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Tikal Temple IV is a Mesoamerican pyramid in the ruins of the ancient Maya city of Tikal in modern Guatemala. It was one of the tallest and most voluminous buildings in the Maya world.〔Morales et al 2008, p.421.〕 The pyramid was built around 741 AD.〔 Temple IV is located at the western edge of the site core.〔 Two causeways meet at the temple; the Tozzer Causeway runs east to the Great Plaza, while the Maudslay Causeway runs northeast to the Northern Zone.〔 Temple IV is the tallest pre-Columbian structure still standing in the New World, although Teotihuacan's Pyramid of the Sun may once have been taller.〔 The pyramid was built to mark the reign of the 27th king of the Tikal dynasty, Yik'in Chan K'awiil, although it may have been built after his death as his funerary temple.〔Sharer and Traxler 2006, pp.304, 403.〕 Archaeologists believe that Yik'in Chan K'awiil's tomb lies undiscovered somewhere underneath the temple.〔Sharer and Traxler 2006, p.417.〕 The summit shrine faces eastward to the site core, with Temple III visible directly in front and Temple I and Temple II beyond it.〔 ==The structure== The pyramid has a rectangular base with its long axis running north-south.〔 It stands from its supporting platform to the highest part of the roof comb.〔Coe 1967, 1988, p.80.〕 Archaeologists estimate that of construction material were utilised in the bulk of the pyramid.〔 The temple faces eastwards towards the site core and supports a massive roof comb in pure Petén style, which was built upon the highest part of the structure's rear. It was hollow and was faced with an enormous mosaic sculpture.〔 The architecture of Temple IV is broadly similar to that of the other major temples at Tikal, such as Temple I and Temple II.〔 The pyramid body itself, excluding the superstructure, consists of seven stepped levels with slanting ''talud'' walls and multiple corners. The lowest of these levels measures , whilst the uppermost platform measures . The pyramid was built on top of an enormous supporting platform that measures ; this platform had two levels and rounded corners; it was accessed via a wide projecting stairway. The supporting platform was of very high-quality and utilised enormous stones in its construction.〔 The summit shrine was accessed via a wide stairway that climbed from the supporting platform; a plain stela (Stela 43) and the associated Altar 35 are centrally located at the base of the stairway.〔Coe 1967, 1988, p.80. Morales et al 2008, p.422.〕 The shrine has been partially restored and has walls up to thick. The shrine was built upon a platform resting upon a supplementary platform, which was in turn seated upon the top of the pyramid.〔 The supplementary platform measures with the longer axis running north-south. A stairway projects eastwards from this, giving access to the shrine itself. The supplementary platform is not exactly rectangular but consists of a number of architectural elements forming a complex plan. The platform resting on top of this measures high; this element is poorly preserved, being visible only on the east side and in the middle of the north and south sides.〔 The roof comb is high and consists of three distinct levels. The massive bulk of the roof comb was lightened by internal chambers, with four being built into each of the three levels. The roof comb was originally somewhat taller as evidenced by the bases of three smaller architectural elements on top.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tikal Temple IV」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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