Pyramids of Chichen Itza in Mexico

One of the most famous places, which is worth a visit to all tourists traveling in Mexico, is the ancient city of Chichen Itza. In translation, its name means "The mouth of the well of water sorcerers" or "The place near the well of the tribe of Iza". This place is mysterious, very colorful and even slightly ominous.

Chichets-Iza - an object of world cultural heritage

In the past, the city was the political and cultural center of the Mayan Toltec civilization. Now, becoming one of the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO, attracts a huge number of tourists. According to rough estimates, this archeological complex is visited annually by more than a million people. The great popularity of Chichen-iets was acquired not only because it was well preserved. He became the quintessence of religious beliefs and ideas about the structure of the universe and the surrounding world of the Maya people. A special influx of tourists occurred in December 2012. Believing in the ancient prophecy, many adherents of the famous calendar rushed to Chichen Itza, wishing to "meet" the end of the world among the most ancient buildings of the Maya.

Chichen Itza: the history of origin

It is quite difficult to accurately describe the history of the city's creation, as there are practically no manuscripts describing the ancient events of Chichen Itza, they were destroyed by the Spanish conquerors. Scientists-archaeologists believe that people first began to settle in this place since the 4th century, and the first urban structures began to be built in the 6th-7th centuries. At the same time, and there was a city community. Until the 10th century. Chichen Itza was the home of the Maya Indians. And by the end of the X century. The city was conquered by conquerors from Central Mexico - the Toltecs, practicing sacrifices and serving the cult of the Feathered Serpent. They did not destroy Chichen Itza, but on the contrary - firmly rooted in it. During the rule of the Toltec, the city became one of the most powerful settlements of the Yucatan Peninsula. Since the XI century. The Toltecs made it the capital of their empire. Over time, he gradually changed and increasingly acquired Toltec features. The symbiosis of two unique cultures made the ancient city truly unique. For unknown reasons at the end of the XII century. He was abandoned by the inhabitants and overgrown with jungles. Only in 1920 archaeologists discovered to the world its mysterious structures.

The main attractions of the ancient Mayan city

The most famous building of the ancient city is the pyramid of Kukulkan (or else - the pyramid of El Castillo). In 2007, she entered the list of seven new wonders of the world. The pyramid of Kukulcan Chichen Itza was built in the 11th century. Joint efforts of the Maya and Toltec Indians. They erected a grand monument dedicated to the god of rain and wind, Quetzalcoatl, who had the appearance of a feathered serpent with a human head. The Maya Indians called the deity Kukulkan, that is, the "feathered serpent". This structure was created on the basis of cosmological and calendar knowledge of Maya and Toltec. In height, it reaches 24 m, and its faces are facing all four directions. At the top of the pyramid is a playground, used in ancient times to perform sacrifices. Four steep and wide stairs lead to the site, each of which consists of 91 steps, which together with the upper platform gives a sign number of 365, equal to the number of days in a sunny year. On each side of the pyramid there are 18 sections - terraces. This number is also symbolic. It equals the number of months in the Mayan calendar. In addition, on each of the four sides of the pyramid are 52 rock reliefs. They represent the coincidence of the special calendar cycles of the Toltecs - the day's shyupoally and the daytime tonalpoally - occurring every 52 years. Interestingly, inside the sanctuary there is another nine-step pyramid, the entrance to which was found relatively recently. There is a relic - "The Mat of the Jaguar" and the statue of "Chuck-Mool."

Temple of the Warriors of Chichen Itza

The second unique landmark of Chichen Itza in Mexico is the famous Temple of the Warriors. It is located directly behind the pyramid of El Castillo and is a monumental five-step pyramid, reaching a height of 11.5 m. It is surrounded on all sides by columns made in the form of Toltec warriors. That's why the pyramid got such a name. At its top is a temple, consisting of a hall and a sanctuary. An impressive staircase leads to the temple, surrounded by balustrades. The entrance to the sanctuary is marked by snakes carved from stone. In the temple there is a stone altar, resembling a low table, whose legs are made in the form of human figures. Here is the ugly stone idol of the Toltec god Chak-Moola - a half-lying demon holding in his hands and pressing a large empty dish to his stomach. It is believed that it was on this dish that the priests burned the hearts of their victims.

Another mysterious landmark of the ancient Maya city is the "Holy Sens"

Not only the Chichen Itza pyramids in Mexico deserve the attention of many tourists. To the north of the El Castillo Monument there is another mysterious landmark, called the "Holy Sens" (otherwise - "The Well of Death"). This karst formation, unlike other wells, did not serve as a source of fresh water for the Toltecs. In it the priests dropped the victims, glorifying their gods. The "well of death" had a depth of 50 m and was considered a kind of portal to the other world. In the period from 1910 to 1925, He was investigated by Herbert Thompson, who extracted from him a large number of antiquities: articles of gold, ceramics, rubber, obsidian and, of course, a lot of human remains.

Pyramid of Osuari

In Chichen Itza there is one more karst formation - the Stenot Stolok, which is located to the south of the Kukulkan Temple. He, unlike the "Well of Death", was used by the Toltecs exclusively as a source of drinking water. A little later, the scientist G. Thompson also investigated another interesting pyramid of Chichen Itza - Osuwari (otherwise - the Crypt). It, as well as the temple of Kukulkan, was built with stairs on each of the four sides. It is interesting that in the center of the pyramid there is a deep vertical hole leading to a natural cave. In it, Thompson found several interesting artifacts from jade, as well as human remains.

Playground for ball games

Another sinister landmark of Chichen Itza is Zompantli. It is a T-shaped platform, the walls of which are decorated with relief images of skulls. Used Tsompantli for demonstrating the heads of the victims, as well as prisoners of war. To the west of the Skulls Temple is one of the nine playgrounds, striking with its grandiose size. Its length is 168 m and its width is about 70 m. It is believed that it was built in 864 AD. In the east of the site is the Jaguar Temple, which includes two sanctuaries. The upper sanctuary is located on the wall, bounding the site. Probably, from here noble people watched the course of the ball game. The lower sanctuary is located on the outside of the site. Near its entrance there is a monument - a figure of a jaguar. In the northern part of the playground there is another building - the Temple of the Bearded Man. A staircase leads to its entrance aperture, divided by two pillars. Inside the temple is decorated with a relief, in the center of which is the figure of a man with a beard.

Observatory of Caracol

To the south of the ball court there are several other attractions, including the Red House - a building whose facade is painted red - and Karakol (translated as "snail shell") - a tower built on a platform. It is believed that it was used by Maya Indians to observe astronomical objects, calculate the days of the equinox and summer solstice. Therefore, Karakol is also called the Observatory. To the south of the tower is another powerful Toltec structure, which the Spaniards called the "Women's Monastery" for its majestic and unapproachable appearance. In height it reaches 20 m, and its base is 70 m by 35 m. A wide staircase leads to the entrance to the monastery. The building itself is decorated with masks of the god Chaka and various relief patterns.

How to get to the ancient city of Chichen Itza?

This world cultural heritage site is located 1.5 km from the small Mexican settlement of Piste, located between the two major cities of northern Yucatan - Cancun and Merida. You can independently get to the city of Chichen Itza by renting a car or using a bus (the ticket for it costs from 80 to 140 pesos, depending on the class). Taxis will cost you much more than public transport, since from Cancun or Merida the distance is not close, about 200 km and 120 km, respectively. The archaeological zone for visitors is open daily, from 8:00 to 17:00. If you want to save - be poisoned to inspect the sights of Maya and Toltec on Sunday, the entrance will be free.