Kukulkan: the right part of the pyramid has been restored, the left has not been restored Caracol - 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 upon a time, the city of Chichen Itza was the center of culture of several Indian peoples. Its name is translated as “place at the well of the Itza tribe.” Peoples such as the Mayans, Toltecs, and Itzas left their mark on the city of Chichen Itza.
This city in Mexico is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where is Chichen Itza located?
This seventh wonder of the world is located in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The ancient city of Chichen Itza is 205 kilometers from the famous resort of Cancun and 120 kilometers from Merida. Very close to 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 Yucatan and Mexico in general. It is in second place in terms of attendance among ancient cities, ahead of only Teotihuacan ().
It is estimated that the number of tourists who visit this archaeological complex 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 on a 1-day excursion from both Cancun and Merida.
City `s history
The beginning of the city's history dates back to the 6th century AD. Then it was one of the largest cities of the 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 was dominated after its capture by the Toltecs, who arrived here from Central Mexico. Subsequently, from about half of the 11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital and center of the Toltec state.
Blood sacrifices began here precisely because of these people. The entire northern part of the city bears witness to their presence. A century later, the city was defeated by a huge army, which included warriors from three states - Uxmal, Mayapan, Itzmal.
Chichen Itza was defeated by the ruler Hunak Keel. Subsequently, the city was deserted and turned into ruins (this is how Europeans discovered it).
Many treasures were stolen by the Spaniards and the manuscripts were destroyed.
Therefore, very little can be said about history, but it is assumed that if not for the actions of 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 are on the surface.
Pyramid of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza
The very first structure that stands out 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, “the castle.”
The total height of the Kukulkan pyramid is 24 meters. The pyramid has nine tiers, and at the very top there is a temple.
Kukulkan, like any pyramid, has 4 faces, which are directed to the 4 cardinal directions. And on each side there is a wide staircase, which is decorated with snake heads at the bottom.
The path leads to the main northern staircase of the pyramid. To get to the top you must overcome a certain number of steps - there are 91 of them.
It is interesting that the total number of steps on the pyramid, including the upper platform, is 365, that is, the exact number of days in a year.
This coincidence suggests that this pyramid may have some relation to the calendar or may have astronomical significance.
At the very top there is a temple where sacrifices were made in ancient times.
Research has shown that the large pyramid was built on top of an even more ancient pyramid, which was accessed by a hole in the floor of the sanctuary.
In the hidden chambers of the Kukulkan pyramid, archaeologists discovered two main antiquities: the “Jaguar Mat” and the figure of Chaak Mool, the god of rain.
- "Jaguar Mat"- is a stone throne in the shape of a jaguar, the paint on it is fiery red, this is a symbol of the power of the ruler of the city. According to legend, the very first owner of this throne was Quetzalcoatl. The spots on the animal's body and the animal's eyes are made of jade. The fangs are carved from volcanic stone.
- - made for ritual purposes. On her stomach there is a flat bowl on which the victim's heart was placed for subsequent burning.
The second name of the Kukulkan structure is the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent (the most correct translation: feathered serpent). Firstly, this pyramid and temple are dedicated to this deity. Secondly, the name is associated with a specific phenomenon.
Light illusion of Kukulcan - the play of shadows on the edges of the pyramid
Every year around the time of the equinox there is an event that attracts people to Mexico. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the pyramid is illuminated so that the stairs cast a shadow - a series of triangles, which together resemble a snake's tail.
As the star moves in the sky, the triangles fade out one by one, thus creating the feeling that it is the tail of a huge snake, 37 meters long, moving down.
Now this phenomenon can be seen not only on certain days, there is a light show every evening.
Kukulkan: the right part of the pyramid has been restored, the left has not been restored
Find out more about the Pyramid of Kukulkan on our website - “Pyramid of Kukulkan - the ancient Mayan god”
Temples of the ancient city of Chichen Itza
The Temple of the Warriors and 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 paintings.
Temple of Warriors
The Temple of the 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 Toltec warriors, as if standing in formation. Once upon a time they supported the roof.
On the south side of the temple there is a small building called “Market”.
The upper sanctuary also once had a roof, but now it is gone, and at the top there are two “snakes” that guarded the passage to the temple.
On the platform there is also a statue of a man in a reclining position. This is Chaak Mool - the god of rain.
The Temple of the Jaguar has two sanctuaries: an upper and a lower one. At the top, the elite watched the game on the field.
At the entrance to the lower sanctuary you can see the figure of a jaguar, thanks to which the temple received its name.
Another structure is called the Temple or tomb of the great priest. During Mayan times it 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 a cave underground. Ancient burials of noble people were discovered there.
The second name of this structure is Osuari, in other words a crypt.
Other attractions
In addition to the 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 the edge to its surface about 20 meters.
The well served as the place where young girls were thrown for sacrifice. Therefore, the second name of this object is the Well of Death.
Ball fields
On the territory of the archaeological complex there are 9 ball fields. This game was somewhat similar to modern basketball, only it was played with a heavy rubber ball, which could only be hit with the hip. Instead of ordinary baskets, stone rings are attached to the walls.
The sites found are quite large, the largest is located in the northern part of the complex. Its dimensions are: length - 160 meters, width - 70. The entire field is surrounded by eight-meter walls, they depict scenes of torment of losing players and many skulls.
Karakol Tower - ancient Observatory
Another ancient structure is Karakol. This is a tower on two platforms, it was used for observing celestial astronomical objects. It is often called the Observatory.
Location: Mexico
Main attractions: temple of Kukulkan, temple of warriors, temple of jaguars, observatory, sacred cenote
Coordinates: 20°41"01.0"N 88°34"08.4"W
Short description
The ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza, located in Mexico in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula, is covered with ominous glory. It is here, 300 meters north of the main buildings of the city, that the Sacred Cenote, or “Well of Death” is about 50 meters deep, at the bottom of which, according to Mayan legends, the rain god Chac lived.
Bird's eye view of the ancient city of Chichen Itza
To appease God and bring rain, the Mayans performed human sacrifices, throwing the most beautiful girls to the bottom of the well. Following the victims, rich gifts were thrown into the cenote - gold, items made of jade, rock crystal, mother-of-pearl, amber, copper, onyx, etc.
The legend of the sacrifices was confirmed by Mexican scientists who sank to the bottom of the well. And although the well has not been used by the Mayans for a long time, many people still believe in its supernatural power. It is believed that if you throw a coin into the water and make a wish, it will definitely come true.
Temple of Kukulcan
A Brief History of Chichen Itza
The name of the ancient city of Chichen Itza translates as “Well of the Itza Tribe.” The city arose in the 7th century AD. e. as a Mayan religious center, and by the 10th century it was captured by the Toltecs, who came to Yucatan from central Mexico, and by the 11th century it became the capital of the Toltec kingdom. In 1178, the Indian ruler Hunak Keel destroyed the Mayan sanctuary, turning it into a pitiful pile of ruins. The city fell into decay and became depopulated.
Temple of Warriors
Return of the Feathered Serpent
Chichen Itza is considered the most famous and best restored Mayan city. The main temple of Chichen Itza is dedicated to the deity Kukulkan - the “Feathered Serpent”. The 30-meter-tall Pyramid of Kukulkan rises on a huge stone terrace. Four staircases, oriented according to the cardinal directions, lead to the top of the ritual structure, where the ancient Mayans performed sacrifices. The staircases are framed by a balustrade, which begins at the bottom with a serpent's head carved in stone and continues in the form of a curving serpentine body to the top of the pyramid.
Observatory
Every year on the days of the spring and autumn equinox, that is, March 20 and September 22, you can observe the unique phenomenon of the “Feathered Serpent”: the sun illuminates the balustrade in such a way that a shadow of the “Feathered Serpent” is formed on the pyramid, which crawls down and disappears exactly after 3 hours 22 minutes.
All four staircases of the temple have 91 steps, and together with the platform terrace that links them together, there are 365 steps (91 x 4 + 1), which corresponds to the number of days in a year.
Temple of the Jaguars
Treasures of the Kukulcan Pyramid
In one of the secret rooms of the Kukulkan pyramid, archaeologists discovered the “Jaguar Mat” and the ritual figure of Chak Mool with a flat bowl on his stomach, on which the heart of the sacrifice was burned. The "Jaguar Mat" is a throne carved from stone in the shape of a jaguar's body and painted a fiery red color. The spots on the animal's skin are made of jade stones. The eyes are also jade, and the fangs in the grinning mouth are carved from stone of volcanic origin.
Large ball field
Other attractions of Chichen Itza
Important buildings of Chizen Itza are the Temple of the Warriors and the Temple of the Jaguars, whose walls are decorated with paintings. Thus, in the Temple of the Jaguars, images of jaguars and eagles devouring human hearts are carved. On the south side of the Temple of the Warriors is the "Group of a Thousand Columns". It consists of the ruins of four colonnades, forming a giant rectangle. Chichen Itza also has its own Caracol observatory, designed to observe the planets and in particular Venus.
Sacred Cenote
It is a round building with small windows, rising on a double stone platform. Inside this structure there is a spiral staircase, which has a spiral shape like a mollusk shell. This is where the name of the observatory came from - “Caracol”, which is translated from Spanish as “snail”. One of the oldest buildings in the city, the Palace of Nuns is interesting for its stone carvings and masks of the god Chaka. There are seven preserved ball courts at Chichen Itza, including the largest "stadium" ever created by the Mayans.
Venus platform
Because the ball game had ritual significance for the Mayans, the losers were sacrificed. The inhabitants of Chichen Itza were excellent craftsmen and artists. This is evidenced by the sculptures of deities preserved in the city, bas-reliefs with floral and geometric patterns carved on them, handicrafts, etc. In 2007, based on the results of a popular vote, Chichen Itza was recognized as one of the
The city of Chichen Itza in Latin America is located on the Yucatan Peninsula. This is the real center of the Mayan civilization. It is located 120 km from Merida and has many architectural monuments. UNESCO recognized Chichen Itza as a world cultural heritage site, and now this city is extremely popular among tourists.
Story
The history of Chichen Itza dates back to the 5th and 6th centuries. This city immediately becomes the center of Yucatan in terms of culture, politics and religion. The number of inhabitants here reached 30 thousand, the city became a center of pilgrimage, traders and wanderers came here. At first the Mayan tribes lived here, then Chichen Itza was captured by the Toltecs.
The rulers of the Mayan tribes always increased their power and influence, so the fact that the empire was crushed seems strange. The inhabitants simply left the city. There was drought, crop problems, and famine. But even this does not explain the collapse of civilization. In the chronicles of the Spaniards, the Mayans appear as a tribe with primitive foundations, so the conquerors very quickly managed to take the situation into their own hands.
In the 15th century, cattle were grazed here, although previously the area was populous and rich. In the mid-19th century, people began to show interest in Mayan culture. Historians and cultural figures became very interested in the place. Excavations began here, and in the 20th century it was decided to restore the original appearance of this place.
Attractions
We present to your attention a description of the main attractions of the Mexican city. You can also appreciate the city of Chichen Itza in the photo.
The attractions of Chichen Itza are not limited to this list. There are wonderful platforms, columns, places with stunning views. The ruins of 4 colonnades form a huge rectangle called the “Group of a Thousand Columns”. There are well-preserved statues representing various deities here. For those interested in history, the city is a real find. 
How to get there?
We figured out where Chichen Itza is, now we just need to figure out how to get there. You can go to these places as part of a tour group on an excursion. It can be ordered at any hotel. It will cost less than getting there on your own, and you will have the opportunity to visit several places at once and see the sights. But in this case, you will be traveling with a large group of tourists, and your time will be limited. You may not have time to pay due attention to the details that interest you. And you are unlikely to see a night light show with sound. There is an option to hire a personal guide; the tour can be individual.
Another option is to travel to Chichen Itza by ADO bus. It can be done:
1) bus Cancun - Chichen Itza: ~3 hours on the way;
2) from Playa del Carmen the journey will take 4 hours;
3) you can get there from Merida in 1.5 hours.
Depending on the departure location, tickets can cost 140-320 pesos, prices change regularly, so it is advisable to check them in advance.
The third way to come to Chichen Itza is to rent a car. Along the way you will be able to see many sights. If you are leaving from Cancun, there will be 2 roads, toll and free.
You need to arrive to Chichen Itza as early as possible. The complex opens at 8 am and is only open until 5 pm. In the evening there is a light show that starts at 7 (winter) or 8 (summer) pm. Tickets are not cheap, but there is really something to see.
The ancient city of Chichen Itza, Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula) is a storehouse of information about the life of ancient tribes, their culture, traditions and customs. It is not for nothing that the pyramid became a wonder of the world in the new list adopted in 2007. This is a place that everyone should visit, especially if you are interested in history. And also - it’s beautiful and very atmospheric here!
The city of Chichen Itza was once an important trade and ceremonial center. It is believed to have been built between 600 and the end of the first millennium AD. The Mayans were good mathematicians, engineers and astronomers, as evidenced by the buildings preserved here. If you want to see as much as possible, we advise you to arrive early - at 11.00 the crowds already gather here. Remember also that towards noon it will become unbearably hot, and there is practically no shade here.
You can explore the temple of El Castillo, built in the shape of a pyramid and dedicated to the god Kukulcan (to Quetzalcoatl), depicted as a feathered serpent with a human head. They say that this snake slithering from the pyramid can be seen twice a year - on the spring and autumn equinox (September 21 and March 21). At three o'clock in the afternoon, the rays of the sun illuminate the western balustrade of the main staircase of the pyramid in such a way that light and shadow form the image of seven isosceles triangles, which, in turn, make up the body of a thirty-seven-meter snake, “crawling” as the sun moves to its own head, carved at the base of the staircase . The phenomenal performance lasts about 3.5 hours and attracts a lot of people. In ancient times, the appearance of a snake served as a signal for the beginning of sowing cereals or harvesting.
Don't miss the opportunity to also see the preserved fragments of the large ball field, Juego de Pelota (Juego de Pelota); it was larger than modern football fields, and the balls flew into the air to a height of 6 m! Here they forced prisoners captured in wars to play; it is unknown who was then sacrificed - the winners or the losers, but it is known for certain that their heads, along with many others, were exhibited on pikes on the Skull Wall, Tsompantli (Tzompantli).
However, not all the remains of sacred victims ended up here. Sacred Cenote, Cenote Sagrado (Cenote Sogrado)- an impressive natural well 90 m in diameter, in which researchers discovered not only gold bars and jadeite jewelry, but also children’s skeletons. Looking into the 20 m deep abyss, you can imagine the horror that the condemned experienced before they were sacrificed to the rain gods, and 170 km (about 3 hours journey) from Cancun (Cancun) on the way to Merida (Merida). 8.00-17.00 daily. Buses run frequently from Cancun and other Riviera Mayan resorts. They usually take organized excursions. From Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, many tourists arrive directly with their luggage to go home the same day - it's cheaper and less tiring.
What to see
- "Temple of Kukulkan" - 9-step pyramid (height 24 meters) with wide staircases on each side. (On the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes (March 20 and September 22) at approximately three o'clock in the afternoon, the rays of the sun illuminate the western balustrade of the main staircase of the pyramid in such a way that light and shadow form the image of seven isosceles triangles, which, in turn, make up the body of a thirty-seven-meter snake, “crawling” as the sun moves towards its own head, carved at the base stairs.);
- “Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza” on a low 4-step pyramid and “Temple of the Jaguars” (both with wall paintings);
- Observatory "Karakol";
- 7 “stadiums” for playing ball (“Large ball field” (Uego de Pelota)- the largest playground ever created by the Mayans. The length of the playing field reaches 135 m. There is some evidence that the game of ball was accompanied by a certain cruelty.);
- Ruins of 4 colonnades forming a giant rectangle ("Group of a Thousand Columns");
- The sacred cenote is a natural well about 50 m deep, which was used for sacrifices.
- Also preserved are statues of deities with characteristic stylization of plastic forms, reliefs rich in plant and geometric patterns, works of small sculpture and artistic crafts, etc.
Story
During their heyday, the Mayans managed to erect many architectural monuments that amaze us with their size and beauty. The crown jewel of this treasure is the Chichen Itza Temple, located on the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico. It is believed that Chichen Itza was built in the second half of the first millennium, when Mayan rulers ordered the construction of a large city around three natural reservoirs. Thanks to the underground springs that fed the lakes, the city's population had plenty of water all year round.
Tens of thousands of Mayans participated in the construction of the city, intended for rulers and priests with their families. Ordinary members of the tribe lived in mud huts and worked tirelessly in the fields, providing the city with grain and meat and serving the ruling elite.
The Mayan rulers were gaining strength every year, so the sudden collapse of their empire at the end of the 9th century. seems all the more strange and surprising. Apparently, at this time Chichen Itza was simply abandoned by its inhabitants. Scientists have discovered such traces of disaster as drought, crop failure and famine, or a combination of all three, but this does not explain such a rapid decline of a powerful civilization. Only a small part of the Mayan Indians survived - so that in the 16th century. to be under the heel of Spain. Spanish chronicles mention the Maya as a primitive tribe living on the fruits of the surrounding jungle. It is not surprising that the European conquerors very quickly became masters of the situation.
The power of the ruler of Chichen Itza was symbolized by his throne, erected on the top of the Kukulkan pyramid. With a height of 30 m, it dominates all surrounding buildings. The complex iconography, as well as the numerical proportions incorporated into the construction, indicate that the Mayans had extensive technical knowledge. The pyramid itself can be considered an example of the "magic of numbers" used by the Mayans. On its ground floor there are 4 flights of stairs, each with 91 steps. 4 X 91+1 (the base itself)= 365, the number of days in a year. Opposite the Pyramid of Kukulkan stands the Temple of the Warriors (Templos de los Guerreros). Its landmark is the Hall of 1000 Columns, which supposedly served as a barracks. Its rear doors open onto a ball court measuring 91 x 36 m.
Images of snakes are ubiquitous in all the buildings of Chichen Itza. Kukulkan, the “serpent-crawling-out-of-the-tower,” and Quetzalcoatl, the “feathered serpent,” were considered the main deities of the Maya. And even the collapse of the state itself could not destroy faith in them. When in the 16th century When the Spaniards landed in Yucatan, the feathered serpent was still considered the main deity among the descendants of the Mayans and Mexican Aztecs.
Chronology
- OK. 435-455: According to the much later chronicle of Chumayel, Chichen Itza was founded between 435 and 455. AD It is believed that the city was abandoned by its inhabitants towards the end of the 9th century. The Toltecs conquered it in 987.
- 999: The Mayan ruler of Tula, named Quetzalcoatl after the main deity, died.
- 1533: Yucatan is conquered by the Spanish.
- 1841-1842: John Stevens's research began the scientific study of Chichen Itza.
- 1904-1907: Speleologists discovered a spring considered "holy" or "mystical".
- 1923: Systematic excavations at Chichen Itza begin. F 1988: Chichen Itza is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
No one knows why one of the most developed Mayan cities, Chichen Itza, was deserted in the twelfth century: 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 might have been able to tell something about the mysterious past of their people. Therefore, the memory of this amazing city of Mexico has reached 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 also, 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 current name a little later, when the fame of the well in which sacrifices were carried out spread throughout the surrounding areas, as a result of which the city was renamed “Well of the Itza Tribe”: “chi” meant “mouth”, “chen” - “well” " and "itsa" - this was the name of one of the Mayan tribes that 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 religious nature) have been preserved 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 another - two centuries later. Since the Mayans 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 (and for this purpose they even built an observatory in the city).
Residents of the city were considered excellent craftsmen and skilled artists (as evidenced by the found sculptures of gods, various crafts, as well as bas-reliefs with floral and geometric patterns).
Toltec period (X-XI centuries)
In the tenth century, Chichen Itza came under the rule of the Toltecs (one of the tribes of the Uto-Aztecan linguistic 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 is the well, at the bottom of which a huge number of human remains were found, mainly men and children.
However, the Toltecs did not stay here long: they left the city after the defeat of their army 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 located in such a way that they create an amazing acoustic effect, amplifying the sound many times over. This is especially noticeable in the stadium of the ancient Toltecs: if people who were in temples located on opposite sides of the field wanted to talk to each other, they could calmly do so without fear that anyone would hear them (of course, if they were not standing next to )!
This “telephone” effect was discovered by accident, and scientists are not yet able to explain what knowledge the local residents had to have in order to achieve it.
The most remarkable Mayan buildings
All the main buildings of Chichen Itza are located on the largest square, in the center of which the temple of the main deity of the city, Kukulcan, was erected.
Pyramid
The most remarkable building of Chichen Itza is the famous pyramid of 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 towards one of the cardinal directions.
The pyramid has nine tiers. At the top there is a temple 6 meters high - sacrifices were made on it. You can climb to the temple by one of four staircases, each of which widens upward, creating the 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 is eighteen in total (that is how many months the Mayan calendar year has). Each staircase has 91 steps. Scientists have noticed: if their number is multiplied by the number of stairs and the top floor is added, it turns out 365 - that’s exactly how many days a calendar year has.
This pyramid is notable for the fact that during the spring and autumn equinoxes, the god himself, Kukulkan, crawls along it, thereby showing people a real miracle.
The rays of the sun 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, located 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 from 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 of the ancient craftsmen were carved from volcanic stone. Here a figure was discovered, which archaeologists later named Chak Mool.
It depicts a man 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 a symbol of Chichen Itza.
Temple of Warriors
The Temple of the Warriors is located on the western side of the central square and was built on a low four-tiered 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 it is crowned by the figure of the main god of the city, Kukulkan.
Inside the structure there are several spacious halls, and the entrance is decorated with massive columns in the shape of snakes, the heads of which are located below and the tails point to the sky. Behind the snakes are four giants (Atlas), holding a stone altar.
Colonnades
Near the Temple of Warriors you can see a platform with four rows of columns, each of which is three meters long. Each column is decorated with carved images of Indian warriors (because of this, the nearby temple got its name). According to some scientists, in earlier times a reed roof was installed on these pillars, under which the city's bazaar was located.
Karakol Observatory
Chichen Itza had its own observatory - a round building rising 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 intended for playing ball (pot-ta-pok). The largest of them was built no later than 864 AD, was 135 m long, 68 m wide, and the height of its walls was 12 meters (while the rings where the Mayans had to throw the ball were fixed at a level of eight meters).
On each side of the stadium there were four temples, each of which was oriented towards a certain side of the world.
The Indians played with a rubber ball weighing about four kilograms - they could hit it with a stone bat, and touch it with any part of the body except arms and legs. This game was hard, cruel, lasted several hours (the rings were located high enough so that they could be easily entered) and ended with sacrifices: the captain of the losing team was beheaded right in the stadium, sacrificing to the Sun God.
How the entire process of the game took place can be judged by the scenes carved into the bas-reliefs of the stadium (for example, here you can see a beheaded player, near whom his executioner raises his severed head).
Well
Another attraction for which Chichen Itza became famous and in honor of which the city received its name is a natural well about 50 meters deep that was used for sacrifices. You can get to it along a three-hundred-meter paved road, the width of which is ten meters.
The well is amazing in its size:
- The diameter of the well is 60 meters;
- Depth - 82 meters;
- The water begins at a depth of 20 meters from the edge.
This well was sacred: people were thrown into it. Despite the fact that in earlier times it was believed that this fate befell young beautiful girls, divers, having gone to the bottom, refuted this hypothesis, lifting from the bottom about 50 skeletons, belonging mainly to men and children. Why exactly they were sacrificed - Chichen Itza still reliably keeps this secret.
