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Chichén - Itzá, world famous archaeological zone, is located in the State of Yucatan Mexico.
The name Chichén - Itzá is derived from the Mayan language: "Chi" - mouth, "Chen" - well and "Itza" - the tribe that inhabited the area.
Chichén - Itzá is the most visited archaeological site in the peninsula of Yucatan, due to its extraordinary architecture beauty and its geographical location. It was founded in the year 514 of our era by the priest LAKIN CHAN who was also called Itzamna. This is why their people were called since the foundation, chanes or itzaes.
When the Spaniards arrived to Chichén - Itzá, it had been abandoned as a consequence of the civil war fought with Mayapan. In between 1196 and 1441 the final collapse of this culture took place in the north of the peninsula.
The conquerors found the buildings partially in ruins and their names and real use were unknown; this is why the present names are suppositions.
The architectural characteristics of Chichén - Itzá and that have a direct relationship with. The Mayan Toltec style are: "El juego de la Pelota", "El Castillo", "El Grupo de las Mil Columnas", "El tzompantli", El Edificio de las Aguilas", "El templo de los Guerrerros", and "El Mercado". All of these buildings have the same decoration motives found in Tula. The most frequent representations are warriors and Quetzalcoatl. The cult of the Feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl in Tula and Kukulkan in Mayan, was very important. The largest Ball Game in Mesoamerica is found in Chichén - Itzá. It is 168 meters in length and 70 meters in width, In the place, as well as in others in Mesoamerica, the Ball Game was an entertainment, but it also had a ritual side in which the losers were sacrificed.
The pyramid known as known as "El Castillo" is surely the place where the ceremony of the descent of Kukulkan was held. The pyramid has special astronomical layout so that a game of light and shadow is formed. On March 21st the body of the serpent metaphorically descends from the temple on top of the pyramid and arrives at the heads at the foot of the staircase. Excavations in the interior show that there is a smaller "Castillo" in its interior.
In the "Templo de los Guerreros" there is a temple on the top part where the entrance columns are typically Toltec. Another one of the buildings that has a Toltec seal without is the "Muro de los Craneos". These buildings were destined to be the mausoleums of the tying up the years. Every 52 years the ancient Mayans and other cultures would tie up a sheaf of years to end a cycle. Another important buildings is "El Caracol", an astronomical observatory.
The archaeological site is divided into 3 areas: the Northern group (distinctly Toltec), the Central group (early period) and the Southern area known as the Old Chichen (located far away from the other buildings and its visit requires a guide).
The massive Kukulcán pyramid called "El Castillo" (the castle) is roughly at the center of the site. Climbing it is quite a challenge and those who make it are rewarded with a spectacular view of the city and surrounding country side. A trip inside the pyramid is quite the opposite. The dark, unbearably humid corridors and chambers are too much for some people.
Late in the afternoon as the sun drops, Chichén - Itzá is a magical place. I had the opportunity to wander around the site for two hours before the gates closed. The sky was getting dark with thunder coulds and the tourists had dissappeared. I climbed the pyramid one last time to take in the beautiful view.
The construction of the Kukulcán Pyramid at Chichén - Itzá was planned so that each Vernal Equinox the dying sun would cast a shadow of a serpent writhing down the steps of the pyramid. Every year over 40,000 people make the trek to the great pyramid to watch in awe as the snakes diamond backed body slowly appears. (the light and sound show in the evening did a nice job recreating this)
If you stand facing the foot of the temple and shout the echo comes back as a piercing shriek. Also, a person standing on the top step can speak in a normal voice and be heard by those at ground level for some distance.
The Temple of the Warriors and its adjacent Temple of the Jaguar are the most awe inspiring ruins on the complex. A massive temple structure, surrounded by hundreds of columns is carved with reliefs.
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