Thursday 27 June 2013

The Most Well-Liked Things To See At Chichen Itza

By Linda Patterson


The city of Chichn Itz was one of the largest, most impressive, and most fascinating in the Yucatn peninsula. An unusually diverse population lent a variety of artistic and architectural styles to its construction; coupled with the sheer number of buildings at the site, visitors may easily find themselves overwhelmed. The city is just too large to explore effectively by walking at random, which will likely leave you feeling a bit lost and bewildered (not to mention hot!). This guide will help you narrow down the list and make your way through the sea of pyramids and temples to some of Chichen Itza's most amazing treasures.

Though there are seven ball courts at Chichen Itza, where the ancient Maya held their tlatchtli matches, one court in particular dwarfs them all. At the northwest corner of the city, the Great Ball Court measures over 150 meters in length, with huge audience stands and ornately carved goal hoops set high above the playing field. Though the exact rules of the games hosted here have been lost to history, the size and scale of the Great Court leads archaeologists to believe that only the most famed and skilled athletes were able to compete there " and records show that human sacrifice was a penalty suffered by at least some of the losers.

Templo de los Guerreros

Built in the form of an enormous stepped pyramid, the Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of the Warriors) takes its name from the rows of statues depicting fierce combatants that flank and front the structure. The Temple was actually constructed around another, earlier temple called the Temple of Chac Mool; a Chac Mool statue, featuring a reclining human with a sideways-looking head, rests atop the pyramid, and is thought to have been used as a platform for ritual sacrifices. The Temple is currently undergoing restoration, which prevents visitors from climbing its stairs, but not from appreciating its grandeur.

The Snail

Meaning "The Snail" in Spanish, El Caracol is one of the most unusual structures found at any Mayan site. Constructed on top of a raised, flat platform, El Caracol is a circular building that contains a spiral staircase. These two features are very difficult to construct from the stone materials used at Chichen Itza, and indicate a remarkable degree of proficiency on the part of the architects, not to mention intent. Why would the Mayans build a raised, round structure, which also has a curious sequence of portal-like doors and windows? The answer seems to lie in the stars, as scientists have confirmed that these windows align to specific astronomical phenomena such as the passage of Venus across the night sky. The affinity of the Maya for watching and charting the stars has been well-established, and it appears that El Caracol is one of the first observatories in the western hemisphere, not to mention one of the oldest still in existence.

The Caves of Balanckanche

Close by the city lies the entrance to an extensive cave network. Known as the Caves of Balanckanche, the system of caverns contains a treasure trove of ancient pottery, carvings, and idols that date back many hundreds of years, spanning the entirety of the Mayan habitation of the Yucatn from the Pre-Classic era until after the Spanish conquest. The pottery and artifacts have been left exactly has they were when discovered, affording visitors an unprecedented look at an archaeological find undisturbed for millennia. Perhaps more fascinating is the size and shape of the cave system; its central limestone column and branching network of chambers is thought to represent the World Tree of Mayan mythology and folklore.

The Famous Light and Sound Show

Not everyone who visits Chichen Itza during the day realizes that it's equally as exciting at night! The same ticket that purchases park admission during daylight hours can also be used for admission to the light and sound show, which begins nightly after sunset and illuminates the great pyramid of El Castillo with colorful lights and lasers, accompanied by a stirring soundtrack. Lasting about an hour, the show is narrated in Spanish, although headsets can be obtained that provide the narration in a variety of languages.

The Descent of Kukulcan

Occurring in late March, the Spring Equinox is a special time for Chichen Itza, and its passing is marked by a three-day festival of singing, dancing, music, and theater. The high point of the Spring festival is the so-called "Descent of Kukulcan" which happens at the El Castillo pyramid. During the late afternoon, you can see a series of triangular shadows appear on the western face of the pyramid (caused by the sun shining over the northwest corner); the shadows then appear to actually crawl down the side of El Castillo in a manner quite reminiscent of a large snake. Though no archaeologists have been able to confirm this was the intention of the builders, given that the pyramid itself was built in tribute of the feathered serpent god Kukulcan, many believe that the ingenious and astronomically-inclined Maya designed the structure to create this phenomenon on an especially significant day of the year.




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