Izamal is a small city in Yucatán state, Mexico, 72 km (about 40 miles) East of Mérida, Yucatán, at 20°93′ N 89°02′ W. Izamal has been continuously occupied for thousands of years. Population estimated at 15,000 people in 2000. It is known in Yucatan as "The Yellow City" (for customarily most of its buildings are painted that color) and "The City of Hills" (though most of the "hills" are probably the remains of ancient temple pyramids). The Yucatán Peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. ... The United Mexican States or Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos or México) is a federal republic made up of 31 states (estados) and one Federal District, (Distrito Federal), which contains the capital, Mexico City. ... Cathedral on the Plaza Mayor, the oldest in North America [1]. Mérida is the capital city of the state of Yucatán, Mexico. ... This article is about the year 2000. ...

Izamal was an important site of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It was sacred to the creator deity Itzamna and to the Sun God Kinich Ahau. Izamal was a site of pilgrimage in the region rivaled only by Chichen Itza. The term Pre-Columbian is used to refer to the cultures of the New World in the era before significant European influence. ... The Maya are people of southern Mexico and northern Central America (Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras, and El Salvador) with some 3,000 years of history. ... Maya mythology refers to the pre-Columbian Maya civilizations extensive polytheistic religious beliefs. ... The Sun is the star at the centre of our Solar system. ... Maya mythology refers to the pre-Columbian Maya civilizations extensive polytheistic religious beliefs. ... Pilgrim at Mecca A pilgrimage is a term primarily used in religion and spirituality of a long journey or search of great moral significance. ... Temple of the Warriors Chichen Itza is the largest of the Pre-Columbian archaeological sites in Yucat n, Mexico. ...

Two huge Pre-Columbian structures are still easily visible at Izamal (and from some distance away in all directions). The first is a great pyramid to the Maya Sun God, Kinch Kak Mo, with a base covering over 2 acres (8,000 m²) of ground and a volume of some 700,000 cubic meters. Atop this grand base is a pyramid of 10 levels. (A great stucco mask still existed on one side as recently as the 1840s, and a drawing of it by Frederick Catherwood was published by John Lloyd Stephens.) The second structure is the so called "acropolis", known anciently as Popol Chac, a large man-made mound probably built up over several centuries and originally supporting city palaces and temples. After the Spanish conquest of Yucatán in the 16th century a Spanish colonial city was founded atop the existing Maya one, however it was decided that it would take a prohibitively large amount of work to level these two huge structures and so the Spanish contented themselves with placing a small Christian temple atop the great pyramid and building a large Franciscan Monastery atop the acropolis. It was named after San Antonio de Padua. Completed in 1561, the atrium of the Monastery was second in size only to that at the Vatican. Much of the cut stone from the Pre-Columbian city was reused to build the Spanish churches, monastery, and surrounding buildings. Events and Trends Technology First use of anaesthesia in an operation, by Crawford Long War, peace and politics First signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) on February 6, 1840 at Waitangi New Zealand. ... Frederick Catherwood (February 27, 1799 - September 20, 1854) was an English artist and architect, best remembered for his explorations of ruins of the Maya civilization. ... John Lloyd Stephens (November 28, 1805–October 13, 1852) was a American explorer, writer, and diplomat. ... The Spanish Conquest of Yucatán was a long and involved process taking some 170 years to complete. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Christianity is an artificial religion (as opposed to Natural religion or Paganism) which claims to be monotheistic and is based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament writings of his early followers. ... The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. ... Saint Anthony of Padua Saint Anthony of Padua, also venerated as Anthony of Lisbon, particularly in Portugal (August 15, 1195 - June 13, 1231) is a Catholic saint born in Lisbon as Fernando de Bulhões, to a wealthy family. ... Events The Edict of Orleans suspends the persecution of the Huguenots. ...

Izamal remains a place of pilgrimage within Yucatán, now for the veneration of Roman Catholic saints. Several saints statues at Izamal are said to perform miracles. An early colonial era statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception is particularly venerated, and is the city's patron saint. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ... According to many religions, a miracle, derived from the old Latin word miraculum meaning something wonderful, is a striking interposition of divine intervention by God in the universe by which the operations of the ordinary course of Nature are overruled, suspended, or modified. ...

History

Little archeological work has been done at Izamal, but it is known that it was already an important city by the start of the Classic era about 200 AD, and over 80 archaeologically important structures have been mapped here. For other uses, see number 200. ...

Izamal was the first chair of the Bishops of Yucatán before they were moved to Merida. The forth Bishop of Yucatán, Diego de Landa lived here. A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... Diego de Landa ( 1524 - 1579) was Bishop of the Yucatán. ...

The town of Izamal was first granted the status of city by the government of Yucatán on 4 December 1841. On 13 August 1923 it was demoted to town status. It was again officially ranked as a city on 1 December 1981. City lights from space. ... December 4 is the 338th day (339th on leap years) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... A street in Ynysybwl, Wales, relatively stereotypical of a small town A town is usually an urban area which is not considered to rank as a city. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1975 the Mexican official in charge of land redistribution was repeatedly accused of political corruption; letters of complaint were sent from citizens of Izamal to Mérida and Mexico City with no response. The official was found stoned to death under a large pile of rocks in the town's main square. A Mexican army unit occupied the town for some days after the incident, but investigators failed to find anyone in town who knew anything about what happened. 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse of public office for private gain. ... Mexico City (Spanish: Ciudad de México) is the name of a megacity located in the Valley of Mexico (Valle de México), a large valley in the high plateaus (altiplano) at the center of Mexico, about 2,240 metres (7,349 feet) above sea-level, surrounded on most sides...

Pope John Paul II visited Izamal in August 1993, where he performed a mass for the Native Americans and presented the statue of the Virgin with a silver crown. Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), born Karol Józef Wojtyła (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005), reigned as pope of the Catholic Church for almost 27 years, from 16 October 1978 until his death, making his the third-longest reign in the history of the Papacy according to the... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ...

Izamal today

The Maya language is still heard at least as much as Spanish in Izamal. It is the first language in the homes of the majority of the people. Most signs are in both languages. The Mayan languages are a family of related languages spoken from South-Eastern Mexico through northern Central America as far south as Honduras. ...

Major Fiestas are held in Izamal on April 3, May 3, August 15, and December 8. April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Photos

Convent as viewed from atop Kinich Kak Mo pyramid
larger photo

Church facade Izamal: Convent from Kinich Kak Mul pyramid. ... Chuch fascade, Izamal; Photo by Infrogmation, 1977 or 1980. ...

Arcade with pyramid in background
larger photo Izamal, arcade, with Pre-Columbian pyramid in background. ...

External link

• Izamal's monastery on colonial-mexico.com with photos and a map of the center of town
• Izamal on yucatantoday.com