Ek Balam is a name in the Yucatecan Mayan language, formed by the words ek ’, which means black, and in some translations it means “bright star”; and balam, which means “jaguar”. It can then be translated as “dark-jaguar or black-jaguar”. However, some Maya speakers in the region also translate it as “jaguar-star.” According to the narration of Ek ’Balam, written in 1579 by the designated Juan Gutiérrez Picón, it is mentioned that the name of the site comes from a great man called Ek Balam or Coch Cal Balam, who founded and ruled it for 40 years. However, archaeological evidence has not provided us with any proof of the existence of this character. Eventhoug, the emblem glyph found in stone monuments called The Hieroglyphic Serpents, is actually mentioned as the name of the site in the narration.

Located near the colonial city of Valladolid in Yucatan, Mexico, Ek Balam’s most important cultural period was during the Late Classic Period 700 – 1000 A.D