The Yucatan peninsula is full of natural cenotes. A large cenote also called the Sacred Cenote and believed to have been used for sacrificial purposes is seen at the northern end of the archaeological site.
According to the Guardian , the Kukulkan Pyramid 30 meters in height nests within itself two smaller pyramids 20 meters and 10 meters tall.
This was one of the most stunning facts about Chichen Itza that I discovered during my research. The smallest pyramid was probably built during the original Mayan reign before the Toltec invasion. The Mayans were strong believers and followers of astronomy.
This is quite evident in how and why they built their monuments. At Chichen Itza, you can see a round-shaped observatory, the El Caracol, which was specifically used to gauge the positions of planets and the sun. Further, the most iconic landmark — the Pyramid of Kukulkan has steps in total — 91 on each side and one at the top.
This equals the number of days in a year. Each side represented one season and was used to figure out the best times for sowing seeds and harvesting crops. The huge pyramid, in fact, functioned as one big calendar. Recommended: How to visit the other astronomically-aligned Mayan ruin at Ek Balam. The Temple of Kukulkan was so designed that every year, the sun forms the shadow of a serpent is that the mythical Mayan Serpent God, Kukulkan??
The undulating shadow, resembling the body of a snake, slowly moves down as the sun sets before merging with the serpent head at the bottom of the stairs. I can imagine the religious and ceremonial significance that the equinoxes must have held for the Mayan people. It is, literally, like seeing your God come alive. Even today, hundreds of locals and tourists flock to Chichen Itza to witness this surreal phenomenon. This was the most unusual one among all the Chichen Itza facts I discovered.
Yes, you heard that right. You can hear strange sounds at the lost city of Chichen Itza. This echo resembles the warble of the Mexican quetzal, a bird that was considered sacred in the Mayan culture. The deadly but popular ball game of Mesoamerica was played here. Losers were decapitated at the end of the game. Not among the most pleasant Chichen Itza facts, I am sure.
While exploring the ball court, look up to spot stone rings on the walls of the court. Players were required to shoot heavy rubber balls through these rings located at a height of 8 m from the ground.
I wonder who could have achieved such a feat! The land of the Mayans was not only about fun and festivities. It was a lot about gruesome sacrifices and brutal death penalties. Quite similar to what we saw at the Colosseum in Rome. Many structures in Chichen Itza are a testimony to these practices. Hundreds of heads of victims and soldiers were carved on to the walls of the platform to control people and scare enemies. The Mayans invented an unusual blue color that has been extensively analyzed by scientists.
The reasons — its extraordinary chemical stability and persistent color. It can still be seen in the murals of Mayan temples. At a time when Lapiz Lazuli was prohibitively expensive, Mayans were producing tonnes of great quality, inexpensive Mayan blue. The most important use of Mayan blue was in sacrifices. People were often covered entirely in blue and thrown into the Sacred Cenote of Chichen Itza.
Pottery, rubber, and wood — all covered in blue have also been found in the cenote. These findings were key to deciphering what went behind making Mayan blue so resilient. The pyramid was banned to climbers in January when a woman tumbled to death while descending the steps. It was an unfortunate incident. The pyramid has now been roped off and can only be adored from a distance.
And I feel this is healthy for both the visitors and the monument. It is easy to feel a surge of adrenaline when you climb up these ancient monuments. Once on top, you can appreciate the magnificent vistas of the Yucatan peninsula. Maybe you can spot another pyramid or two. But climbing is not easy. The way down is especially difficult with the steps having been smoothened over centuries. And it erodes the structures so much more.
Recommended: Other Mayan pyramids in Yucatan that you can still climb! The glory of Chichen Itza declined and the city met a mysterious end in the 14th century. The residents moved out never to come back to the city again.
Researchers attribute this mass exodus to poor weather and a massive wave of droughts. The, once prosperous, Mayan city of Chichen Itza had been lost to the jungles of Yucatan. Have you been to Chichen Itza yet? How many of these riveting facts about Chichen Itza did you know? Is there something interesting that I missed? Do let me know in the comments below. Well done! The empire in the south collapsed around AD. No one knows the reason. The Maya also developed social class system which was a well-ordered and carried on trade throughout a network of cities that went as far south as Panama and as far north as Central Mexico.
Mathematicians, their number system included the concept of zero, an idea unknown to the old Greeks, expert mathematicians themselves. The Maya used their mathematical knowledge along with celestial observations to finesse a calendar created by the Olmec which is a culture from the Mexican Gulf Coast and to create monuments to observe and commemorate movements of the moon, the sun, and Venus.
Spectacular examples of these monuments can still be seen at Chichen Itza today. Chichen Nuevo began roughly about AD. The city was rebuilt by the Itza. It is also characterized by images of the god Kukulcan, the plumed serpent.
Around AD. The history of Chichen Itza as with many aspects of Mayan history is obscure: Written records are scarce. In the historical records which is exist, dates that were several years apart were often given the same name, due to the organization of the old Mayan calendar. Roughly all sources agree that from approximately AD to AD, Chichen Itza existed mainly as a ceremonial center for the Maya civilization. The area was then largely abandoned for about a hundred years no one knows reason , to be resettled around AD again.
Shortly before AD, it was invaded by a people from the north the Toltecs. A rival warrior faction forced Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl and also his followers out of Tula around AD. A strong case has been made that Kukulkan and Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl were most likely the same person, and that he brought the Toltec practices and beliefs to Chichen Itza, including the practice of human sacrifice.
The Toltecs were somewhat open to new ideas, however, at Chichen Itza incorporating some beliefs held by the Maya already. It remains open to the public days of the year.
Tourists, climbed the sites, had left their marks in the form of graffiti. The stone steps of monuments were already showing signs of rapid erosion.
It also controlled northern and central Yucatan at the time. It was one of the largest Maya cities and also had the most diverse population in any Maya population. It covered five square kilometers.
Many of the Maya people that lived in Chichen Itza were very skilled craftsmen, including sculptors, weavers, jewelers and potters. There is a wide variety of architectural styles that is attributed to the fact that Chichen Itza had such diverse population and culture. The people of Chichen Itza built strong allies with regional tribes and this helped them thrive for two centuries.
There is archaeological evidence to support the theory that civil war broke out in about Chichen Itza may have been a religious center for a period of time and is believed to have been a pilgrimage place for the Maya. Some suggest that the site where Chichen Itza was built was already a popular place of pilgrimage long before building of the city ever began. All the buildings of Chichen Itza are made from stone.
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