THE ALIEN LEGACY
The most famous, spectacular, and, consequently, most frequently visited of Mexico’s Mayan sites, the magnificent metropolis of Chichén Itzá was the principal ceremonial center of Yucatan.
The most famous, spectacular, and, consequently, most frequently visited of Mexico’s Mayan sites, the magnificent metropolis of Chichén Itzá was the principal ceremonial center of Yucatan.
Chichen Itza which
means “at the mouth of the well of Itza”, is the second most visited
archeological site of Mexico today. The Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen -Itza, known as “El Castillo”, is one of the new Seven
Wonders of the World. It is exactly 24 m. high considering the upper platform.
CHICHÉN ITZÁ
This is me and my mom under the strongest sun ever. This pyramid is considered as a holy place for Mexicans, so if you want to approach there, you should let a distance approximately of 10 meters.
In this picture is showed the court that Mayan culture used to “The great ball”. Maybe it seems familiar to you, because if you saw the movie Apocalyptic, is the same stage.
The sculpture in the first plane is the Chaac Mol, which protects the temple
The girl in green is me, but this isn’t important when you are in front of one of the most spectacular and magnificent natural swimming hole of the world
Spring and autumn equinoxes offer the chance to see the incredible shadow serpent of El Castillo, but the often crowded site, is absolutely packed at these times.
When you go there, you should look for a guide, who is going to talk to you about the most important history facts of that place. The one that shocked me the most was that El Castillo's design, it is thought, that relates to the Mayan calendar in this way: Each of the four faces incorporates a broad, steep staircase consisting of 91 steps that ascends to the top platform. Counting the top platform as an additional step gives a total of 365 steps: 1step for each day of the year. The nine main platforms of the pyramid represent the 18 months of the haab (Mayan calendar system), and the 52 panels represent the number of years it takes for a calendar round date to recur.
Other important facts that the guide gave us include:
- The Great Ball Court:
Is the largest ball court in ancient Mesoamerica and can be found in Chichen Itza. It measures 166 x 68 meters and is 12 meters high with stone rings for the game and intricate carvings of intertwined serpents on the walls.
- The Temple of the Warriors:
Is a large stepped pyramid with a row of carved columns at the front depicting the ancient warriors. At the top of the pyramid, protecting the entrance to the temple, is a Chac Mool.
- The Cenote Sagrado:
Is the most impressive of the cenotes found in this area, and measures an amazing 60 meters in diameter, with sheer cliffs dropping down 27 meters to the water below. The Cenote Sagrado was used by the Mayans to conduct sacrifices to Chaac, the god of rain, during times of drought. Many objects such as gold, jade, obsidian as well as skeletons have been found at the bottom of the cenote by archaeologists.
- Tours to Chichen Itza:
These are just some of the Mayan architectural wonders you will find here. Make sure you take the time to explore Chichen Itza during your Cancun vacation, truly one of the New Seven Wonders of the World!
