Temple assemblages are planned ceremonial groups found in the Maya Lowlands as well as the Maya Highlands. As defined at Mayapan, these groups include a temple, open hall, oratorio, raised shrine, and statue shrine in particular arrangements. The temple and oratorio generally face to the west. The raised shrine faces into the temple and the statue shrine stands between the raised shrine and temple. The open hall stands at a right angle to the temple. Thus, these assemblages combine varied ritual spaces into a single form.
The temple assemblages of Peten vary slightly from those of Mayapan. In these groups, the raised shrine faces into one side of the open hall rather than the temple. While the temple is still “dominant” (tallest, best constructed, most central), the open hall seems to have been awarded greater emphasis in Peten.
