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. The ancient city of Chichen Itza is 205 kilometers away from the famous resort of 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 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 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. 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 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 a large 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 - "Pyramid of Kukulkan - the ancient Mayan god"
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, stone rings are attached to the walls.
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.
The most famous civilizations of ancient America, which every educated person has heard of, are the Mayans, Incas and Aztecs. These peoples inhabited the territories of central Mexico (Aztecs), southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, western Honduras (Maya) and southern western (Inca). The grandiose architectural structures of these ancient civilizations have survived to this day. The most famous of them are the pyramids of the American Mayan and Aztec tribes. The Incas, according to scientists, did not build pyramids, although they knew how to build structures of rather impressive dimensions (such as the fortress of Sacsayhuaman).
Maya and Aztec peoples inhabited America in different time... The heyday of the Mayan civilization fell on the 7th - 8th centuries, and the Aztecs - in the 14th - 15th centuries. But both of these peoples were distinguished by a high level of development. They built big cities, used writing, and shipping was developed. The calendars of those times are surprising in their accuracy. Religion occupied a special place among the Maya and Aztec peoples. It is not for nothing that the pyramids that they erected were used for various religious rituals.
The exact age of the Mayan pyramids is unknown. These structures are made of roughly hewn stones, which are fastened with a fairly strong mortar.
The slopes of the pyramids are steps, i.e. they were built in stages - on each platform the next one was erected, of a smaller area. This process was quite lengthy.
One of the most famous pyramids - Kukulkan, named after the main god in the mythologies of the Maya and Toltecs, who was depicted as a snake with a human head. It is located in the ancient city of Chichen Itza (Yucatan Peninsula). This structure is 25 meters high and has 9 platforms. The number 9 is not accidental, it symbolizes areas of the kingdom of the dead. The pyramid is crowned with a temple. There are wide staircases on four sides, each of them has 91 steps, in total - 364, which corresponds to the number of days in a year. The stairs themselves are divided into 18 flights - in the calendar of the Mayan tribes, there were just that many months. The pyramid of Kukulkan has four sides clearly facing south, north, west and east.
This pyramid is very popular among tourists. The thing is that twice a year a very unusual phenomenon can be observed on its surface. On the days of the equinox at 17:00, a huge image of a serpent begins to appear on the northern side of the pyramid, becoming more and more clear. This effect is achieved by the sun's rays, and the illusion lasts for about 3 hours.
In the city of Chichen Itza, another pyramid was built, the base of which measures 40 x 40 meters.
Another famous structure of the Maya tribes - ... It is located in the ancient city of Palenque, Guatemala. The pyramid got its name because of the huge number of different drawings and hieroglyphs. Scientists are still trying to figure out the meaning of these inscriptions. Only in this pyramid was a tomb with a sarcophagus discovered, the surface of which was also covered with drawings and inscriptions. Prior to this discovery, it was believed that the Maya did not use the pyramids for burial. In the sarcophagus, the remains of a man were found, who, apparently, held a high position in society.
There is another one on the Yucatan Peninsula ancient city- Uxmal. It is there that the famous ... This is one of the most impressive buildings that we have inherited from the Mayan tribes. The pyramid is 38 m high and has a flat top. The corners are rounded. This structure has been under construction for many years. Archaeological research has shown that construction lasted from the sixth to the tenth century. There are 5 temples inside the pyramid - according to the number of construction stages.
The most famous pyramids of the Aztecs
Perhaps the most impressive structure of the Aztecs - pyramid of the sun located on the site of the ancient city of Teotihuacan, near modern Mexico City. It ranks third in the world among the ancient structures, passing ahead only the Cholula pyramid, from the Toltec times, and the Cheops pyramid, which is located in Egypt, near Cairo.
The Pyramid of the Sun previously rose up 71 m (currently 64.5 m), and the perimeter of the base of this grandiose structure is 893 m. It took about 3 million tons of stones to erect it. 300 years after the pyramid was built, a temple was erected on its top, which was destroyed even before the discovery of the city of Teotihuacan by the Spanish conquerors. Currently, many tourists visit the Pyramid of the Sun. To climb to the very top, you have to overcome the most difficult climb with a length of 248 steps, which are distinguished by their steepness. But despite all the difficulties, there are many who want to climb to the very top. After all, if you believe the legends, it is there that the so-called "place of power" is located. Thanks to positive energy flows, a person can find harmony and peace of mind.
In the north of Teotihuacan is ... This is less than the pyramid of the Sun - its height is 42 m. This five-tiered pyramid is located on a small hill. A rather wide staircase leads to the top - it is a continuation of the path, which was called the Road of the Dead. During archaeological excavations in the pyramid of the moon, many remains and burials were discovered. Presumably, various rituals were performed at the top of this structure.
The Citadel is located in Teotihuacan - a square that got its name from the Spaniards. It is here that the Temple of the Feathered Serpent is located - a building built in the form of a pyramid. Its walls were decorated with stone ornaments that represented the heads of feathered serpents - from the western part they are well preserved to this day. Within the walls of this temple were found the remains of animals that were sacrificed during rituals.
The pyramids of the American Mayan and Aztec tribes have not yet been fully studied. The mysteries associated with these structures will attract scientists from all over the world for a long time to come.
Teotihuacan is an ancient city located 50 kilometers northeast of the capital of Mexico. The height here is 2228 meters above sea level, as Teotihuacan stands on the Mexican Highlands.
Teotihuacan was the most big city, a center of culture and ceremonies for the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. The largest Mexican pyramids are located here. Fans of travel to Mexico must drop by this archaeological complex.
History of Teotihuacan
Although the city of Teotihuacan, perhaps the largest in Mesoamerica, is ahead of other Mayan ruins in monumentality, its mysteries have not yet been solved, and there is still no single opinion about history.
To study Teotihuacan, only the data obtained as a result of excavations were used, there are very few written documents, they can only characterize the period after the trip to America of Columbus and the Spanish conquistadors.
Initially, scientists believed that the city was built by the Aztecs, but then it turned out that the Aztecs appeared here much later. Nevertheless, the Europeans learned some of the legends about Teotihuacan from the representatives of this people.
Teotihuacan - in other words, "the city where the gods are born"
Legends about the ancient city of Teotihuacan
There is an ancient legend according to which the gods of the sun and moon were created here. Two wanted to get the opportunity to create light, the first was powerful and arrogant, the second, on the contrary, was completely covered with ulcers and humiliated. Tecuxistecatl and Nanahuatzin had to throw themselves into the fire in order to turn into gods.
Nanautsin, covered in ulcers, sacrificed himself and threw himself into the fire, but his arrogant brother Tekusistekatl lacked the spirit and collapsed in the ashes. Therefore, Nanahuatzin was reborn and shone with a bright light, becoming the god of the sun, and the other, who chickened out, became the god of the moon with a dim glow in the firmament. This is how the sun and moon gods were born, and the cycle of the universe began.
The history of development
A thousand years BC, on the site of the ancient city, a small settlement began to exist. Its inhabitants were engaged in agriculture and crafts. They grew corn, pumpkin and beans. They were engaged in weaving, making pottery, carved from stone, and erected buildings. They worshiped mainly the gods of fire and water.
3rd century BC - the settlement turns into a city. Young Teotihuacan is growing more and more.
Its entire territory is paved with gypsum slabs, buildings and places of worship are lined up around the main axis.
A century later, an irrigation system was built. A whole network of canals was created, water into which came from the nearest reservoirs. Already at this time, Teotihuacan was a city of temples, beauty, luxury and abundance. Builders, artists, talented artisans worked on its creation.
One pyramid of the Sun was built over 30 years, 20 thousand workers were involved. In 250 AD Teotihuacan was already fully built.
The heyday of the city falls on the 2-5 centuries AD, at this time the population of Teotihuacan was 200 thousand people. The city begins to dominate the rest of pre-Columbian Mexico. Teotihuacan became an empire and its inhabitants began to settle in other cities.
In the 5th century AD, the ancient Mayan city of Tikal was filled with Teotihuacans who brought their culture there. In the 6th century, for some unknown reason, the city of Teotihuacan is moving towards its decline, losing its influence and possession. It is believed that later it was conquered and destroyed.
Mayan pyramids in Mexico
The city on the plan was located around the axis, it was a street that was nicknamed the Street of the Dead. The main temples and famous Mexican pyramids are located along it.
There is a citadel at one end of the Street of the Dead. In it, in the very center, there is a temple of a particularly revered deity - Quetzalcoatl or the Feathered Serpent.
Two more pyramids - one larger, the other smaller.
The first is called the Pyramid of the Sun, the second is the Pyramid of the Moon, which is located at the other end of the Road of the Dead.
In the buildings of Teotihuacan, in its architecture, two elements were mainly used - tablero and talud. The first is a rectangular panel, the second is a ledge. Such techniques can be traced in many structures of the archaeological complex.
The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest structure in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. It is also in third place among similar buildings in the world, after such as egyptian pyramid Cheops and the Mexican pyramid at Cholulu.
Initially, the height of the pyramid was 71 meters, but now it is 64.5 meters. The base perimeter is 900 meters. The Pyramid of the Sun is located along the Road of the Dead. The pyramid of the Sun received its name, like the legend of its origin, from the Aztecs.
The Pyramid of the Sun has two levels, on the second there was once an altar, which deity was worshiped here for certain is unknown. A trip to the temples is not complete without climbing this pyramid.
The height of the pyramid of the Moon ranges from 42 meters to 46. It is located on a small earthen embankment, therefore, approximately at the same level as the pyramid of the sun. Also, the pyramid of the moon is the northernmost point of the road or street of the dead. Climbing to the very top, you can see the axis of Teotihuacan and how clearly straight lines are traced in the city's layout.
Road of the dead
In the language of the Indians - Maccaotley Nahuatl. Its width is 40 meters, and its length is approximately equal to 2300 meters. The northernmost point of the road is crowned by the pyramid of the Moon, and along the road there are majestic temples and all other Mayan ruins.
The name street (or road) of the Dead, appeared thanks to the Aztecs. When they saw the mounds, the first thing they thought was that these were burial mounds, and not at all the city of Teotihuacan with its pyramids and temples.
When planning a trip to Teotihuacan, it is recommended to climb the pyramids where ancient priests once stood, in addition, magnificent views open from here. It is best to climb in the morning, here you can see the dawn, until a stream of tourists rushed into the city.
Cacti, tequila, sombrero and of course with Mayan pyramids.
Unlike the pyramids in Egypt, the pyramids in Mexico were not used as a burial vault for rulers, but for religious rituals and sacrifices.
It is assumed that the first to build the pyramids were the mistletoe civilization, and later the Mayan tribes. The secrets of the pyramids of Mexico have not yet been solved; they attract many tourists with their energy, history and legends. So, the Maya Indians predicted for us the end of the world on 12/12/12, which we have successfully survived.
There are a lot of pyramids in Mexico and the ancient cities of the Mayans, Aztecs, Toltecs and other tribes, more than a thousand. But not all of them are accessible for visiting, many pyramids are lost in the impenetrable jungle, restoration work is just beginning in many of them. But do not seek to visit even all the pyramids available for visiting in Mexico. Today I will tell you about the most popular and visited pyramids and ancient cities in Mexico, and you already decide which ones to visit and which not.
Teotihuacan
The ancient city is located 40 km from the capital of Mexico -. It is still not known by whom this city was built, but the very name Teotihuacan, which means "City of the Gods", was given to the city by the Aztecs. Teotihuacan was built in the 2nd century A.D., and the peak of its heyday fell on 450-600, then it was home to about 200 thousand people. There are three pyramids on the territory of Teotihuacan. One of them - pyramid of the sun- the third highest pyramid in the world, you can climb to the top of this pyramid and feel the extraordinary energy of this place. Just as interesting pyramid of the moon, which most likely served as a place of sacrifice.
Cholula
Cholula pyramid- the largest pyramid in the world, located in Mexico, 15 km from the city of Puebla and 130 km from. The pyramid was built during the time of the Toltecs. And now it is a high hill, on top of which the Spaniards built a church in the 17th century.
In the city of Tula, the ancient capital of the Toltecs, which is located 90 km north of Mexico City, remains Morning Star pyramids- a pyramid on which the figures of warriors stand.
Chichen Itza
The Yucatan Peninsula has many ancient Mayan cities and interesting pyramids. The most visited ancient Mayan city in the Yucatan - .
It is located 205 km from the popular resort, you can quickly get to it by. The city of Chichen Itza was founded in the 6th century by the Maya Indians. The territory is located pyramid of Kukulkan(or the pyramid of the Feathered Serpent) with a temple at the top, which served as a place of sacrifices. It is here that believers and curious tourists come on the days of the equinox to look at a natural phenomenon, when the sun illuminates the pyramid so that it seems that a snake is running along it.
Tulum
The second most visited by tourists in Yucatan is the ancient city. Although the pyramids themselves and the ancient city of Tulum are not as well preserved as Chichen Itza, it attracts tourists with its beautiful landscapes, because Tulum is located on a cliff with a magnificent view of the azure Caribbean Sea, and below, in the bay, there is a beach , which is so pleasant to swim after walking through the ruins of Tulum. Tulum is the only Mayan city built on the seashore and serving as a port.
Koba
At 40 km Tulum is another Mayan city visited by tourists - Koba... Here is the "Great Pyramid" or Nooch Mul, 42 m high, which is even allowed to climb!
Uxmal
Another Mayan city, built in the 6th century, .
Uxmal is located 382 km from Cancun, from the airport in Merida to Uxmal 82 km. On the territory of the city there is pyramid of the Wizard (or pyramid of the Magician)- a pyramid of an unusual shape, the base of which has the shape of an ellipse. Legend has it that the wizard built this pyramid in just one night. Unfortunately, you cannot climb the Wizard's pyramid right now. But there is another pyramid in Uxmal - Great pyramid, here you can climb and examine the entire ancient city from above.
Palenque
An ancient city is hidden in the jungle of Chiapas. This city is famous for the fact that the sarcophagus of the ruler of Pacal was found here, which is now kept in the archaeological museum in Mexico City. Sarcophagus found in Temple of the Inscriptions- This is one of the few pyramids in Mexico, which was built for the burial of the ruler. The territory of Palenque is large, located in the jungle, along with ruins and pyramids, there is a small waterfall, and you can also see many exotic birds, iguanas, and even monkeys.
