Chichen Itza, Mexico: the legacy of the ancient Mayans and Toltecs. Detailed guide. Chichen Itza: description, history, excursions, exact address What people built the city of Chichen Itza

Continuing the theme of the pyramids raised in the previous publication about Teotihuacan - the largest ancient city on the territory of America, one cannot ignore the equally famous Cheech complex e n-itz but(emphasis on bold letters), located in Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula.

How to get to Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is located just 200 km and two hours by car from the most popular Mexican resort Cancun, so it is a kind of must-see attraction in the region, and it really is. An excellent toll highway has been laid to the complex, which allows you to quickly and comfortably get there even by car or by bus.

The entire route marked on the map from point A (center of the Cancun resort) to Chichen Itza (point B) with a stop in Tulum (point C) and return to Cancun takes 480 km and 6 hours by car, which makes it easy enough to fit into one day.

Driving a car in Mexico at first creates the illusion of permissiveness - an excellent toll road, there are few cars, why not drive the pedal to the floor ?! However, be careful - traffic police in Mexico are very corrupt and is aimed at extorting money, in the first place, from tourists... I recommend not to exceed the speed strongly in excess of the recommended speed and be sure to read a story about my experience with the Mexican police, so that in case of something not to get on the money.

Basic facts about Chichen Itza

• Chichen Itza literally means "Well of the Itza tribe": under the well are meant large natural wells-senodes, where sacrifices were allegedly performed, and "itza" is one of the varieties of the Mayan tribes.
• The city is located in the jungle of Yucatan, away from the sea coast. Researchers believe that the choice of the site was due precisely to the presence of huge natural wells that served as a source of drinking water.
• it is believed that Chichen Itza was founded in 514... At the end of the 10th century, the warlike Toltec tribe captured Chichen Itza (perhaps the capture took place peacefully, by agreement), and it was after the arrival of the Toltecs that the most impressive buildings of the complex that have survived to this day were built.
• during its heyday, by the XII century A.D. Chichen Itza occupied an area of ​​about 10 square kilometers, on which lived up to 30,000 people.
• in 1178 Chichen Itza was captured the united army of the three Indian states. However, like Teotihuacan, the decline of the history of Chichen Itza turned out to be very fast: at the very peak of development: at the end of the 12th century, all residents suddenly left the city, after which it began to rapidly collapse. The Spanish conquistadors found only the ruins of the once largest city in the region.
• Chichen Itza remained abandoned while in 1843 the traveler John Stevenson did not accidentally stumble upon it. In the 1920s, extensive restoration work was carried out, and soon the complex was opened to the general public.

This is the official version of the history of Chichen Itza, however, as I have mentioned many times, these figures and facts need to be treated very skeptically, for which there are several reasons:

• what we see now in Chichen Itza is the result of the hard work of a large number of restorers who, of course, made a very beautiful picture, but left little chance to figure out in what form the Mayans first saw this city. The entrance to the inside of the pyramid is closed, and since 2006 it has become impossible to climb onto it.
• The “officially accepted” purpose of many of the surviving buildings raises many questions. So, in the sacrificial cenote, only about 100 bodies were found, and not young girls, but mainly children and men. The ball stadium is striking in proportions and stands out sharply from the entire row of buildings. It is simply impossible to observe anything in the starry sky from the so-called observatory. More details about this are below, in the Walking Tour of Chichen Itza section.
• dating of structures is based on the data of the Mayan chronicles. Representatives of academic science readily refer to this, but at the same time they forget to mention that the Mayan calendar does not provide the possibility of accurate dating of events. The Mayan calendar includes the so-called "short cycle" (52 years), within which each event is dated very precisely, and the "long cycle" (which covers a period of several million years). It is not always possible to understand what kind of 52-year cycle we are talking about, especially when the chronicles tell about some very distant events. So it turns out that the year 520 or 1040 will be recorded in the annals in the same way, if the chronicler did not leave special links to a long cycle, which was done extremely rarely.

It is customary in the scientific literature to admire the knowledge and achievements of the Maya civilization, ranging from an extremely accurate calendar to detailed astronomical knowledge, but there is no evidence that it was the Maya who created this knowledge. Moreover, the artifacts of the Mayan civilization that have come down to us just make us doubt this. So, the Maya did not know the wheels - while their logic of their calendar is best illustrated by exactly three round gears of different diameters:

In one of the following publications, I will tell you in detail about the oddities of the Mayan calendar, which, of course, deserve a separate analysis.

Temple of Kukulkan - dominant of Chichen Itza

Upon entering the complex, you find yourself on one of several paths leading to the pyramid.

Throughout Chichen Itza, along the paths, there are stalls of merchants with numerous souvenirs. The prices are reasonable, not overpriced compared to Cancun, but the abundance of stalls spoils and belittles the atmosphere of the place.

Soon the path leads you to an open area, in the middle of which rises the most famous pyramid of Chichen Itza - the Temple of the Feathered Serpent of Kukulcan (Castillo de Kukulcan), which is the undoubted dominant of the complex. As I already said, it is strictly forbidden to climb the pyramid, which is monitored by the numerous security guards of the complex.

Interesting Kukulkan Temple Facts:

• the pyramid is folded into 9 levels (steps), at its top there is a sanctuary.
• the temple has four sides, on each of which a staircase leads to the top, each of which has 91 steps. In total, this gives 364 steps (4 * 91), which in total with the area at the top gives 365 - the number of days in a year.
• as in Teutihuacan, the sides of the pyramid have a slight deviation from the current cardinal points, which indicates their "antediluvian" nature (i.e., it can be confidently asserted that the pyramid - or, at least, an ancient building on this site - was built before as a result of the cataclysm about 13,000 years ago there was a displacement of the earth's poles).
• The edges of the stairs are made in the shape of the head of the feathered serpent of Kukulkan. All sites vyingly write that on the days of the equinox an interesting effect is created due to the play of light - when the sun rises, it seems as if a snake is crawling along a pyramid. These days, Chichen Itzu has always seen an increased influx of tourists and locals who want to see this phenomenon. By the way, you can admire it a few days before or after the equinox (since the effect does not appear at once and does not disappear immediately).

I personally watched several of the most popular videos depicting this moment, and I can say for sure that the event has been sucked from the thumb. Yes, the shadow is visible, but it is practically motionless. At the same time, the people around are like at a football match, so you can't really see anything.

• Maya built pyramids like nesting dolls - so, inside this pyramid there is an older one, the existence of which became known only at the beginning of the 20th century. Unfortunately, there are no open studies of this pyramid (supporters of alternative history believe that this is due to the inability to write individual artifacts from this ancient pyramid into the official version of history).

• at the top of the pyramid is a jaguar temple, inside of which a wooden throne with a jaguar image with jade spots was found:

At the time of its discovery by Europeans in the 19th century, the Kukulkan temple was a pile of stones and looked something like this:

Huge ball game stadium

In addition to the Kukulkan temple, towering over the area, the complex amazes with one more structure, unlike anything else. This is, as it is called, a giant ball stadium. It differs from other stadiums and sports grounds in its truly gigantic dimensions. It is almost impossible to imagine ordinary people of our height playing on it.

According to the popular academic version, the goal of the game was to throw a ball full of grass with your feet into this ring (see photo above).

The stadium was also badly damaged (see photo of the mid-19th century before restoration):

There are many legends about the ancient Maya ball game, which differ only in one thing: who was the head cut off - the winning team or the loser. These scenes are depicted in multiple bas-reliefs surrounding the field.

Right at the stadium was the Jaguar Temple, in which, according to Indian chronicles, the sacrifice was performed after the ball game:

Of course, it was not without the image of Kukulkan - the Feathered Serpent, which was the main deity of the Maya:

By the way, for me, Kukulkan is very reminiscent of the ancient Chinese dragon - but here the question immediately arises as to what kind of connection could exist between South America and China in ancient times.

Other buildings

Among other buildings of Chichen Itza, the Temple of the Warriors can also be distinguished:

Many columns had a wooden roof.

Nearby is the so-called "Place of a Thousand Columns", where trade took place under the palm leaves (there was something like a market):

Cenotes of Chichen Itza

A trip to Chichen Itza brought a new word to my vocabulary - cenote. This is how huge natural wells are designated, in which groundwater from underground rivers accumulates. Cenotes on earth are quite rare, due to the specifics of their formation in limestone terrestrial rocks.

There are many such cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula. Two cenotes are located directly on the territory of the Chichen Itza complex, but there are several located a little further.

There is a widespread version according to which one of the cenotes was used by the ancient Mayans for sacrifices. It is called that now - the Holy Synod. Young virgins were allegedly thrown here to appease the gods.

However, a detailed study of the bottom of the cenote, undertaken at the beginning of the 20th century by the American archaeologist Edward Thompson, showed that this is nothing more than a beautiful myth for naive tourists. He managed to find only 50 bodies, most of which were men and children. Antiquity researcher Andrei Sklyarov put forward a version that these remains have nothing to do with sacrifices, but are only the result of accidents (for example, when children were sent to fetch water to a well, and they fell off a cliff).

Most of the Yucatan cenotes are not as gloomy as this one, and some of them are even suitable for swimming. Usually tourists go to swim in the cenote Ik Kil, which is located 5 kilometers from Chichen Itza.

The most convenient way to reach it is by car, using a navigator. You need to go towards the city of Valladolid, the turn to the cenote itself will be indicated by a signpost. Bathing in a cenote costs 70 pesos per person. We changed in cars, although the changing rooms on the territory of the complex can also be used. Young children are given vests for rent for an additional fee - they must be taken, because there are many people in the cenote, and the depth is great.

By the way, according to one of the versions, the rapid abandonment of the inhabitants of Chichen Itza is associated with a sharp drop in the water level in the cenotes, which served as the only source of drinking water.

Chichen Itza is open from 09:00 to 17:00. It is advisable to arrive in Chichen Itza early in the morning, before the city is flooded with tourist groups. The second option is to arrive in the evening, closer to closing. In either case, you are more likely to take good photos and enjoy this place. There is also the option to stay for the evening show (held every day at 19:00 in spring and winter and at 20:00 in summer), which costs 98 pesos per person.

If you arrive during rush hour, be prepared to wait 30-35 minutes for tickets at the box office. Of course, tickets cannot be purchased online.

At the entrance to the Chichen Itza complex, you will be offered various additional services, and this will be done immediately after the exit from the toll road. Don't buy or pay for anything other than official tickets. An entrance ticket to Chichen Itza is bought at the box office right at the entrance to the complex and costs 204 pesos (for both an adult and a child).

The peso / ruble exchange rate in October 2018 was 3.5 rubles per 1 peso.

To inspect and walk around the complex, you need to lay 3-4 hours, of which 2-2.5 hours will take you to inspect the central complex itself, and 1-1.5 hours - to swim in the nearby Cenote Ik Kil.

Over Chichen Itza, as in other places of archaeological sites in Mexico, quadrocopters are strictly prohibited. The vigilant security makes sure that they are not carried and turns the offenders in the direction of the storage room.

By the way, we nevertheless launched a quadrocopter over the pyramid, only we did it from the ring road. True, we lost our caution, flew very impudently, descending low over the pyramid, and we were very quickly tracked down. If you want to launch the quadcopter there, do it from a secluded place (not in the middle of the road), because in this case, the guards will find you pretty quickly. We barely managed to avoid a fine, and the guard forced us to erase all information from the camera.

Taking this opportunity, I say hello to him and send beams of gratitude to the authors of the utilities that allow you to recover deleted files from flash cards:

Overall, Chichen Itza is definitely a must-see for all tourists coming to Cancun. The spirit of antiquity is felt here, despite the shopping arcade throughout the complex and the lack of access to the most interesting parts of the pyramid.

In the next article I will tell you about the ancient city of Tulum where we stopped on the way back from Chichen Itza to Cancun. Subscribe to blog updates so as not to miss new publications.

Chichen Itza was once an important commercial and ceremonial center. It is believed to have been built between 600 and the end of the first millennium AD. The Maya Indians 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 there are already crowds gathering here. Remember that closer to noon it will become unbearably hot, and there is practically no shadow here.

You can explore the temple of El Castillo, built in the shape of a pyramid and dedicated to the god Kukulcan (Quetzalcoatl) depicted as a feathered serpent with a human head. They say that this snake, sliding down from the pyramid, can be seen twice a year - at 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-centimeter snake, "crawling" as the sun moves to its own head, carved at the base of the stairs ... The phenomenal show lasts about 3.5 hours and attracts a lot of people. In ancient times, the appearance of a snake served as signals for the beginning of sowing cereals or harvesting.

Don't miss the opportunity to see the surviving fragments of the large ball court, Huego 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! Captives captured in wars were forced to play here; it is not known who was then sacrificed - winners or losers, but it is known for certain that their heads, along with many others, were exhibited on peaks on the Wall with the image of skulls, Tsompantli (Tzompantli).

However, not all the remains of the sacred victims ended up here. Sacred Cenote, Cenote Sagrado (Cenote Sogrado)- an impressive natural well 90 m in diameter, in which researchers found not only gold bars and jadeite jewelry, but also children's skeletons. Looking into an abyss 20 m deep, you can imagine the horror that the condemned experienced before they were sacrificed to the rain gods, and 170 km (about 3 hours on the way) from Cancun (Cancun) on the way to Merida (Merida)... 8.00-17.00 daily. Buses run frequently from Cancun and other resorts on the Mayan Riviera. They usually take organized excursions. From Cozumel and the island of Mujeres, many tourists arrive directly with their luggage to go home the same day - it's cheaper and less tiring.

What to watch

• "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 about 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-centimeter snake, "creeping" as the sun moves to its own head, carved at the base stairs.);
• "Temple of Warriors in Chichen Itza" on a low 4-step pyramid and "Temple of the Jaguars" (both with wall paintings);
• Observatory "Karakol";
• 7 "stadiums" for ball games ("Large field for the ball game" (Huego de Pelota)- the largest playground ever created by the Maya. The playing field is 135 meters long.There is some evidence that a certain amount of brutality was involved in playing the ball.);
• 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 a characteristic stylization of plastic forms, reliefs rich in plant and geometric ornamentation, works of small plastic and artistic crafts, etc.

History

During their heyday, the Maya managed to erect many architectural monuments that amaze us with their size and beauty. The 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 the Mayan rulers ordered the construction of a large city around three natural bodies of water. Thanks to the underground springs that fed the lakes, the population of the city had plenty of water all year round.

Tens of thousands of Mayans participated in the construction of a city intended for rulers and priests with their families. Ordinary members of the tribe lived in adobe 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 found such traces of the 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. Survived only a small part of the Maya Indians - in order to in the XVI century. to be under the thumb of Spain. The Spanish chronicles mention the Maya as a primitive tribe living on the fruits of the jungle that surrounds it. It is not surprising that the European conquerors very quickly became the masters of the situation.

The power of the ruler Chichen Itza was symbolized by his throne, erected at the top of the pyramid of Kukulkan. With a height of 30 m, it dominates all the surrounding buildings. The most complex iconography, as well as the numerical proportions laid down in the construction, indicate that the Maya had extensive technical knowledge. The pyramid itself can be considered an example of the "magic of numbers" used by the Maya. On its basement floor there are 4 flights of stairs with 91 steps each. 4 X 91 + 1 (base itself)= 365, the number of days in a year. Opposite the pyramid of Kukulkan is the Temple of Warriors (Templos de los Guerreros)... Its attraction is the Hall of 1000 Columns, which allegedly served as a barracks. Its rear doors open onto a 91 X 36 m ball court.

Images of snakes are ubiquitous in all structures of Chichen Itza. Kukulkan, "the serpent-crawling-out-of-the-tower," and Quetzalcoatl, the "feathered serpent", were considered the main deities by the Maya. And faith in them could not be destroyed even by the collapse of the state itself. When in the XVI century. the Spaniards landed on the Yucatan, the feathered serpent was still considered the main deity among the descendants of the Maya and Mexican Aztecs.

Chronology

• OK. 435-455: According to a much later Chumayel chronicle, Chichen Itza was founded between 435 and 455. AD It is believed that the city was abandoned by the inhabitants by the end of the 9th century. The Toltecs conquered it in 987.
• 999: The Mayan ruler from Tula, named by Quetzalcoatl in honor of the main deity, died.
• 1533: Yucatan is conquered by the Spaniards.
• 1841-1842: Research by John Stevens initiated the scientific study of Chichen Itza.
• 1904-1907: Cavers discovered a source recognized as "holy" or "mystical."
• 1923: Beginning of systematic excavations at Chichen Itza. F 1988: Chichen Itza is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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 a UNESCO World Cultural 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 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 destinations in the Yucatan and 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.

History of the city

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 Spaniards and the manuscripts were 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 an astronomical significance.

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 an even more ancient pyramid, into which a hole in the floor of the sanctuary leads.

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. According to legend, the very first owner of this throne 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. On her belly she has a flat bowl 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 go out, thus, it seems that this is the tail of a huge serpent, 37 meters long, moving down.

Now such a 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 Mayan times, 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 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 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 it was played 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

Another ancient building is Karakol. This is a tower on two platforms, it was used to observe celestial astronomical objects. It is often called the Observatory.

The history of Central America knows several civilizations. But it was the Mayan culture that always attracted me. First of all, I was interested in how this civilization, which knew neither wheel nor iron, was able to achieve such a level of development of the exact sciences, primarily mathematics and astronomy. And what structures they left behind. Therefore, when the opportunity arose for another trip, I did not hesitate to choose Mexico, the country where Chichen Itza, the iconic Mayan city, whose photos have become the hallmark of Central.

History of Chichen Itza, the ancient Mayan city

The first question that interests every traveler who finds himself in this mysterious place is what ancient people built the city of Chichen Itza and when it happened. The city was founded in V-VI centuries by the Itza people, one of the tribes of the Mayan civilization. At this time, a stage began in the history of Chichen Itza, which in the pre-Columbian period is identified with the Maya period. The city was one of the most important cultural centers and flourished until the end of the 7th century, after which it fell into relative decline.

In the X century, Chichen Itza conquered by the Toltec tribes and by the middle of the 11th century it became the capital of their state. In the 12th century, as a result of a conflict with neighboring city-states, the city was severely damaged, but after that it existed for some time and even developed. At the end of the 13th century, for unknown reasons, the city fell into decay and was completely abandoned by people. At the time of the invasion of the Spanish conquerors in the 15th-16th centuries, Chichen Itza was already completely abandoned and partially in ruins.

Since the conquistadors did not show interest in the history of local peoples, they even tried to destroy the traces of their ancient civilizations, no one was interested in the abandoned city for a long time.

Only in the 19th century, on the wave of national liberation movements, as well as an increased interest in science, the abandoned city attracted attention. At first, isolated private researchers, adventurers and fans of the occult sciences became interested in him. Then Chichen Itza began to attract tourists and people of art. It was only in the middle of the 20th century that they became interested in the unique city at the official level, and the Mexican government decided to partially restore the original appearance of Chichen Itza in order to attract tourists.

Major attractions

When you are lucky enough to visit this mysterious city, pay attention to the following sights:

Pyramid of Kukulkan in the city of Chichen Itza. A grandiose structure that had both ritual and astronomical significance. Dedicated to Kukulkan - a deity in the form of a feathered serpent with a human head, the patron saint of rain and wind. The pyramid is identified not only with Chichen Itza and, perhaps, with all the pre-Columbian civilizations of Central America.

It consists of nine steps, which are divided by stairs on each face of the pyramid, into two parts, which gives a purely 18 - the number of days in a month in the Mayan calendar. Each of the four stairs consists of 91 steps, i.e. in total 364, and together with the upper platform 365 - the number of days in a year. The faces of the pyramid are located strictly on the cardinal points, and each has 52 relief images, which corresponds to the number of years in the Mayan calendar cycle. At the foot of the northern staircase, the stone head of a snake is carved in such a way that the railing of the staircase is the body of the snake.

An interesting effect is observed on the days of the spring and autumn equinox. The shadow from the edge of the pyramid falls on the railing of the stairs in such a way that it creates the illusion of a giant snake moving. At the top of the pyramid is the very sanctuary of Kukulkan.

Not so long ago, scientists discovered another, more ancient pyramid under the pyramid of Kukulkan. It also has nine tiers, and inside it was the main symbol of the Mayan rulers - a stone throne, known as the Jaguar Mat.

Since 2006, climbing the pyramid is prohibited, and the traveler can be content with close-up contemplation, which, believe me, is not so little.

Other attractions in Chichen Itza

• Temple of Mayan Warriors in the city of Chichen Itza... A structure located on a four-stage pyramid. The central staircase is crowned with stone human figures. At the top is the temple itself, at the entrance to which there are two columns in the form of snakes, images of Kukulkan. Four rows of columns with images of warriors are installed near the temple.
• Observatory... A round dome mounted on a square platform. Interestingly, the windows are located in such a way that they correspond to the position of the celestial bodies relative to the earth.
• Ball field... The area is 168x70 m in size, surrounded by a high (up to 8 m) wall. A stone ring was installed high on the wall, into which the players had to throw a rubber ball. The foot of the walls is decorated with images of human sacrifices. Moreover, many researchers are inclined to believe that these are the players of the losing team.
• Jaguar temple... Located on the east side of the ball court. It got its name from the many images of a jaguar on its facade. Perhaps the priests watched the ball game from here.
• Temple of the Bearded Man... Located north of the ball court. A relief depicting a man with a beard was found inside the temple, which was the reason for this name.
• Sacred Cenote, or Death Well... Natural karst depression with a diameter of up to 60 m and a depth of up to 50 m. Served for dropping the bodies of people sacrificed.
• Group of a thousand columns... Ruins of columns that form a giant rectangle.
• Pyramid Tomb of the High Priest... A ten-meter pyramid, on top of which there is a platform with tombstones. Perhaps it served for the burial of the nobility or spiritual leaders of the Maya, from where it got its name.

Mayan Warrior Temple

How to get there

To get to the Chichen Itza complex, you can:

• from the city of Merida, the journey by bus will take less than two hours and will cost $ 12 (first class) or $ 6.5 (second class);
• from Cancun, by bus for 2.5 hours and $ 16 (first class) or $ 12 (second class);

The most mysterious places on Earth: Maya. Chichen Itza - video

How did the Maya manage to create such an advanced culture that they predicted for our civilization, and why do thousands of people seeking spiritual enlightenment besiege these ruins every year? Could modern rituals reveal the secrets of Chichen Itza? You will learn about this by watching the video. Happy viewing!

• In 2007, the "New Seven Wonders of the World" competition was held, as a result of which the pyramids and the city of Chichen Itza in Mexico became the finalist of the project.
• UNESCO recognized the Chichen Itza complex as an object of material and cultural heritage of mankind.

A stay in the mysterious city of Chichen Itza leaves an ambivalent feeling. On the one hand, you understand that you have touched a huge and not fully explored layer of history. On the other hand, the ubiquitous images and stories of the guides about the human sacrifices carried out here are somewhat depressing.

Friends, who have any impressions of visiting this place? I look forward to your messages in the comments.

About 120 kilometers southeast of the city of Merida are the ruins of the ancient city of Chichen Itza. It is the most famous archaeological site of the Mayan period and the Yucatan state.

We continue the series of stories about the pyramids of the world from LifeGlobe. Last time we talked about the underwater pyramids of Yonaguni Island, now came through the story of the great city of the Mayan Indians, their culture and structures.

Contrary to popular belief, the Maya were not an empire - they were a group of autonomous cities, often interacting with other states in the region. Chichen Itza and many other important Mayan cities were built in accordance with the sacred beliefs of the Indians - cities were built, reflecting the position of various astronomical objects of the night sky

So, who did build this ancient city and its pyramids? The Maya were an ancient civilization of southern Mexico and other South American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and El Salvador. Nowadays, about 6 million Mayan descendants live here, speaking many different dialects

The Maya people were very well versed in astronomy, during the first millennium of our era, they studied in detail and mapped the movement of the sun, moon, as well as other planets and stars. Their religion and mythology was based on this, explaining the past, present and future. The Maya also invented a brilliant mathematical system, a writing system, and a combination of three precise interconnected calendars.

In addition to the city of Chichen Itza, the Maya are also famous for a number of other temple cities, such as Palenque, Uxmal, Copan, etc. Many of these cities have been restored by archaeologists, while some remain underground and await their turn. It is also worth noting that the Maya were able to travel long distances across the ocean by developing a sophisticated method of navigating the stars.

Let's turn specifically to the history of the construction of the city of Chichen Itza. The Proto-Maya tribes inhabited the flat plateau of the Yucatan Peninsula for 8000 years. Archaeologists believe that this place has been a major pilgrimage site for millennia.

Chichen Itza became the capital and social center of the Maya in the eighth century. First, the coastal territories of the Yucatan were inhabited, then the settlements spread over the entire peninsula. Thanks to two large sources of clean water that do not dry out throughout the year, Chichen Itza became the most powerful Mayan city

In the 10th century, the city was captured by the Toltecs, making Chichen Itza the capital of the Toltec state, but was later conquered by the combined army of the three Mayan cities. After the 12th century, the Yucatan was mysteriously deserted, as the Spanish conquerors destroyed Mayan manuscripts and clergy. By the time of the Spanish conquests in the 16th century, Chichen Itza was solid ruins

As a result of excavations on the territory of the city, many architectural monuments have been discovered, in particular, the famous Chichen Itza pyramids. The most prominent among them is the Temple of Kukulkan - a pyramid of 9 steps, 24 meters high. It is surprising that on the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes, the rays of the sun illuminate the stairs of the pyramid in such a way that they form the image of seven isosceles triangles, which, in turn, make up the body of a 37-meter snake, crawling as the sun moves to its head, carved in stone at the base stairs

The Temple of the Warriors of Chichen Itza is located on a small pyramid of 4 steps, it is adjacent to the Temple of the Jaguars and the Mayan Observatory called Caracol. Surprisingly, the Mayan Indians played football. Naturally, not in the form in which it is customary to play this game now, but nevertheless, during excavations, 7 large fields for a ball game were discovered. The largest field was 135 meters long

We also managed to preserve the statues of the gods, with very interesting detail and style of execution, many craft items and various utensils. A sacred well 50 meters deep has also survived, which was probably used for sacrifices.

In our time, the Mexican government has bought a piece of land of 83 hectares, on which the city of Chichen Itza is located, in order to preserve it. This is one of the main attractions of Mexico, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In 2007, the city was recognized as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

The Aztecs had similar cities in Mexico, for example, the city of Teotihuacan, which looks no less majestic.

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