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Question for April 2015

Why did [Maya] houses have no windows?? Asked by Chalfont St. Giles Junior School. Chosen and answered by Professor Anthony Aveni

Because they were air conditioned and plenty of light came in through open doors on either side. If you live in the tropics a thatched hut allows air to flow in and out through narrow openings between the reeds and poles that make up your house. Also when you live in a tropical climate you spend most of your time outdoors. You enter your hut at night to sleep. You even go to church outdoors, worshiping in an open plaza in front of a temple rather than in a damp enclosed stone cathedral. Instead of looking up at stained glass you see your god(s) words inscribed on the facade of the temple you face. So, where you live makes a big difference on the kind of architecture you develop.

Panellist Professor Elizabeth Graham adds:-
Some had windows in that they had openings, but they had no glass. Most people did all their work outside anyway, so where they slept in hammocks they had doors but didn’t really need openings in the walls. Too many mosquitoes.

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Drawn specially for Mexicolore by Steve Radzi.

‘Why didn’t Aztec houses have doors?’

Comments (1)

m

maisieand lilllly

26th Sep 2022

how did the people tell the time

M

Mexicolore

Basically by following the position of the sun during the day. Conch trumpets were blown at key times (dawn, midday, dusk, midnight...)

Professor Anthony Aveni

Professor Anthony Aveni

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