Why was one of the most developed Mayan cities deserted in the twelfth century, Chichen Itza, no one knows: the policy of the Spanish conquistadors was aimed at the complete destruction of paganism, providing for the burning of manuscripts and the murder of priests, who, perhaps, could tell something about the mysterious past of their people. Therefore, the memory of this amazing city in Mexico has come down to us only in stones.
Chichen Itza on the map is located in Mexico, 120 km southeast of Merida, the capital of the Yucatan Peninsula, and is currently not only one of the most famous cities of the Mayan period, but not without reason it is considered a new wonder of the world.
Previously, this settlement was called differently - "Uukil-abnal" ("Seven Bushes"). Chichen Itza received its present name a little later, when the fame of the well, in which sacrifices were carried out, spread to the nearby regions, as a result of which the city was renamed into the "Well of the Itza tribe": "chi" meant "mouth", "chen" - "well "And" Itza "- this was the name of one of the Mayan tribes who founded the settlement.
The city of Chichen Itza was quite large at that time: its area was about 10 square meters. km. Despite the fact that only ruins remain of most of the buildings, some structures (mostly of a cult nature) have survived well and are of great interest not only to scientists and researchers, but also to many inhabitants of our planet.
Researchers divide the life of this amazing wonder of the world in Mexico into two stages.
Mayan culture period (VI-VII centuries)
Uukil-abnal was founded by representatives of the Mayan tribe, who arrived on the peninsula from the south of the continent, according to one version in the middle of the 5th century, according to the other, two centuries later. Since the Maya were very well versed in astronomy, Chichen Itza was built taking into account the position of various astronomical bodies in the sky, which played an important role in their beliefs and traditions (for this purpose, they even built an observatory in the city).
The inhabitants of the city were considered excellent craftsmen and skillful artists (as evidenced by the found sculptures of gods, various crafts, as well as bas-reliefs with plant and geometric ornaments).
Toltec period (X-XI century)
In the tenth century, Chichen Itza came under the rule of the Toltecs (one of the tribes of the Uto-Aztec language group), as a result of which the number of inhabitants increased sharply, presumably to 20-30 thousand people.
The culture of this people could not but influence both the architecture of the city and its religion: the Toltecs practiced frequent human sacrifices, an example of which can be a well, at the bottom of which a huge number of human remains were found, mainly men and children.
True, the Toltecs did not stay here for long: they left the city after the defeat of their troops in 1178. And fourteen years later, Chichen Itza was completely abandoned by the inhabitants, began to collapse, and by the time the Spaniards appeared in Mexico, only ruins remained from it.
Acoustics of Chichen Itza
All buildings in Chichen Itza are positioned in such a way that they create an amazing acoustic effect that amplifies the sound many times over. This is especially noticeable at the stadium of the ancient Toltecs: if the people who were in the temples located on opposite sides of the field wanted to talk to each other, they could calmly do it without fear that someone would hear them (of course, if they did not stand by )!
This "telephone" effect was discovered by chance and what knowledge should have been locals to achieve it, scientists are not yet able to explain.
The most notable Mayan buildings
All the main structures of Chichen Itza are located on the very large area, in the center of which the temple of the main deity of the city, Kukulkan, was erected.
Pyramid
The most notable building of Chichen Itza is famous pyramid Kukulkan, the feathered serpent, the supreme god of winds and rains. It was erected on the foundation of an earlier structure. The height of the pyramid is 30 meters, the length of each side is 55 m. Each side of the pyramid is oriented to one of the cardinal points.
The pyramid has nine tiers. Above there is a temple with a height of 6 meters - sacrifices were performed on it. You can climb to the temple by one of four staircases, each of which expands upward, creating an optical illusion of a completely flat staircase.
These stairs divide each side of the pyramid in two - thus, the number of tiers on each side in total is equal to eighteen (this is how many months are in the Mayan calendar year). Each staircase has 91 steps. Scientists noticed that if you multiply their number by the number of stairs and add the top floor, you get 365 - that is how many days a calendar year has.
This pyramid is notable for the fact that during the spring and autumn equinox, the god himself, Kukulkan, crawls along it, thus showing people a real miracle.
The sun's rays fall on one of the sides of the Kukulkan temple so that, thanks to the play of light and shadow, seven equilateral triangles appear on it. These figures form the body of a huge snake 37 m long, which, as the sun moves, crawls down the pyramid to its head, which is at the base of the stairs. You can watch the movement of this wonder of the world for 3 hours and 22 minutes.
Inside the pyramid, archaeologists found several secret rooms, one of which contained a throne carved out of stone in the shape of a jaguar, painted orange (Jaguar Mat).
The eyes and spots of the beast are made of jade, and the claws were carved by ancient craftsmen from volcanic stone. A figure was discovered here, which archaeologists later named Chuck Mool.
It depicts a person holding a dish with gifts intended for the gods, and is located opposite the door leading to the Temple of the Warriors and, judging by the deciphered records, was the symbol of Chichen Itza.
Temple of Warriors
The Temple of the Warriors is on the west side central square and was erected on a low four-tier pyramid, the base of which was 40 x 40 m. On the walls of the temple you can see images of sacred animals carved from stone, and the figure of the main god of the city, Kukulkan, crowns it.
There are several spacious halls inside the building, and the entrance is decorated with massive columns in the form of snakes, the heads of which are below, and their tails are directed to the sky. Behind the serpents are four giants (Atlanteans) holding a stone altar.
Colonnades
Near the Temple of the Warriors, you can see a platform with four rows of columns, each of which is three meters long. Each column is decorated with embossed images of Indian warriors (because of this, the nearby temple got its name). According to the assumptions of some scholars, in former times a reed roof was installed on these pillars, under which the city's bazaar was located.
Observatory Karakol
Chichen Itza had its own observatory - a circular structure towering on a double stone platform with small windows through which the priests had the opportunity to observe the starry sky. Inside the observatory there is a spiral staircase resembling a shell, which is why the building got its name ("Karakol" means "snail").
Ball courts
In the ancient city, there were about 12 courts for ball games (pot-ta-pok). The largest of them was built no later than 864 AD, was 135 m long, 68 - wide, and the height of its walls was 12 meters (while the rings, where the Maya had to throw the ball, were fixed at the level of eight meters).
On each side of the stadium there were four temples, each of which was oriented to a particular side of the world.
The Indians played with a rubber ball weighing about four kilograms - you could beat it off with a stone bat, and touch it with any part of the body, except for the arms and legs. This game was hard, cruel, lasted several hours (the rings were located high enough to get into them so easily) and ended with sacrifices: the captain of the losing team was beheaded right in the stadium, sacrificing to the sun god.
How the whole process of the game took place can be judged by the knocked out scenes on the bas-reliefs of the stadium (for example, here you can see a decapitated player, near whom his executioner raises his severed head).
Well
Another attraction, which became famous for Chichen Itza and in honor of which the city got its name, is a natural well, which served for sacrifices, about 50 meters deep. You can get to it along a three-hundred-meter paved road, the width of which is ten meters.
The well is striking in its size:
- The diameter of the well is 60 meters;
- Depth - 82 meters;
- The water starts at a depth of 20 meters from the edge.
This well was sacred: people were thrown into it. Despite the fact that in former times it was believed that this fate befell the young beautiful girls, the divers, having descended to the bottom, refuted this hypothesis, having lifted from the bottom about 50 skeletons, which belonged mainly to men and children. Why they were sacrificed - Chichen Itza keeps this secret so far.
Kukulkan: the right side of the pyramid has been restored, the left has not been restored Karakol - ancient Observatory
Chichen Itza is a city of the Mayan civilization, well preserved from antiquity, built in accordance with the religious beliefs of this people. We can immediately say that all Mayan cities were built taking into account the positions of the heavenly bodies and stars.
Once the city of Chichen Itza was the center of the culture of several Indian peoples. Its name is translated as "a place at the well of the Itza tribe." Such peoples as Maya, Toltecs, Itza left their mark in the city of Chichen Itza.
Now this city in Mexico is the object of the world cultural heritage UNESCO.
Where is Chichen Itza located?
This seventh wonder of the world is located in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Ancient city Chichen Itza removed 205 kilometers from famous resort Cancun and 120 kilometers from Merida. Not far from it (1.5 kilometers) is the small town of Piste.
Popularity of the ancient city
Chichen Itza is one of the most popular places in the Yucatan and in Mexico in general. It is in second place in terms of attendance among the ancient cities, ahead only of Teotihuacan ().
It is estimated that the number of tourists who visit this archaeological site exceeds a million per year. A huge influx was observed here in December 2012, because it was at this time that the Mayan calendar was supposed to end. Many people wanted to spend the end of the world in the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza.
Currently, you can come to Chichen Itza with a 1-day excursion from both Cancun and Merida.
City `s history
The beginning of the history of the city dates back to the 6th century AD. Then it was one of largest cities Mayan civilization. The southern part of the ancient city was built in accordance with the traditions of the Mayan people.
In the 10th century, the city after the capture was dominated by the Toltecs, who arrived here from Central Mexico. Later, from about half of the 11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital and center of the Toltec state.
Bloody sacrifices began here precisely because of this people. All Northern part the city bears witness to their presence. A century later, the city was defeated by a huge army, which included the warriors of three states - Uxmal, Mayapan, Itzmal.
Chichen Itza was defeated by the ruler Hunak Keel. Later the city was deserted and turned into ruins (this is how the Europeans discovered it).
Many treasures were stolen by the Spanish and the manuscripts destroyed.
Therefore, very little can be said about history, but it is assumed that if it were not for the actions of the Europeans, archaeologists could have discovered many unique finds. In 1923, archaeological excavations began in Mexico, and now about 6 square kilometers of the ancient city is on the surface.
Pyramid of Kukulkan in the city of Chichen Itza
The very first structure that strikes the eye is the huge pyramid of Kukulkan. It is the center of the city of Chichen Itza. In Spanish, it is called El Castillo, that is, "castle".
The total height of the Kukulkan pyramid is 24 meters. The pyramid has nine tiers, and a temple is located at the very top.
Kukulkan, like any pyramid, has 4 faces, which are directed to 4 cardinal directions. And on each side, a wide staircase leads upstairs, which are decorated with snake heads below.
The path leads to the main northern staircase of the pyramid. To go up, you must overcome a certain number of steps - there are 91 of them.
Interestingly, the total number of steps on the pyramid, including the upper platform, is 365, that is, an equal number of days in a year.
Such a coincidence suggests that this pyramid may have a certain relation to the calendar, or it has significance in astronomical terms.
At the very top is a temple where sacrifices were performed in ancient times.
Studies have shown that great pyramid was built on top of even more ancient pyramid, into which there is a hole in the floor of the sanctuary.
In the hidden rooms of the Kukulkan pyramid, archaeologists have discovered two main antiquities: the "Jaguar Mat" and the figure of Chaak Mool, the rain god.
- "Jaguar Mat"- is a stone throne in the shape of a jaguar, the paint on it is fiery red, it is a symbol of the power of the ruler of the city. The very first owner of this throne, according to legend, was Quetzalcoatl. The spots on the animal body and the animal's eyes are made of jade. The fangs are carved from volcanic stone.
- - made for ritual purposes. She has a flat bowl on her belly, on which the victim's heart was placed, for subsequent burning.
The second name of the building of Kukulkan is the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent (the most accurate translation: the feathered serpent). First, this pyramid and temple are dedicated to this deity. Secondly, the name is associated with a specific phenomenon.
Light illusion of Kukulkana - a play of shadows on the edges of the pyramid
Every year at the equinox, an event takes place here that attracts people to Mexico. At 3 pm, the pyramid is illuminated so that the staircase casts a shadow - a series of triangles that collectively resemble a snake's tail.
During the movement of the luminary in the firmament, the triangles alternately extinguish, thus, it seems that this is the tail of a huge serpent, 37 meters long, moving downward.
Now this phenomenon can be seen not only on certain days, there is a light show every evening.
Kukulkan: the right side of the pyramid has been restored, the left has not been restored
Find out more about the pyramid of Kukulkan on our website -
Temples of the ancient city of Chichen Itza
The Temple of the Warriors, like the Temple of the Jaguars, are important buildings in the city of Chichen Itza. Both stand on small pyramids with 4 steps. Both have many murals.
Temple of Warriors
The Temple of Warriors is located on the western side of the Kikulkan pyramid. It has four platforms, and on three sides around it you can see rows of three-meter stone columns. They are called the "Group of a Thousand Columns".
The pillars are skillfully carved from stone, and represent the Toltec warriors, as if standing in formation. Once they supported the roof.
On the south side of the temple there is a small building called the Market.
The upper sanctuary also once had a roof, now it is not, and at the top there are two "snakes" that guarded the passage to the temple.
There is also a statue of a man in a reclining position on the platform. This is Chaak Mool - the rain god.
The Jaguar Temple has two shrines: the upper and the lower. The upper elite watched the game on the pitch.
At the entrance to the lower sanctuary, you can see the figure of the jaguar, thanks to which the temple got its name.
Another structure is called the Temple or the tomb of the great priest. During the time of the Maya, he played an important role.
Externally, the structure is similar to other temples with pyramids. But its difference is that inside there is a passage to the cave underground. Ancient burials of noble people were discovered there.
The second name of this structure is Osuari, in other words the crypt.
Other attractions
In addition to temples, the city of Chichen Itza has other interesting places.
The Sacred Cenote is a huge well. Its diameter is approximately 60 meters, and the depth of the well is 50 meters. There is water in it, from edge to surface about 20 meters.
The well served as the place where the sacrificed young girls were thrown. Therefore, the second name of this object is the Death Well.
Ball fields
There are 9 ball courts on the territory of the archaeological complex. This game was somewhat like modern basketball, only they played it with a heavy rubber ball, you could only hit it with your hip. Instead of ordinary baskets, they are attached to the walls stone rings.
The found sites are quite large, the largest is located in the northern part of the complex. Its dimensions: length - 160 meters, width - 70. The entire field is surrounded by eight-meter walls, which depict scenes of torment of the losing players and many skulls.
Karakol Tower - Ancient Observatory
One more ancient structure- Karakol. This is a tower on two platforms, it was used to observe celestial astronomical objects. It is often called the Observatory.
Karakol - ancient observatory
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Chichen Itza is the grandiose center of the Mayan-Toltec civilization, which has absorbed the knowledge, beliefs and ideas of these peoples about the universe and the world around them. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the pyramid of Kukulkan located here has been declared one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Entrance to the territory - 220 MXN, the cost of guide services - 750 MXN. Prices on the page are for November 2019.
Access is open from 8:00 to 17:00.
History and culture
The history of the city can be roughly divided into two periods: the first lasted from the 7th to the 10th century, when it belonged to the Maya, the second came in the 10th century after the Toltecs conquered the territory. In the middle of the 11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital of the Toltec state, and in 1178 it was defeated by the united army of the rebellious Mayan tribe from three cities: Mayapan, Uxmal and Itzmal. For a reason that remained an unsolved mystery, at the end of the 12th century, the city was finally deserted. The buildings of Chichen Itza were gradually covered with a continuous carpet of thickets of tropical plants, until archaeological and restoration work began here in 1920.
The Toltecs worshiped a deity named Quetzacoatl or Kukulkan in the Mayan language, which means "feathered serpent", whose images are side by side here with the rain god Chak.
Currently, Chichen Itza is the most fully and qualitatively restored Mayan city, attracting a huge number of tourists every year.
Where is and how to get to Chichen Itza
From Merida in 1 hour 45 minutes and 200 MXN you will be taken by a first class bus. The second class will cost 120 MXN, the travel time is 2.5 hours. From Cancun it will be, respectively, 290 MXN and 2.5 hours for the first class and 200 MXN and 4.5 hours for the second.
- How to build a route between Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Ek Balam
Shopping
On the territory of the complex a large number of merchants offering various souvenirs and crafts. Be careful: besides the fact that they are intrusive and will try to attract attention by any means, their goods are often of very poor quality.
There are also several shops where you can buy souvenirs, clothing and jewelry.
Popular hotels in Chichen Itza
Excursions, activities and attractions of Chichen Itza
Unfortunately, since the beginning of 2006, climbing the structures has been prohibited, with the exception of a few specially marked places. Don't forget your hat and sunglasses - there is practically no shade in the daytime. And, of course, you can't do without comfortable shoes.
In the evening, the city is illuminated by the lights of a sound and light show, during which a fairy tale narration in Spanish takes place. The night landscape leaves an unforgettable impression, but be prepared for the fact that you will have to return in complete darkness - it will not be superfluous to have a lantern with you. A ticket to the show costs 190 MXN.
Bring your binoculars with you - the area is home to a large number of wonderful birds. And at night you can admire the sky, strewn with myriads of stars.
The complex also houses a small but fascinating museum.
Chichen Itza pyramids and temples
The pyramid of Kukulkan, or El Castillo, is a nine-step pyramid of 25 meters in height, in fact - a huge calendar: each of the steps is divided into 2 parts, forming 18 terraces, symbolizing the 18 twenty-day months of the year.
On the days of the spring (March 21-22) and autumn (September 21-22) equinox, the play of sunlight and shadow creates on the western balustrade of the main staircase the illusion of a snake's body "crawling" along the path of the sun moving towards its head, carved at the base of the stairs.
These days, Chichen Itza is so crowded that you can hardly get closer to get a good look at what is happening. A week before and another week after these dates, the effect of the image is almost the same.
Chichen Itza
El Caracol - a round temple located on a square platform served as an observatory. The dome windows are framed with images of various celestial bodies on certain dates. The large ball court (there are seven of them on the territory of the complex) is the largest of all created by the Mayans, its length is 135 meters. And the Sacred Cenote is a natural well with a depth of about 50 meters.
The Temple of Warriors (located on a low four-level pyramid) is decorated with images of sacred animals carved from stone. The top is crowned with the figure of the rain god. Nearby are the ruins of the baths, which had a mystical significance in the life of the Maya, as a way to cleanse the body and soul.
March 19, 20 and 21 celebrate the days of the "Leaning Kukulkan", at this time there are dance, music and theatrical performances.
115 km from and 193 km from.
The ancient city of Chichen Itza is recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site and is the second most popular place among tourists. archaeological site in Mexico (after Teotihuacan).
Translated from the language of local tribes, this name means "Well of the Itza tribe." Archaeologists consider it one of the religious "places of power" associated with the Mayan culture.
For about a thousand years of history, various peoples have left their mark on the appearance of the city. The ideas of the Maya, Toltec and Itza peoples of the world and the universe were reflected in stone monuments and works of art.
The buildings in Chichen Itza are conventionally divided into two groups. The first includes buildings dating from the 6th-7th centuries. n. NS. and related to the Mayan period. The second group of buildings belongs to the Toltec period of the X-XI centuries. n. NS.
Story
Chichen Itza was founded presumably in the 7th century AD. NS.
In the X century it was captured by the Toltecs.
In the middle of the 11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital of the Toltec state.
In 1178 he was defeated by the united army of three city-states - Mayapan, Uxmal and Itzmal, led by Hunak Keel. By the time of the Spanish conquests (mid-16th century), Chichen Itza was in ruins.
After 1194, the mysterious city was completely deserted. There is no exact data on what caused this. The policy of the Spanish conquerors who invaded Mexico included the burning of manuscripts and the assassination of Mayan clergy. Thus, much of its mysterious history has been lost.
Attractions Chichen Itza
Kukulkan pyramid or El Castillo- a temple structure that survived among the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza.
Inside the pyramid, the entrance to which is on the north side, there is a temple directly with two rooms. It contains the sacrificial figure of Chuck-Mool and the jaguar throne. The height of the pyramid is 24 m, the base is 55x55 m, 365 steps lead upward, symbolizing the days of the year. In addition to the function of a temple, the pyramid probably served as a calendar.
Every year, on the days of the autumn and spring equinox (March 21 and September 23), you can watch the unique sight of the "feathered serpent". The shadow of the stepped edges of the pyramid falls on one of the stairs. At the same time, it seems that a snake is crawling along it, up in March, and down in September. The end of the staircase is crowned with a stone serpent's head in accordance with this effect.
- a natural well, located 300 meters north of the main buildings of the city, with which the sacred sakbe is connected.
It is a giant round funnel with a diameter of over 60 meters. Its sheer walls, built of layers of limestone, drop abruptly down to the dark green water. According to the Maya, the rain god Chak lived inside the well. The Maya brought him human sacrifices, throwing them to the bottom of the cenote.
In 1961 and 1967, the sacred cenote was explored by Mexican expeditions. They found two large wooden throne, about a hundred earthenware jugs and bowls of various sizes, gold jewelry, jade, rock crystal, bone, mother of pearl, amber, copper and onyx, as well as bones of people and animals.
- a building located at the top of a stepped pyramid (40x40m), surrounded by large quantity carved columns (group of a thousand columns). The height of the columns reaches 3 m. Most of these columns depict Toltec warriors, which is why the Temple of Warriors is called that way.
Opposite the main door of the Temple of the Warriors is the Chac Mool statue, depicting a human figure in a recumbent position, with its head facing one side and holding a bowl intended for gifts to the gods.
- is located on the southern side of the Temple of the Warriors and is formed by three colonnades that surround a fairly large area on three sides.
It is believed that the columns once supported the roof. But from the roof over the sanctuary, which is located on the upper platform of the Temple of Warriors, where two staircases lead, nothing remained. Only two stylized serpents remained, made in the form of columns and symbolizing Kukulkan.
- a round structure on a large platform. According to researchers, there was an astronomical observatory for observing the planets, especially Venus.
- the biggest playground of all created by the Maya. The length of the playing field reaches 150 m. On the sides of the playing field there are vertical walls 8.5 m high. In the center of each wall there are heavy stone rings with serpentine ornaments - 7.25 m above the ground.
The goal of the game is to hit the stone rings with a heavy (up to 2 kg) rubber ball, the size of a human head. The ball was taken on a "yoke" or hit with a bat, using only elbows, knees or hips. The ball representing the sun was probably not allowed to touch the ground, otherwise its symbolic "path" would be interrupted.
The team that missed the ball was considered the loser. The losers are believed to have been ritual sacrifices (reliefs on panels decorating the base of the walls show decapitated players).
There are several other similar structures in Chichen Itza, but the Big Field is much larger than them.
Last changes: 10.04.2015
Chichen Itza is the most famous ancient city of Yucatan. Its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its listing as the New Seven Wonders of the World has sparked a surge in tourist interest and is now the second most visited archaeological site in Mexico. An estimated 1.2 million tourists visit the ruins every year. Despite the massive influx of visitors, Chichen Itza continues to impress even the most jaded tourists. A walk among stone temples, pyramids, ball fields gives you the opportunity to truly experience the greatness of the ancient city.
The legendary ruins of Chichen Itza are among the best-preserved archaeological sites in Mexico. Despite this, much of what is written and said about this city is based on guesses and assumptions. One hundred percent we can confidently say that people mastered this place in the 4th century; the urban community emerged with the construction of the first temple in the 7th century; the city came under the rule of the Toltecs in the 10th century.
In the following centuries, Chichen Itza reached the pinnacle of prosperity and became the most powerful city on the Yucatan Peninsula. Most of grandiose structures were built during this period.
At the end of the 12th century, the city lost its political power, gradually began to decline and was abandoned. The inhabitants of Chichen Itza left behind an impressive architectural and scientific heritage, but left no known record of why they left their homes. The constructed monuments began to gradually deteriorate, overgrown with jungle, but archaeologists rediscovered them to the world in the 1920s. The ancient structures were cleaned, reconstructed, and the archaeological complex began to attract tourists.
Chichen Itza consists of two parts: the central (new) zone and the southern (old) zone. The most important structures are located in the new zone.
El Castillo
When the Toltecs came to Chichen Itza, they combined their knowledge of cosmology with the Maya, resulting in the pyramid of El Castillo (also called the pyramid of Kukulkan). Dedicated to Kukulcan, the god of wind and rain in the form of a feathered serpent with a human head, El Castillo is one of the most famous and most visited pre-Columbian structures in modern Mexico. Built a thousand years ago with the simplest tools, El Castillo is considered the most important symbol of Chichen Itza. In 2007, the monument was included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
El Castillo's architecture is filled with symbolism. Many secrets of the Mayan astronomical calendar become clear when you delve into the essence of the architecture of the "Temple of Time". The four staircases leading to the central platform have 91 steps each, for a total of 364, which corresponds to the number of days in a year. The platform at the top of the temple joins 4 stairs together to create the number 365, which corresponds to the number of days in a leap year. On each side of the pyramid there are 18 terraces (9 on each side of the steps), which is equal to the number of months in the Mayan solar calendar.
The Mayan calendar consisted of two parallel cycles: the civilian 365-day shiupoualli and the ritual 260-day tonalpoulli. Shiupoualli and tonalpoalli coincided every 52 years.
On each of the four sides of the El Castillo pyramid, there are 52 stone reliefs. They represent the coincidence of these two cycles every 52 years.
The pyramid of El Castillo attracts especially many visitors on the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes. During sunset, the shadow from the corner of the stepped terraces of the pyramid falls on the balustrade of the steps on the north side (see photo). It seems that the Feathered Serpent is slowly descending to the ground. The illusion is almost as noticeable in the week before and after the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.
The Maya often built new pyramid temples on top of the previous ones. After several unsuccessful attempts, archaeologists were able to discover a tunnel leading to the premises of an earlier temple. A figure of Chak-Mool and a throne in the shape of a jaguar were found here.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH), which manages the Chichen Itza archaeological site, banned the ascent of El Castillo in 2006. At the same time, public access to the inner hall was closed for more ancient temple... Visitors can still walk around the monument, but going up or going inside is prohibited.
Main ball court
Chichen Itza has nine ball courts. The largest of these, Juego de Pelota (pictured), is located northwest of El Castillo. It is the largest and best-preserved ball court in Mesoamerica (168 m long, 70 m wide). During the game, the players tried to throw a heavy rubber ball into a stone hoop set high in the wall. The acoustics of the ball field are so good that conversation from one side is clearly audible at the opposite end.
The games were colorful spectacles, and participation in them ended with a sacrifice for some of its participants. An interesting detail: the researchers are not sure whether the players on the losing team were sacrificed. On the wall of the ball court, there is an image of a decapitated player kneeling, blood draining from his neck and turning into a snake, another player holding his head in his hands. Other images on the walls show the players' equipment.
To the right of the ball court is the Tzompantli (Temple of Skulls). The name comes from the images of a series of skulls carved on a stone platform. When the victim was decapitated, the head was placed on a pole and placed in a row one after the other.
Temple of Warriors
To the east of El Castillo is another famous building Chichen Itza: Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of the Warriors). The temple consists of four platforms, surrounded on three sides by round and square columns. Square columns are carved in the shape of Toltec warriors, hence the name - Temple of Warriors. During the recent restoration, some of the columns were restored and put in their original place. At the top of the Temple of Warriors, there is a sculpture of Chaak-Mool in the form of a reclining man, the meaning of this figure is unknown to researchers.
El-Karakol (Observatory)
The observatory is another famous landmark of Chichen Itza. The Spanish word El Caracol means " spiral staircase"(inside there is a spiral staircase). The round vault of El-Karakol was built and rebuilt several times during the entire operation of the Observatory. , the day of the summer solstice Maya astronomical skills even helped predict solar eclipses.
Sacred cenote
The Yucatan Peninsula is a limestone plain without rivers and streams. The only source fresh water served as cenotes (karst sinkholes or wells), in which groundwater came to the surface. Cenotes are scattered throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, but the Cenote Sagrado was the most important to the Maya. It is located at a distance of 5-7 minutes walk from El Castillo.
The sacred cenote was used for ceremonial purposes: donations were thrown here and human sacrifices were made. It was believed that the god of lightning, water and rain Chuck dwells at the bottom of the Sacred Cenote, in order to pacify him, a person was deprived of life.
Professor of Harvard University and American Consul in Merida (Merida - the administrative center of Yucatan) Herbert Thompson investigated the Sacred Cenote from 1904 to 1910 and recovered from there numerous objects of gold, jade, ceramics, obsidian, rubber, as well as the remains of human bodies. Most of the discovered treasures ended up in the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology (a museum at Harvard University). None of the items found were made from materials mined in the Yucatan, meaning the Mayans traveled to Chichen Itza from elsewhere. Central America for worship and sacrifices.
Osario
Osario translated from Spanish means “cemetery”. Like El Castillo, it is a stepped pyramid with a temple on top, but only on a scaled down scale. Like its larger neighbor, it has four faces with stairs on each side. But unlike El Castillo, there is a pyramid hole in the center leading into a cave 12 meters deep below ground level. Herbert Thompson excavated this cave in the late 19th century, found several skeletons and artifacts, and called it the Tomb of the High Priest (Tumba del Gran Sacerdote). Since that time, it has had two names.
Interesting places near Chichen Itza
Cenote Ik Kiel
Cenote Ik Kil is located less than 3 km from Chichen Itza. The cenote looks unusually spectacular, with tropical vegetation and tree roots stretching from above to the very surface of the water. Tours to Chichen Itza often include visits to Ik Kil. These tours are the main source of income for the Ik Kil Archaeological Park. A ladder has been carved into the karst rock to descend to the bathing platform. The cenote is open for swimming from 08:00 am to 6:00 pm every day. It is best to swim until 11:30, before the influx of tourists. It offers tourists a cottage, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, changing rooms.
In 2010 and 2011, Ik Kiel hosted the next stage of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series - a series of acrobatic diving competitions that gained wide popularity in the world thanks to the spectacular diving sites and the skill of the participants.
Balankancha cave
The Balankanché Cave is located 5.5 km from Chichen Itza on the way to Cancun. The whole tour takes about half an hour. In the middle of the cave there is a small underground river, but its main attraction is the column in the center, which resembles a large tree. Outside you can wander around botanical garden and look at plants that are exotic for us.
Chichen Itza - useful information
The territory of the archaeological complex is oversaturated with small commerce, many sellers attract the attention of visitors with the words "only 1 dollar" or "only 1 peso". Please note that this is not the value of the items they are selling. As soon as you want to buy something for "only 1 dollar", they will popularly explain to you that the discount is 1 dollar or 1 peso and start bargaining further. Feel free to leave, they will follow you and offer you to commit bargain purchase... This is Mexico, this is the order of things here.
The inclusion of Chichen Itza in the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 sparked a surge of interest and now the archaeological complex is literally flooded with tourists. To better appreciate the magic of the ancient city, you need to arrive at the opening time at 8 o'clock in the morning. Then you will have about 3 hours before the massive influx of tourists from Cancun.
Especially many tourists visit Chichen Itza in the days of the spring and autumn equinox, in order to see the shadow of the "living serpent" on the pyramid of El Castillo in the afternoon. This illusion is almost as clearly visible in the week before and after the spring and autumn equinox, but there are noticeably fewer tourists.
Bring cash pesos with you, as currency exchange can be problematic here, especially on weekends.
Show of light and sound. After visiting the ruins during the day, you can go back and with the same tickets attend the night Show of light and sound. The show lasts about an hour and is accompanied by a story about the history of the ancient city. The story is in Spanish, but you can listen to the translation using headphones for an additional fee. Another option is to arrive at the complex in the afternoon, see the Show of Light and Sound, and the next day to visit the ruins - visiting the archaeological complex on the first evening gives a discount the next day, so the price of the visit will be almost the same.
Most tourists visit Chichen Itza from Cancun, a popular Mexican resort (2.5 hours drive), and Merida, the capital of Yucatan (1.5 hours drive). It is advisable to avoid a one-day visit to Chichen Itza and plan to spend one night here in a nearby hotel. If you stay overnight, you will have the opportunity to watch the Sound and Light Show in the evening, visit the archaeological complex in the morning, when it is not yet so hot and there are practically no tourists. Chichen Itza is a huge archaeological complex. If you take a day trip from Cancun, the time allotted is clearly not enough to truly appreciate the place.
At the entrance to the territory of the archaeological complex there is a museum, a restaurant, a bookstore, English and Spanish-speaking guides are available to tourists.
Video about Chichen Itza
