Chichen Chichen ItzaItza

Gabriela Estrada-Gabriela Estrada-TorresTorres

General InfoGeneral Info Chichen Itza means “at the Chichen Itza means “at the

mouth of the Itza well.”mouth of the Itza well.” It is a Mayan city in Mexico It is a Mayan city in Mexico

on the Yucatan Peninsula, on the Yucatan Peninsula, between Valladolid and between Valladolid and Merida.Merida.

It was established before It was established before the period of Christopher the period of Christopher ColumbusColumbus

Today it is the second most Today it is the second most visited site in Mexico, the visited site in Mexico, the first being the Kukulcan first being the Kukulcan Pyramid which is one of Pyramid which is one of the seven wonders of the the seven wonders of the world.world.

DescriptionDescription

Their artistic works and stone Their artistic works and stone monuments show the Maya monuments show the Maya and Toltec vision of the world and Toltec vision of the world and the universe.and the universe.

The city was built in the 7The city was built in the 7thth to to 1010thth century A.D. Mayan style. century A.D. Mayan style.

It was made to be a religious It was made to be a religious center for the Mayans, and center for the Mayans, and covers about 6 square miles.covers about 6 square miles.

When the Toltecs took over, When the Toltecs took over, they added a 2they added a 2ndnd half of the half of the city which was built in the 10city which was built in the 10thth to 13to 13thth century A.D. century A.D. Toltec/Mayan style. Toltec/Mayan style.

The carvings on the Platform The carvings on the Platform of the Jaguars and the Eagles of the Jaguars and the Eagles (lower right picture) (lower right picture) demonstrates the Toltec demonstrates the Toltec influence on the Maya of influence on the Maya of Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza.

The Temple of WarriorsThe Temple of Warriors The temple is named for the The temple is named for the

columns, over 200 in all, along columns, over 200 in all, along the front of the main temple all the front of the main temple all carved with Toltec warriors on carved with Toltec warriors on each side.each side.

The temple is dedicated to the The temple is dedicated to the god Chac-Mool. There is a god Chac-Mool. There is a reclining statue of the god reclining statue of the god (lower right picture) in the (lower right picture) in the center of the temple and the center of the temple and the staircases have Chac masks on staircases have Chac masks on either side.either side.

Along the west side of the Along the west side of the temple are more rows of temple are more rows of columns making the site’s total columns making the site’s total columns more than 1000. All the columns more than 1000. All the columns probably held a columns probably held a thatched roof. Guides call this thatched roof. Guides call this area the marketplace.area the marketplace.

Kukulcan’s PyramidKukulcan’s Pyramid Kukulcan’s Pyramid, also known Kukulcan’s Pyramid, also known

as El Castillo (the castle in as El Castillo (the castle in Spanish), is a square-based, Spanish), is a square-based, stepped pyramid that is about stepped pyramid that is about 75 feet tall. (see lower left 75 feet tall. (see lower left picture)picture)

During March 20 and During March 20 and September 21 (vernal and September 21 (vernal and autumnal equinoxes) at around autumnal equinoxes) at around 3 pm the sunlight bathes the 3 pm the sunlight bathes the western railing of the pyramid's western railing of the pyramid's main stairway. This makes 7 main stairway. This makes 7 triangles form body of a triangles form body of a serpent 37 yards long that goes serpent 37 yards long that goes downwards until it joins the downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stone at the bottom of the stairway. (see upper left stairway. (see upper left picture)picture)

The Great Ball CourtThe Great Ball Court

The Great Ball Court of Chichen Itza is 545 feet long and 225 feet wide The Great Ball Court of Chichen Itza is 545 feet long and 225 feet wide overall and does not have a roof.overall and does not have a roof.

The sound waves are unaffected by wind direction or time of day/night The sound waves are unaffected by wind direction or time of day/night and a whisper can be heard all through the court. It can not be explained and a whisper can be heard all through the court. It can not be explained to this day. to this day.

Legends say that the winning captain would have his head decapitated by Legends say that the winning captain would have his head decapitated by the losing captain. The Mayans thought this to be the ultimate honor.the losing captain. The Mayans thought this to be the ultimate honor.

Instead of going through the 13 steps that the Mayan's believed they had Instead of going through the 13 steps that the Mayan's believed they had to go through in order to reach heaven, the winning captain got a direct to go through in order to reach heaven, the winning captain got a direct ticket there. ticket there.

The Grand CenoteThe Grand Cenote Northern Yucatan is arid (not a lot of Northern Yucatan is arid (not a lot of

rain), and the interior has no rain), and the interior has no aboveground rivers, making natural aboveground rivers, making natural sinkholes called cenotes the only sinkholes called cenotes the only sources of water. sources of water.

The two at Chichen Itza are large but in The two at Chichen Itza are large but in other areas they can be small. Of the other areas they can be small. Of the two, the larger, the "Cenote Sagrado" or two, the larger, the "Cenote Sagrado" or Sacred Cenote, is more famous.Sacred Cenote, is more famous.

The pre-Columbian Maya threw The pre-Columbian Maya threw sacrificial objects and human beings into sacrificial objects and human beings into the cenote as a form of worship to the cenote as a form of worship to Chaac, the Maya rain god according to Chaac, the Maya rain god according to post-Conquest sources (both Maya and post-Conquest sources (both Maya and Spanish).Spanish).

Archaeologists found various types of Archaeologists found various types of offerings, including jade carvings, offerings, including jade carvings, pottery, gold and silver artifacts and pottery, gold and silver artifacts and even human skeletons in the Cenote of even human skeletons in the Cenote of Sacrifice. Sacrifice.

The cenote was also considered by the The cenote was also considered by the Maya to be an entrance to the Maya to be an entrance to the underworld and it is believed that the underworld and it is believed that the sacrificial victims were paying respect to sacrificial victims were paying respect to Chac-Mool by entering this underworld. Chac-Mool by entering this underworld.

The ObservatoryThe Observatory South of the Castillo is a South of the Castillo is a

round building known as the round building known as the Carocal (or snail in Spanish) Carocal (or snail in Spanish) because it has an interior because it has an interior staircase that spirals staircase that spirals upward like a snail's shell. upward like a snail's shell.

In order to calibrate its In order to calibrate its astronomical observation astronomical observation capacity, the Caracol was capacity, the Caracol was built and rebuilt several built and rebuilt several times during its time of use.times during its time of use.

The windows in the Caracol The windows in the Caracol are believed to enable the are believed to enable the tracking of the movement of tracking of the movement of Venus, the Pleiades, the sun Venus, the Pleiades, the sun and the moon and other and the moon and other celestial objects. celestial objects.

The Nunnery The Nunnery The Nunnery Group includes the Nunnery, its Annex (or East Annex), the Iglesia (church in The Nunnery Group includes the Nunnery, its Annex (or East Annex), the Iglesia (church in

Spanish) and the Akab Dzib. The group is located south of the Observatory but in the same Spanish) and the Akab Dzib. The group is located south of the Observatory but in the same area, one complex clearly visible from the other. The group is often referred to as Las area, one complex clearly visible from the other. The group is often referred to as Las Monjas (the nuns in Spanish).Monjas (the nuns in Spanish).

Over a period of three centuries (8th-11th), it underwent seven stages of construction and Over a period of three centuries (8th-11th), it underwent seven stages of construction and doubled in size. The Nunnery is the most complex Late Classic structure at Chichen Itza and doubled in size. The Nunnery is the most complex Late Classic structure at Chichen Itza and possibly the earliest (7th century). possibly the earliest (7th century).

It is built in the Puuc tradition, deviating from the classic style of western Yucatán in only It is built in the Puuc tradition, deviating from the classic style of western Yucatán in only one detail. Most of Chichen's Puuc-style architecture has plain, unadorned, block-masonry one detail. Most of Chichen's Puuc-style architecture has plain, unadorned, block-masonry wall. Hallmark Puuc construction calls for rubble walls finished by precision veneer work.wall. Hallmark Puuc construction calls for rubble walls finished by precision veneer work.

Platform of the Eagles Platform of the Eagles and the Jaguarsand the Jaguars

The Platform of the Eagles The Platform of the Eagles and Jaguars has intricate and Jaguars has intricate carvings on all sides carvings on all sides consisting of representations consisting of representations of two of the icons of two of the icons worshipped by the Maya worshipped by the Maya after the Toltecs asserted after the Toltecs asserted their influence, the eagle their influence, the eagle and the jaguar.and the jaguar.

The carvings show both The carvings show both animals clutching human animals clutching human hearts in their claws (see hearts in their claws (see left), which prompted an left), which prompted an earlier name for the earlier name for the structure, Temple of the structure, Temple of the Sacrifices. Sacrifices.

TourismTourism Fernando Barbachano Peon, started Fernando Barbachano Peon, started

Yucatan’s first official tourism business Yucatan’s first official tourism business in the early 1920s. In 1944 he in the early 1920s. In 1944 he purchased the entire site of Chichen purchased the entire site of Chichen Itza and constructed a hotel, which Itza and constructed a hotel, which caused further tourist visitation of the caused further tourist visitation of the ruins.ruins.

In 1961 and 1967 there were more In 1961 and 1967 there were more expeditions to recover artifacts from expeditions to recover artifacts from the Cenote Sagrado. the Cenote Sagrado.

In 1972, Mexico enacted the Federal In 1972, Mexico enacted the Federal Law over Monuments and Law over Monuments and Archeological, Artistic and Historic Sites Archeological, Artistic and Historic Sites that put all the nation's pre-Columbian that put all the nation's pre-Columbian monuments, including those at Chichen monuments, including those at Chichen Itza, under federal ownership. Itza, under federal ownership.

In the 1980s, Chichen Itza began to In the 1980s, Chichen Itza began to receive many visitors on the day of the receive many visitors on the day of the spring equinox. Thousands of people spring equinox. Thousands of people went to see the light-and-shadow effect went to see the light-and-shadow effect on the Temple of Kukulcan in which the on the Temple of Kukulcan in which the feathered serpent god can be seen feathered serpent god can be seen crawling down the side of the pyramid.crawling down the side of the pyramid.

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