The Astronomy of Chitzen-Itza
Transcript of The Astronomy of Chitzen-Itza
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The Astronomy of Chitzen-Itza
By: Alexa March
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Overview
Over spring break I went to Mexico with myfamily. We were very lucky to get theopportunity to visit Chitzen-Itza during our
vacation. It was a great experience and I wassurprised and excited to learn of how involvedin astronomy the Mayans were. I learned a lotand glad Im able to share that information
with you in this powerpoint presentationincluding the pictures of the city I took myself.Enjoy!
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History of Chitzen-Itza
Originating in the Yucatan around 2600 B.C., they
rose to prominence around A.D. 250 in present-
day southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize
and western Honduras. Building on the inheritedinventions and ideas of earlier civilizations such
as the Olmec, the Maya developed astronomy,
calendrical systems and hieroglyphic writing. The
city started to decline around A.D. 900 when - for
reasons which are still largely a mystery - the
southern Maya abandoned their cities.
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EL CASTLLO, The
Pyramid of Kukulkan
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The temple is 91 ft. high, with two sides
completely restored and the other two in the
original state
There are 91 steps on each side plus the platformat the top as the final step makes the of 365 steps
to represent each day of the solar year
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On the spring and autumn equinox, the
shadow of the Sun on the stars causes the
illusion of a snake moving down the
pyramid.
At the top of the pyramid in the templeare carvings of Chac, the rain god and
Quetzalcoatl, the serpent god
Every year tens of thousands of people
flock to see this
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THE CARACOL, The
Observatory
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The intense interest of the Maya in the annual
travels of the sun across the sky is evident in many
structures at Chichn-Itz and other Mayan Sites.
Thought to house the oldest constructions, the
Nunnery and the Church, were believed to be
responsible for holding up the heavens.
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Several of its windows point towards the equinox
sunset and the southernmost and northernmost points
on the horizon where Venus rises.
Tower was used for astronomy; its windows werealigned with the four cardinal directions and the
position of the setting sun at the equinoxes.
One window marks an appearance of Venus at a
particular point on the horizon that takes place, like
clockwork, once every eight years.
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_02.JPG -
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THE PLATFORM OF VENUS
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_02.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_02.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPG -
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A platform dedicated to the planet Venus
located near the grave of the High Priest
The function of this platform was probably for
ceremonies, rites, and dances
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPG -
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More pictures of the Mayan city
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The Ball Court
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The Cenote
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THE END