Tour By Mexico Ž - Chichen - Itza Archaeological Zone in Yucatan State, Mexico

Chichen - Itza

pyramid of kukulcan chichen - itza in yucatan state, mexico Chichen - Itza, world famous archaeological zone, is located 120 km from Merida via federal highway 180 in the State of Yucatan Mexico.

The name Chichen - Itza is derived from the Mayan language: "Chi" - mouth, "Chen" - well and "Itza" - the tribe that inhabited the area.

Between 600 and 1250 A.D. this ancient city whose name means "at the mouth of the Itza well," was the center of political, economic, religious, and military power, not only in Yucatan but also in the entire southeaster part of Mesoamerica. The Itza domain included pert of Tabasco and Campeche, the northern Gulf Coast, and a large part of the southern lowlands. Its sphere of control was based on regional and long distance mercantile activities, which generated one of the most important commercial circuits in all Mesoamerica.

Itza rule brought about drastic changes in the internal structure of Yucatecan communities. At the same time, the introduction of an Innovative view of the world marked the establishment of an order characterized by changing commercial values, production and distribution systems, and residential and religious architecture of the groups in the power.

It is calculated that during the age of grandeur approximately 50,000 inhabitants such distant groups as those of Balamkanché, Iki, Cumtun, Poxil and Halakai, among others. All of them were connected to the ceremonial center by means of roads known as sacbeob.

Chichen - Itza 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 Chichen - Itza, 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.

temple of the warriors / Photo by Victor H. Mireles / chichen - itza in yucatan state, mexico 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 Chichen Itza 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 Chichen Itza. 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.

This buildi temple of the warriors / Photo by Victor H. Mireles / chichen - itza in yucatan state, mexico ng owes its name to the rows of pillars displaying relief carvings of warriors. It was erecter over an ancient structure know as the Temple of Chac Mool, upon whose walls and interior pillars there are richly colored carvings of plumed serpents, warriors, and priests. The upper building only partially reflects its true grandeur. There are three sculpted masks with extremely long noses on the outer walls and at the corners. On the inner walls of the vaults there were murals with scenes of war and daily life. The altar-tables and benches may have served as seats and thrones for dignitaries.

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).

Northern Group:

The Pyramid of Kukulcan (also known as The Castle) where both theology and astronomy, combine to produce a unique spectacle twice a year, the Spring Equinox and the Autumn Solstice, days when the shadows projected over the architectonic elements of the building resemble a serpent descending to the ground. Inside the pyramid are located the famous Chac Mool sculpture and the Jaguar Throne. This pyramid, also called the Temple of Kukulcan, is the dominant building in the northern sector of the ancient city. Together with the sacbe (white road) leading to the Sacred Cenote, it forms a compound representative of the religious and political power of the Itza people. At the time of the conquest, centuries after its construction, it had not diminished in importance, as evidenced by pilgrimages made by people form all over the peninsula to pay homage to the rain gods and, probably, to Itza ancestors. The size and symmetry of this pyramid lend it an imposing aspect despite its austere decoration. Inside it, there is an older structure known as which faces in the same direction and is perfectly preserved
The Marketplace
The Steam Bath
Temple of the Warriors
Platform of Venus or of the Dance
Sacred Well or the Well of the Sacrifices
Tzompantli, that displays figures of skulls in relief
Platform of Eagles and Jaguars
The Ball Court and the Temple of the Jaguars, This is the largest ball court in Mesoamerica. It is formed by long wall on each side, with embedded rings or hoops carved with scenes of the sacrifice of ball players. At each end of the U-shaped court there are low walls supporting buildings richly decorated with relief's and paintings. To the east, the Temple of Jaguars and Shields presents processions of dignitaries and battle scenes that offer a vivid image of the history of Chichen Itza. The size of the court and the court and the height of the rings indicate that, in this case, it is not likely that the ball was hit through the ring by the hip alone, although such game rules were generally applicable at the time of the conquest.

Central Group:

The Ossuary
The Red House or Chichan Chob, The name of this building, situated upon a high platform, is derived from the fragments of red paint that were found in its interior. The word "Chichanchoob" means "small holes" and probably alludes to its lime roofcomb. The structure is comprised of an antechamber and three rooms and has a sculptured hieroglyphic inscription in the main chamber. The facade is smooth and there are two roofcombs which bring to mind the late Puuc style of the Terminal Classic period. The building must have had a religious and public use, since there is a Ball Court joined to its eastern side, with bas-reliefs in the Maya-Toltec style.
The House of the Deer
The Caracol or Observatory This structure is known as the Observatory due to its shape and some possible astral associations, since astronomical events concerning the planet Venus and the setting of the sun during the three windows in the upper section. The name "Caracol" (conch) comes from the spiral stairs that lead to the upper part of the building. It was explored between 1923 and 1931 by the Carnegie Institute which detected a series of six superimposed constructions. It is believed that its construction dates from an intermediary period between the Terminal Classic and the Early Post Classic periods. The large trenches on the upper platform are samples of consolidated excavations used for didactical purposes.
The Nunnery
The Church, This small building with only one chamber owes its name to its proximity to the so-called "convent" of the Nunnery and to the exuberant decoration on its upper facade, which rises even higher due to its lofty roof comb. One can observe large areas covered with the original stucco on the Grecian frets of the central panel. "Bignosed" masks constitute the main element of the facade, with a seated figure, god or ancestor integrated upon the nose of the central mask. There also are figures of the four carriers of the corners of the sky, - "bacabes" or "pauahtunes" (dwarfs) - kneeling in the side panels. Its appearent that the builder had certain difficulties in placing the three large masks rescued from earlier buildings on the roof comb and opted to supress detail. Up to now, it is not known what the function of this building was, and in spite of the overloaded decoration of the building, it is one of the best architectural examples of the Puuc style in Chichen Itza.
The Akab Dzib
Temple of the Carved Panels, The name of this building comes from the reliefs carved on the north and south walls of the colonnade, depicting scenes of numerous people, plants, and animals, both real and imaginary, which are dominated by two warriors. the building is made up of a temple erected on a slab foundation with a colonnade in front of it. The offerings discovered during exploration of the fire - related rituals.
The Well of Xtoloc
The Temple of the Bearded Man

The three areas can be seen comfortably in one day. Also you should enjoy the wonderful Light and Sound Show that is held every evening.

You can travel to Chichen - Itza from Merida by daily travel agency tours, rental car or public bus lines that have trips approximately every hour. You can do the trip on one day or preferably stay overnight. There are hotels at Chichen - Itza, Piste (village 1 mile beyond the ruins) and Valladolid (25 miles beyond the ruins).

SCHEDULE

Archaeological zone: From 8 to 17 hrs.
Museum: From 8 to 17 hrs.
Light & Sound Show in Spanish*:
Winter Hour: 19 hrs.
Summer Hour: 20 hrs.
*You can rent simultaneous translation equipment for English, French, Italian and German; also Mayan translations are available.

Nearby are located the Cave of Balankanche and the beautiful underground Well of Dzitnup.

Notice to visitors: We request to visitors to restrain from buying any handcrafts from the vendors they illegally enter the park, grounds this is done in order to contribute for the preservation of the splendor and authenticity of heritage of humanity

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More Photos (Click camera icon)
Forest view to the castle	Temple of the Warriors 1	Temple of the Warriors 2	Base 1	Base 2
Pyramid	Maya Alphabet	Pyramid of kukulcan	Pyramid of kukulcan	Pyramid of kukulcan
Pyramid of kukulcan	Mayan Text	Structure Superimposition	Detail in the wall	Detail in columns
View to El Castillo from Los Guerreros	People resting in the Warriors Temple	The church detail in the wall	Great view to the castle	Serpent heads
Detail in the wall	The church ruin	The church detail in the wall	Observatory Original Structure draw	Observatory detail
Observatory detail	Observatory detail	Observatory detail ruin	Observatory detail ruin	Observatory detail ruin

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