Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan city in Mexico, home to the famous Mayan pyramids and temples. Chichen Itza - are Mexico's most famous pyramids really that good? Chichen Itza short description

Continuing the theme of pyramids touched upon in the previous publication about Teotihuacan - the largest ancient city in America, one cannot ignore the no less famous Cheech complex e n-Its A(emphasis on letters in bold), 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 of Cancun, so it is a kind of must-see attraction in the region, and it really is. There is an excellent toll highway to the complex, which allows you to quickly and comfortably get there either by car or by bus.

The entire route marked on the map from point A (the 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 quite easy to fit into one day.

Driving in Mexico at first creates the illusion of permissiveness - an excellent toll road, few cars, why not put the pedal to the metal?! However, be careful - The traffic police in Mexico are very corrupt and is aimed at extorting money, first of all, from tourists. I recommend not to exceed the speed much above the recommended speed and be sure to read a story about my experience with the Mexican police so that if something happens you don’t end up with money.

Basic facts about Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza literally means "The Well of the Itza Tribe": Well refers to large natural wells-senods where sacrifices were supposedly made, and “itsa” is one of the varieties of the Mayan tribes.
The city is located in the jungle of Yucatan, far from the sea coast. Researchers believe that the choice of location was due precisely to the presence of huge natural wells that served as a source 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 were built, surviving to this day.
in its heyday, by the 12th century AD. Chichen Itza occupied an area of about 10 square kilometers, where people lived up to 30,000 people.
in 1178 Chichen Itza was captured a united army of 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 what had once been largest city region.
Chichen Itza remained abandoned until in 1843 Traveler John Stevenson did not stumble upon it by chance. In the 1920s, large-scale restoration work was carried out, and the complex was soon 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 should be treated with great skepticism, for which there are a number of 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 virtually no chance to understand the form in which the Mayans first saw this city. The entrance to the pyramid is closed, and since 2006 it has become impossible to climb onto it.
The “officially accepted” purpose of many surviving buildings raises many questions. Thus, only about 100 bodies were found in the sacrificial cenote, not young girls, but mostly children and men. The ball stadium is striking in its proportions and stands out sharply from the rest of the buildings. It is simply impossible to observe anything in the starry sky from the so-called observatory. More details about this below, in the section Walking around Chichen Itza.
the dating of the structures is based on data from the Mayan chronicles. Representatives of academic science readily refer to this, but they forget to mention that the Mayan calendar does not make it possible to accurately date 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 exactly which 52-year cycle we are talking about, especially when the chronicles tell about some events that are very distant in time. So it turns out that the year 520 or 1040 will be recorded in the chronicle in the same way, if the chronicler did not leave special links to the long cycle, which was done extremely rarely.

It is customary in scientific literature to admire the knowledge and achievements of the Mayan civilization, ranging from an extremely accurate calendar to detailed astronomical knowledge, but there is no evidence that the Mayans created this knowledge. Moreover, the artifacts of the Mayan civilization that have reached us cast doubt on this. So, the Mayans did not know wheels - and their logic of their calendar is best illustrated by three round gears of different diameters:

How the Mayan calendar works

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

Temple of Kukulkan - the dominant feature of Chichen Itza

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

The entrance to the complex is marked with the letter E. There is also paid parking there, which must be paid separately. We took advantage free parking, located approximately 500-600 meters from the entrance.

Throughout Chichen Itza, along the paths there are stalls selling numerous souvenirs. Prices are reasonable, not overpriced compared to Cancun, but the abundance of stalls spoils and detracts from the atmosphere of the place.

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

Interesting Facts about the Kukulkan Temple:

The pyramid is folded into 9 levels (steps), at its top there is a sanctuary.
the temple has four sides, on each of which there is a staircase leading to the top, each of which has 91 steps. In total, this gives 364 steps (4 * 91), which, together with the platform at the top, gives 365 - the number of days in a year.
as in Tehutihuacan, the faces of the pyramid have a slight deviation from the current cardinal directions, which indicates their “antediluvian” nature (i.e. it can be confidently stated that the pyramid - or, at least, ancient building on this site - was built before the shift of the earth's poles occurred as a result of a cataclysm about 13,000 years ago).
The edges of the stairs are made in the shape of the head of the feathered serpent Kukulkan. All sites vying with each other write that on the days of the equinox, due to the play of light, an interesting effect is created - when the sun rises, it seems as if a snake is crawling along a pyramid. These days there is always an increased influx of tourists to Chichen Itza and local residents who want to see this phenomenon. By the way, you can admire it several days before or after the equinox (since the effect does not appear all 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 was made up of nothing. 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.

The Mayans 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 is no open research on this pyramid (proponents of alternative history believe that this is due to the inability to fit individual artifacts from this ancient pyramid into official version stories).

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

Wooden throne in the form of a red jaguar

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

Huge ball stadium

In addition to the Temple of Kukulkan, which towers over the area, the complex amazes with another structure that is unlike anything else. It's about oh, as they call it, a giant ballpark. It differs from other stadiums and sports grounds in its truly gigantic size. It is almost impossible to imagine ordinary people of our height playing on it.

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

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

There are many legends around the ancient Mayan ball game, which differ only in one thing: whose heads were cut off - the winning team or the losing one. These scenes are depicted in multiple bas-reliefs surrounding the field.

Right next to the stadium there was the Temple of the Jaguar, in which, according to Indian chronicles, the sacrifice was made after the ball game:

Jaguar Temple in the background

Of course, there was also an image of Kukulkan - the Feathered Serpent, who was the main deity of the Mayans:

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

Other buildings

Among other buildings of Chichen Itza, one can also highlight the Temple of the Warriors:

There was a wooden roof on many columns.

We are in the role of the famous Asian monkeys: I don’t see anything, I don’t hear anything, I won’t tell anyone anything

Nearby is the so-called “place of a thousand columns”, where trade took place under palm leaves (there was something like a market):

Group of a Thousand Columns at Chichen Itza

Cenotes of Chichen Itza

Traveling to Chichen Itza introduced a new word into my vocabulary - cenote. This designates huge natural wells in which groundwater from underground rivers accumulates. Cenotes on earth are quite rare, which is due to the specific nature of their formation in limestone 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 away.

A widely accepted version is that one of the cenotes was used by the ancient Mayans for sacrifices. That’s what it’s called now—the Holy Synod. Young virgins were supposedly dumped here to appease the gods.

Sacred Cenote in Chichen Itza

However, a detailed study of the bottom of the cenote, undertaken at the beginning of the 20th century by 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. Ancient researcher Andrei Sklyarov put forward the version that these remains are in no way connected with sacrifices, but are only the result of accidents (for example, when children were sent to a well for water, and they fell from a cliff).

Most 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 Ik Kil cenote, which is located 5 kilometers from Chichen Itza.

Swimming in Cenote Ik Kil

The most convenient way to get there is by car, using a navigator. You need to drive towards the city of Valladolid; the turnout to the cenote itself will be indicated by a sign. The cost of swimming in a cenote is 70 pesos per person. We changed clothes in our cars, although you can also use the changing rooms on site. Young children are given vests to rent for an additional fee - you should definitely take them, because there are a lot of people in the cenote and the depth is great.

By the way, according to one version, the rapid abandonment of the residents 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 to Chichen Itza early in the morning, before the city is flooded tourist groups. The second option is to arrive in the evening, closer to closing. In both cases there is a greater chance of doing nice 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 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, it is impossible to purchase tickets 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 toll road. Do not buy or pay for anything other than official tickets. The entrance ticket to Chichen Itza is purchased at the ticket office right at the entrance to the complex and costs 204 pesos (for both adults and children).

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

You need to budget 3-4 hours for exploring and walking around the complex, of which 2-2.5 hours will be spent exploring the central complex itself, and 1-1.5 hours will be spent swimming in the nearby Cenote Ik Kil.

Above Chichen Itza, as in other places archaeological sites Mexico, quadcopter flights are strictly prohibited. Vigilant security ensures that they are not smuggled in and turns violators towards the storage room.

By the way, we still launched the quadcopter over the pyramid, but we did it from the ring road. True, we lost our caution, flew very brazenly, descending low over the pyramid, and we were quickly identified. If you want to fly the quadcopter there, do it from a secluded place (not in the middle of the road), because... in this case, the security will detect you fairly quickly. We barely managed to avoid a fine, and the security guard forced us to erase all information from the camera.

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

The central pyramid of Chichen Itza, photographed in the rays of the setting sun

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

In the next article I will tell about the ancient city of Tulum, where we stopped on the way back from Chichen Itza to Cancun. Subscribe to blog updates so you don't miss new posts.

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Chichen Itza is the grandiose center of the Maya-Toltec civilization, which absorbed the knowledge, beliefs and ideas of these peoples about the universe and the world around them. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Kukulcan Pyramid located here has been declared one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Entrance to the territory is 220 MXN, the cost of guide services is 750 MXN. Prices on the page are as of November 2019.

Access is open from 8:00 to 17:00.

History and culture

The history of the city can be roughly divided into two periods: the first lasted from the 7th to the 10th century, when it belonged to the Mayans, the second came in the 10th century after the Toltecs captured the territory. In the mid-11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital of the Toltec state, and in 1178 it was defeated by the united army of the rebel Mayan tribe from three cities: Mayapan, Uxmal and Itzmal. For a reason that remained an unsolved mystery, the city was completely deserted at the end of the 12th century. The buildings of Chichen Itza were gradually covered with a continuous carpet of thickets of tropical plants, until archaeological and restoration work began here in 1920.

The Toltecs worshiped a deity called Quetzacoatl or Kukulcan in the Mayan language, which means “feathered serpent”, whose images are juxtaposed here with the rain god Chak.

Currently, Chichen Itza is the most fully and efficiently restored Mayan city, annually attracting great amount tourists.

Where is it and how to get to Chichen Itza

A first class bus will take you from Merida in 1 hour 45 minutes and 200 MXN. Second class will cost 120 MXN, travel time is 2.5 hours. From Cancun it will be, respectively, 290 MXN and 2.5 hours for first class and 200 MXN and 4.5 hours for second class.

How to build a route between Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Ek Balam

Shopping

On the territory of the complex a large number of traders offering various souvenirs and crafts. Be careful: in addition to the fact that they are intrusive and will try to attract attention by any means, their products are often of very low quality.

There are also several shops where you can buy souvenirs, clothes and jewelry.

Popular hotels in Chichen Itza

Excursions, activities and attractions of Chichen Itza

Unfortunately, since the beginning of 2006, climbing the structures is prohibited, with the exception of a few specially designated places. Don't forget a hat and sunglasses - there is practically no shade here during the daytime. And, of course, you can’t do without comfortable shoes.

In the evening, the city is illuminated by the lights of a light and sound show, during which a fairy tale narration is performed in Spanish. The night landscape leaves unforgettable experience, but be prepared for the fact that you will have to return in complete darkness - it would be a good idea to have a flashlight with you. A ticket to the show costs 190 MXN.

Bring binoculars with you - a large number of wonderful birds live in the area. And at night you can admire the sky strewn with myriads of stars.

There is also a small but fascinating museum on site.

Pyramids and temples of Chichen Itza

The Pyramid of Kukulkan, or El Castillo, is a nine-step pyramid 25 meters high, essentially a huge calendar: each step is divided into 2 parts, forming 18 terraces, symbolizing the 18 twenty-day months of the year.

On the days of the spring (March 21-22) and autumn (September 21-22) equinox, the play of sunlight and shadow creates on the western balustrade of the main staircase the illusion of the body of a snake, “crawling” as the sun moves towards its head, carved at the base of the staircase.

These days, Chichen Itza is so crowded that you can hardly get closer to get a good look at what is happening. A week before and another week after these dates, the effect of the image is almost the same.

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Chichen Itza

El Caracol - located on a square platform, the round temple served as an observatory. The dome windows are framed with images of various celestial bodies on certain dates. The large ball field (there are seven in total on the territory of the complex) is the largest of all created by the Mayans, its length is 135 meters. And the Sacred Cenote is a natural well about 50 meters deep.

The temple of warriors (located on a low four-step pyramid) is decorated with images of sacred animals carved from stone. The top is crowned with the figure of the rain god. Nearby are the ruins of baths, which had mystical significance in Mayan life as a way of cleansing the body and soul.

March 19, 20 and 21 are celebrated as the days of “Bowing Kukulkan”, during which time dance, music and theatrical performances take place.

The city of Chichen Itza was once an important trade and ceremonial center. It is believed to have been built between 600 and the end of the first millennium AD. The Mayans 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 the crowds already gather here. Remember also that towards noon it will become unbearably hot, and there is practically no shade here.

You can explore the temple of El Castillo, built in the shape of a pyramid and dedicated to the god Kukulcan (to Quetzalcoatl), depicted as a feathered serpent with a human head. It is said that this snake slithering from the pyramid can be seen twice a year - on 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-seven-meter snake, “crawling” as the sun moves to its own head, carved at the base of the staircase . The phenomenal performance lasts about 3.5 hours and attracts a lot of people. In ancient times, the appearance of a snake served as a signal for the beginning of sowing cereals or harvesting.

Don't miss the opportunity to also view the preserved fragments large field ball game, Juego 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! Here they forced prisoners captured in wars to play; it is unknown who was then sacrificed - the winners or the losers, but it is known for certain that their heads, along with many others, were exhibited on pikes on the Skull Wall, Tsompantli (Tzompantli).

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

What to see

"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 approximately 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-seven-meter snake, “crawling” as the sun moves towards its own head, carved at the base stairs.);
“Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza” on a low 4-step pyramid and “Temple of the Jaguars” (both with wall paintings);
Observatory "Karakol";
7 “stadiums” for playing ball (“Large ball field” (Uego de Pelota)- the largest playground ever created by the Mayans. The length of the playing field reaches 135 m. There is some evidence that the game of ball was accompanied by a certain cruelty.);
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 characteristic stylization of plastic forms, reliefs rich in plant and geometric patterns, works of small sculpture and artistic crafts, etc.

Story

During their heyday, the Mayans managed to erect many architectural monuments that amaze us with their size and beauty. The crown 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 Big city around three natural reservoirs. Thanks to the underground springs that fed the lakes, the city's population all year round had plenty of water.

Tens of thousands of Mayans participated in the construction of the city, intended for rulers and priests with their families. Ordinary members of the tribe lived in mud 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 discovered such traces of 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. Only a small part of the Mayan Indians survived - so that in the 16th century. to be under the heel of Spain. Spanish chronicles mention the Maya as a primitive tribe living on the fruits of the surrounding jungle. It is not surprising that the European conquerors very quickly became masters of the situation.

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

Images of snakes are ubiquitous in all structures of Chichen Itza. Kukulcan, the “serpent-crawling-out-of-the-tower,” and Quetzalcoatl, the “feathered serpent,” were considered the main deities of the Maya. And even the collapse of the state itself could not destroy faith in them. When in the 16th century When the Spaniards landed in Yucatan, the feathered serpent was still considered the main deity among the descendants of the Mayans and Mexican Aztecs.

Chronology

OK. 435-455: According to the much later chronicle of Chumayel, Chichen Itza was founded between 435 and 455. AD It is believed that the city was abandoned by its inhabitants by the end of the 9th century. The Toltecs conquered it in 987.
999: The Mayan ruler of Tula, named Quetzalcoatl after the main deity, died.
1533: Yucatan is conquered by the Spanish.
1841-1842: John Stevens's research began the scientific study of Chichen Itza.
1904-1907: Speleologists discovered a spring considered "holy" or "mystical".
1923: Systematic excavations at Chichen Itza begin. F 1988: Chichen Itza included in the List World Heritage UNESCO.

Story 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 the wheel nor the iron, was able to achieve such a level of development of the exact sciences, primarily mathematics and astronomy. And what structures did they leave behind? Therefore, when the opportunity for another trip arose, I without hesitation chose Mexico, the country where Chichen Itza, the iconic Mayan city, the photo of which became business card Central.

History of Chichen Itza, an 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 Mayan 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 10th 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 subjected to serious destruction, but after that it existed and even developed for some time. 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 lies in ruins.

Since the conquistadors showed no interest in the history of the local peoples, even trying to destroy traces of their ancient civilizations, no one was interested in the abandoned city for a long time.

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

Main attractions

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

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 of rain and wind. The pyramid is identified not only with Chichen Itza and, but, perhaps, with all pre-Columbian civilizations of Central America.

It consists of nine steps, which are divided by stairs on each side of the pyramid into two parts, which gives purely 18 - the number of days in a month in the Mayan calendar. Each of the four staircases consists of 91 steps, i.e. in total 364, and in combination with the upper platform 365 - the number of days in a year. The edges of the pyramid are located strictly according to 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, a stone head of a snake is carved in such a way that the railing of the stairs 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 the illusion of the movement of a giant snake is created. At the top of the pyramid is the sanctuary of Kukulkan itself.

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

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

Other attractions in Chichen Itza

Temple of the Mayan Warriors in Chichen Itza. A structure located on a four-stage pyramid. The railing of 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. Near the temple there are four rows of columns with images of warriors.
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 celestial bodies relative to the earth.
Ball field. The area measures 168x70 m, surrounded by a high (up to 8 m) wall. There was a stone ring high on the wall into which the players had to throw a rubber ball. The base of the walls is decorated with images of human sacrifices. Moreover, many researchers are inclined to believe that these are players of the losing team.
Temple of the Jaguar. Located from east side from the ball field. It got its name because of 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 field. A relief depicting a man with a beard was discovered inside the temple, which was the reason for its name.
Sacred Cenote, or Well of Death. A natural karst depression with a diameter of up to 60 m and a depth of up to 50 m. Served for dumping 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 as a burial place for the nobility or spiritual leaders of the Maya, which is where it got its name.

Mayan Warrior Temple

How to get there

You can get to the Chichen Itza complex:

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

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

How did the Mayans create such an advanced culture, what did they predict for our civilization, and why do thousands of people seeking spiritual enlightenment lay siege to these ruins every year? Can modern rituals reveal the secrets of Chichen Itza? You will learn about this by watching the video. Enjoy watching!

In 2007, the “New Seven Wonders of the World” competition was held, according to the results of which the pyramids and the city of Chichen Itza itself in Mexico became finalists of the project.
UNESCO recognized the Chichen Itza complex as an object of material and cultural heritage humanity.

Staying in the mysterious city of Chichen Itza leaves ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, you understand that you have touched a huge and incompletely studied layer of history. On the other hand, the ubiquitous images and stories of guides about human sacrifices carried out here are somewhat depressing.

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

Story city of Chichen Itza, behind a short time which became one of the main centers of the Mayan civilization and just as quickly fell into almost absolute oblivion, is still waiting for its researchers. Archaeologists have recreated some of the main monuments of the city, since the main Cyclopean buildings were built conscientiously and well preserved. Historians are trying to restore its chronology. But in general, the rapid rise of the city and its no less rapid decline are still one big mystery.

The city is located in modern Mexico; various researchers interpret the name Chichen Itza in their own way. They agree on only one thing - with this name, the Mayans emphasized the significance of the huge natural well located in these places ("chen" in the Mayan languages meant "source of water", "well", mouth"). In the arid climate of the Yucatan Peninsula, where the city was located, the presence of an uninterrupted source of water provided locality key value.

Talking about the mystique of the city Chichen Itza and the Mayan civilization in general, there is no need to delve too deeply into conspiracy theories. Everything is much simpler. In the 16th century, Spanish colonialists, who brought the light of civilization to lands inhabited by savage peoples, carefully kept this light alive with the flame of ancient manuscripts. They cleared the documents so thoroughly that to this day researchers are reconstructing the possible purpose of the surviving buildings literally bit by bit. And if the Spaniards had at least primitive bulldozers at their disposal, we, quite possibly, would never have known about the stunning Mayan structures.

However, by the time Europeans arrived in Latin America, the Mayan civilization was already in ruins. Founded around the 6th century AD, Chichen Itza was abandoned and abandoned in the second half of the 11th century. A highly developed civilization was destroyed by internal conflicts and fratricidal wars. The rise and fall of the Mayan civilization were separated by some 500 years... The disunited Mayans were defeated by the Toltecs without much difficulty. The conquerors built northern part cities. In the 14th century, the Mayans managed to unite and recapture Chichen Itza, but this was their last success before the arrival of the Spaniards. Europeans found the city already as a place of pilgrimage for residents from surrounding settlements.

Even during the period of time allotted by history, the Mayans managed to become a technically and culturally developed people. The cult buildings preserved in Chichen Itza, including the Mayan pyramids, testify not only to their serious technical abilities, but also to their deep knowledge of the sciences.

Eg, Pyramid of Kukulkan, which is the main attraction of Chichen Itza, is not only a temple. It is a combination of an observatory and a laboratory. The ascent to the temple, located at the top of a tetrahedral pyramid, takes four staircases of 91 steps. Thus, the number of steps, if we add a balustrade to them, is exactly 365. Moreover, the pyramid is so oriented in space that on the days of the equinoxes the shadows from the ledges form the image of a feathered serpent. On the day of the spring equinox the shadow rises, and on the day of the autumn equinox it falls. Thousands of people gather to see this optical effect. The Mayans did not forget about acoustics - a word spoken at the top of the pyramid, even in a quiet voice, is perfectly heard at its foot.

A wide staircase leads to the temple, resting on the statue of Chak Mool. Apparently, sacrifices were made at its foot. The walls of the temple are also decorated with paintings of Mayan warriors and deities, including Kukulcan.

A little further north of the Kukulkan pyramid is the Sacred Cenote. Most likely, it was from this giant well that the history of Chichen Itza began. The water in the funnel with a diameter of about 60 meters never dries out. Despite the paucity of information about Chichen Itza, talk of large-scale sacrifices in the Sacred Cenote has reached modern times, and the well has been explored several times in search of precious finds. Contrary to expectations, little gold, which the Mayans allegedly threw into the well to appease the gods, was found. The bulk of the sacrifices were items made of obsidian and ceramic jewelry. The researchers were greatly impressed by the human bones found at the bottom of the Sacred Cenote, which confirmed the thesis about Mayan human sacrifices. There is another similar source of water in the city, called Cenote Shtolok, but due to its small size, it apparently was not an object of worship and was used exclusively as a source of water.

Human sacrifices among the Mayans were performed not only to appease the gods responsible for natural phenomena. The ball court at Chichen Itza is designed in a spirit that allows no other interpretation than the proverbial "Winner Takes All" theme.

Lack of proper dexterity was punishable by death - drawings on the walls of the ancient stadium show teams of seven proudly holding the severed heads of their opponents in their hands.

To the northwest of the Pyramid of Kukulcan, next to the playground, is the Temple of the Jaguars. Like the Temple of the Warriors, it is richly decorated with paintings, and received its name due to the prevailing designs. According to some assumptions, it was similar to VIP boxes in modern football stadiums - a place from which noble Mayans watched sports matches in comfort.

Next to the Temple of the Jaguars is Tzompantli, a structure apparently designed to frighten the enemies of the Mayans. Otherwise, this building is called the Temple of Skulls - one of its walls is made entirely of human heads. The remaining walls are decorated with paintings glorifying the wisdom of the gods and the courage of the Mayan warriors.

In the southwest of Chichen Itza, archaeologists discovered a small ten-meter pyramid, called the Tomb of the High Priest. At its top there are tombstones indicating the burials of at least seven representatives of noble Mayan families. An almost vertical structure was found under the pyramid. underground passage. It leads to a cave in which the remains of the dead were located, providing them with various utensils and decorations.

About the same recognizable symbol of Chichen Itza as the Pyramid of Kukulkan is El Caracol. This huge (dimensions 52 by 67 meters) structure was erected on a giant platform, which is crowned by a building with a semicircular tower. Because of the shape of the tower, El Caracol is considered to be an observatory. Some scientists believe that the windows in the tower helped to monitor the position of Venus in the sky. This allegedly helped the Mayans streamline agricultural work. But regardless of its purpose, El Caracol simultaneously amazes with both its scale and the elegance of its construction.

In 2007, the city of Chichen Itza, which is the second most popular archaeological site in Mexico, was rightly recognized as one of new wonders of the world. It is located in a densely populated part of the country. Tourist infrastructure is developed in and around the city. It is better to get to Chichen Itza from the cities of Merida or Cancun along the highway. In the city itself, due to its size (6 sq. km.), you need to use a map or the services of a guide. The most suitable months for visiting are from October to April - in summer, traveling around Latin America complicated by the sweltering heat.