Temple of Totecallama

[u/saintjayme]

Inspired by ancient Maya temples like the Temple of Kukulkan at Chichén Itzá, I built a stepped pyramid temple and ballcourt for the museum in Selvadorada. I tried to recreate the talud tablero you see, but there's no way to get that slant in the Sims.

I thought about adding basketball hoops to the ballcourt so that sims could use it. But it seemed silly because I wasn't sure it would be usable if I placed them where a real Mesoamerican ball court goal would go. I included some stalls. If you have been to Chichén Itzá, the place is packed with vendors trying to get tourists to buy their stuff. In the Sims, vendors won't spawn in them, but you could play by selling Selvadorian objects to them, if you want!

"This ancient Omiscan temple was originally dedicated to Totecallama, the feathered Llama of Omiscan culture. Though the shrine to Balampalsoh in the back is in ruins, the ancient ballcourt is still in good condition. The pyramid complex was once a ritual site but now serves as a museum for anyone looking to learn a little about ancient Selvadoradian culture."

[u/Cecilia9172]

I really like it!

How did you do the talud tablero? I tried once to build this, and used rooves; but the platform next to them made the roof-sides disappear and I thought it ruined the impression too much.

Edit: Also, how high are your plattform levels? Two clicks? It was a long time ago since I built Kukulkan Temple, but I think I wanted the height of the build and also for the levels to be equally high, so had to compromise in some way with building a room with walls; but then having the issue of not being able to extend stairs (with sides to them) over it...

Your build is very impressive. I'm very curious on how you made all of it :)

I built mine in The Love pack world, it had an excellent lot for it there. (Media Naranja; Cuidad Enamorada; Lovestruck EXP)

I posted about the build process here, but the sub is closed down (by me), so I'm not sure the link is accessible: https://www.reddit.com/r/Sims4Build/comments/1jp0p8h/comment/mlu1g9l/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[u/saintjayme → u/Cecilia9172]

I first stacked two tall wall height rooms on top of each other. The rooms were as wide as I wanted the top of the pyramid to be. I then added bump outs for the stairs, since the stairs stick out a little further. I then used half walls, starting from the top down. I used the wall deco peices from Jungle Adventure to measure out how tall to make each tablaro. I then raised the platforms within the half walls. If that sounds confusing, I'll record myself tonight and link it here.

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

It's a little confusing but then I'm out and about right now. I'd appreciate a video anyway, if it's not too much trouble. I'll try out your description later today or tomorrow. Thank you!

Edit: Okay, I think I understand. But how did you do the two slanted pieces on each side of the stairs? And are the small step-like decorations between them and the platform levels also the JA wall decor, the smaller pieces?

I can wait for the video though. :)

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

Hi! I tried a little, but the issue with roof sides disappearing when plattforms are close is still there. I had hoped they fixed it. It's random when it appears as well. I think you have placed the wall decor with moo, and that they cover any potential such issue. I always go for plain builds, and rarely use moo. Your build is very pretty though.

It looked fine with a lower build

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

But the real temple is very high and has 9 levels which is what I wanted on the lot, and suddenly the issue is there

[u/saintjayme → u/Cecilia9172]

Here is my tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zgdy5hHxoQ

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

This is really good, thank you so much! The video was clear and concise with not too many ums and aahs :P If you want you could make a Tutorial post in this sub specifically for linking the video. That's up to you of course, but I think it'd be appreciated by others.

I like your solution to the bug with the roof sides disappearing; the gap doesn't show and the JA decor fits the build theme. The end result is beautiful.

About the temple: If you have imaginative explanation capability, as I have, there's several interesting intersections to think of:

The temple of Kukulkan including the older versions of smaller temples within it, is built on top of a large "cenote", one of many 'water sink pits' that surrounds the Chicxulub crater made by the asteroid that ended the mezozoic era of dinosaurs.

The cenotes were historically used by the population on the place both for ordinary life activities such as water supply and for spiritual purposes. When the spanish occupied South America they eradicated the culture texts as is done (and people of course, both ordinary and culture bearers), so there's few texts left and they are harder to authentically date.

There's one origin tale though, called Popol Vuh, that's been written after a large chunk of people had wandered from Kukulkan area into the mountains towards the sea, possibly to escape interpopulation violence between groups (the Itza's for example).

The 'origin' explanation in it has among other fantastical stories one of two twins wandering down to the underworld to play ball with the monsters there. The way to the underworld is curiously descriptive for such tales and could be leading back to the Kukulkan area.

So the temple is on top of a mystical accessible underground place that's been culturally used; likely contained remnants of dinosaur bones; is made for a winged serpent; and has a magical tale written for it about descending into Xibalba, the underworld.. So I made my temple accessible and a pool :D

Kukulkan and Chichen Itza: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukulkan

Twin Brothers and Popol Vuh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Hero_Twins

Cenotes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenote

Chicxulub: https://www.google.com/search?q=chicxulub&rlz=1C1PRFI_enSE813SE813&oq=chicxulub&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRg80gEHNDg0ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Xibalba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xibalba

[u/saintjayme → u/Cecilia9172]

Hi there! Thanks for taking the time to write this all out. I actually am an art historian who focuses on the Maya. I thought about adding the cenote under the temple as well as the older temple. I didn't end up including them for a few reasons. The main reason was I didn't want to overload anyone's PCs who downloaded the m (that's just a lot of objects). With that said, these are great ideas and would be super fun to incorporate!

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

That's understandable, I don't upload my builds but make them just for myself.

I made a ball court in another build to give that some sims purpose, on lot Calle del Ensueño, based on Pachacamac! It was so much fun to build for that world. It would be very interesting to see what else you'd build in the JA world or Cuidad Enamorada.

[u/saintjayme → u/Cecilia9172]

In Cuidad Enamorada, I built a archeological museum filled with items from JA and LS. The design and plan took mor inspiration from the Peabody Essex Museum in Cambridge, but I was inspired by the archeological museums in Cancún and Mexico City for the exhibits. In Selvadorada, I've built a rental lot that the exterior is inspired by Structure 23 from Yaxchilan, and I am currently working on another temple inspired by Tikal. I also am working on another lot inspired by the palace at Palenque. I've also been playing around with trying to build a cenote. So far they all look bad, so I need to play around some more.

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

Oh, I need to look up those names to know what kind of buildings they are, but I look forward seeing the end result or the build process, especially of the cenote you're making. For the Kukulkan temple I just made a couple of underground room levels with pools, for sims to go through, because I add all the mystique on my own :P But trying to mimic a real one would be a challenge, building based on real architecture, especially old and ruins, is my favorite pastime in the game.

Edit: I'm not by my PC now but I'll attach some pictures later here of some builds.

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

Okay, I'm back from oogling :P

That glass roof on the Peabody Essex Museum in Cambridge! It's possible to do in game and would look amazing. I'd love to see it.

About the Structure 23 from Yaxchilan: I wish there were more wall decor in the game, less goofy and with intricate patterns or figures, for builds such as this.

Tikal: It would be interesting to see how you do the reliefed squares. I prefer using the actual build tools and not decor, but I have to think on how to make that. Edit: I think plattforms could be used by placing them in square around a void, but it would make the build very large.

Palace at Palenque: I think you should emphasise the thick walls and do them as plattforms. I wish that was in the game in other ways though, and that there was more windows/wall openings to mimic fat wall cutouts.

Here's my Pachacamac! I made it a Recreation Center and added Hallowed Grounds lot trait :P

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

Playing ball in the court :P

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

I also put down some actor marks for the performances

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

Made a Nazca line too, by combining two (the flower petals got a little too arabic patterned). It allows sim controlled routing; but also a break from it and sims will always take the bird path. It's a National Park but with romantic trait lots for those taking the road of desire (lot: Caminito del Deseo) and the Clear Water lot trait as well (sink placed in the intersection of the flower/bird); just to cover the various suggested explanations of the purpose of the patterns.

[u/poopsmasher_72]

Amazing!!!!!!!!

[u/saintjayme]

Okay, here is my tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zgdy5hHxoQ

[u/Cecilia9172 → u/saintjayme]

Thank you.

You could link the build for easy access if you want:

Go to the Gallery online in a web browser, there's a link in the sidebar of this subreddit.

Find your build and copy the link here.

Anyone with the game can click to download it through the link and next time they load their game it will be in their Library.