6Chichen+Itza

Chichen Itza

By: Karen D





The Chichen Itza contains the ruins of the most powerful and greatest Mayan city. The remains of the city are six square miles and are located on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This extraordinary construction of buildings includes, an observatory, Temple of the Warriors, ball court, Plaza of a Thousand Columns, and the Kulkulkan’s Pyramid. The Kulkulkan’s Pyramid is the most significant structure within the city. The name Chichen Itza means “at the mouth of the well” because it is located between two wells, one sacred, which was used for rituals and ceremonies, and one profane, which was for everyday use.

Mayans settled in the area of Chichen Itza in 550 AD because of its location and its underground wells and waterways. It was primarily a spiritual or ceremonial site. Communities of farmers would gather together for, offerings, sacrifices, and ceremonies. The Toltecs invaded Chichen Itza in 800 AD. The Toltecs were much more war-like and fiercer than the Mayans, and human sacrifices became a large part of the rituals that took place within the city soon after. There are two very different, distinct architectural styles within Chichen Itza, traditional Mayan and post-Toltec invasion. The Mayans mysteriously abandoned Chichen Itza for one hundred years in 900 AD, and the city was resettled once again in 1000 AD. The sudden abandonment has never been fully understood. The Empire then declined and disappeared in approximately 1200 AD.

The Chichen Itza is a major archeological site and tourist attraction. It was voted to be one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007. Today the Chichen Itza has 30 remaining remnants still standing out of 100 structures. The Kulkulkan’s Pyramid, also known as El Castillo, is the most visited site in Mexico. This pyramid has ninety-one steps on each of its four sides and one additional step leading to a platform on the top for a total of 365 steps. Each step represents a different day of the year, and on each day of the year, a shadow falls on a different step. This amazing architecture signifies how important the calendar was to the Mayans. The El Caracol Observatory Dome is an astronomy-oriented structure believed to be built 800 AD. It is a giant dome where many rituals took place. The stars can be seen through different windows on specific dates. The building of The El Caracol Observatory shows the Mayan’s amazing expertise in astronomy, architecture and engineering. The Chichen Itza’s ball court is the largest in Mexico. Ball courts were found in almost every Mayan city, and it is where the Mayans would play games that were a combination of both soccer and basketball. The ball court measures 272 feet by 199 feet, almost the size of a football field. After being invaded by the Toltecs, the games in the ball court became more intense, and the loosing team would be sacrificed.

The Chichen Itza has an extraordinary history, and it shows how the Mayans were a very advanced civilization for their time. Even today, the remains of the city reflect the importance of science, astronomy, and architecture to the Mayan culture. The amazing structures still fascinate the many visitors who walk among them each year.



