualistic sacrifice took place.

Some classic Mesoamerican pyramids are adorned with stories about the feathered serpent [[Quetzalcoatl]] or [[Mesoamerican creation myths]], written in the form of hieroglyphs on the rises of the steps of the pyramids, on the walls, and on the sculptures contained within.<ref>{{Cite book |title = Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs |last = Koontz|first = Rex |publisher = Thames and Hudson|year = 2013 |isbn = 9780500290767 |location = New York, New York}}
</ref> Notable example include [[Aztec]] [[Santa Cecilia Acatitlan|Acatitlan]] and [[Maya civilization|Mayan]] [[Chichen Itza]], [[Uxmal]] and [[Tikal]].