The Mayan & Toltec ruins of Chichen Itza

If you would like to take a tour or to learn more about Chichen Itza here are a few sites I recommend:

Excellent! -> http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/chichen/chichen_index.html
http://www.mysteriousplaces.com/mayan/TourEntrance.html
http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/Americas/ChichenItza.html
http://www.jqjacobs.net/mesoamerica/chichen.html

I'll try to explain the pictures as best I can, but there's so much to say about each picture. There are many books and videos about these ruins that, if you are interested, I would suggest reading or viewing. The ruins are simply incredible....

First thing to be said - it's hot and poorly shaded, so wear a hat.

This is the "Temple of 1000 Pillars" and the "Temple of the Warriors". Top center you will notice a god figure in an reclined position (with a sacrificial bowl on his stomach, of course). This is a very common theme (the reclined and sacrifice bit...).

Again

This is the more weathered side of the main temple, "El Castillo" There's a smaller pyramid formation contained within it. Cool! :) The temple is to the feathered snake god Quetzalcoatl (a.k.a. Kukulcan). Snake imagery is a very common theme throughout all the structures. Snakes are very common to the entire area. ;) Fun side fact: "Cancun" means serpeants' nest. The island was literally covered with snakes prior to its development.

Here's the main stair well. On the Spring Equinox, the temple is aligned perfectly so that the sun and shadows create the apprearance of a snake going down the side of the stairwell, with the head at the bottom. There's more about that on the first link listed above.

A nice shot over the "Platform of Eagles and Jaquars" (more about that further down) and the "Platform of the Skulls" (more about that further down).

Uhm... rocks. Actually it's part of the old market area.

This is a performance stage called the "Platform of Eagles and Jaquars".

and here's why - take some time to make out the different figures:

Still on the "Platform of Eagles and Jaquars" you'll find these on the sides of the stairwells. It is the winged/feathered serpeant god Kukulcan (a.k.a. Quetzalcoatl). The head is at the top, and you can see the body and feathers running down the length.

Here's another wall of the "Platform of Eagles and Jaquars" (pilfered). Up top you can see more reclined figures.

From left to right: 1) The far wall of the ball court, 2) the near wall of the ball court, 3) the "Temple of the Jaguar", 4) the "Platform of Eagles and Jaquars"

The backside of one of the walls of the ball court. Running along the length of the side is a snake image (feathered snake god Quetzalcoatl (aka Kukulcan)). The backside of the wall is a staircase for people to climb and watch the game from on top of the wall. Apparently, only higher class members of the society were allowed.

OK.. A right lousy picture of me, but it shows the ball court. This takes a little explaining. This is one of the largest ball courts in the Americas. In the back of the picture, you will see the "Temple of the Bearded Man" - this is where the ruling class would observe the game. Behind the picture taker is a similar building where the religous leaders would observe the game. Between the two you have these large limestone walls. Here's how the game was played. You have two teams with two captains. The captains are on the tops of the small platforms up the slanted section of wall. The players are between the walls and there is a small rubber-like ball, that they are not allowed to touch with their hands or feet. That's right... hands, or feet. By using the rest of their bodies, they try to get the ball up the slanted wall to their captain. The captain has something like a field hockey stick, that is then used to shoot the ball through the tiny ring you see to the upper right. The team that wins receives the greatest honor - the captain is beheaded as a sacrifice. That's right - the winning team. :) The walls are so well built that you can clap your hands and hear the clap echo seven times.

Here's a picture of a snake at the end of the lower wall, and a picture of the target hoop again.

And again. :)

On the lower slanted wall, roughly under the hoop, is this carving. It takes a bit to make it out, but it's a record of the winning captain's head as part of the sacrifice. The round part in the lower right hand corner of the picture is the head. Pieces of the wall have been looted.

Near the ball court is the "Platform of the Skulls", as you can see by the carvings. So - Your team's won the big game, you have a spare head to play with - now what?! No problem! Put it on a stick and line it up along the wall of the "Platform of the Skulls". This, I might suggest, would put an end to the practice of overpaid sports personalities. The wall carries on for quite a length.

Don't lose your head...

Random shot.

Random shot.

More skulls

Another structure off the main area. They believe that only about 40% or so of the structures in the area have been unearthed.

The fellow with the long nose is the rain god - his image is common on many of the buildings.

This is an observatory. You'll notice that the door at the top is slightly off center. It is positioned so that during the Solstice at 4:00PM, the sun will pass perfectly through this door, and out its counterpart on the other side. The observatory above the door contains a spiraling staircase like that of a lighthouse, but in a snail shell like pattern (losely conforming to the golden ratio). The little bumps you see to the right and left of the doorway (along the platform) are sculptures of heads - pointy teeth and crossed eyes were considered beauty characteristics and are reflected in the sculptures.

A picture from atop "El Castillo" (The castle) looking down on the "Temple of 1000 pillars" and to its left the "Temple of the Warriors". The gods are angry that I'm on the temple and have smeared my lense with SPF40 sunblock.

The temple at night as part of their light show, which by the way is entirely in Spanish, so if you're visiting, and don't speak the language, leave before the show. ;)

BACK