The pyramids of the city of Chichen Itza in Mexico are a new wonder of the world from the Maya. Teotihuacan is an ancient city in Mexico where the largest Mexican pyramids are located Mayan pyramid coordinates
One of the most famous places that should definitely be visited by all tourists traveling in Mexico is the ancient city of Chichen Itza. In translation, its name means "Mouth of the well of water sorcerers" or "Place near the well of the Itza tribe." This place is mysterious, very colorful and even a little ominous.
Chichez Itza - World Cultural Heritage Site
In the past, the city was the political and cultural center of the Maya-Toltec civilization. And now, having become one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it attracts a huge number of tourists. According to rough estimates, more than a million people visit this archaeological complex every year. Chichen Itza gained immense popularity not only due to the fact that it is quite well preserved. It has become the quintessence of religious beliefs and ideas about the structure of the universe and the surrounding world. A special influx of tourists occurred in December 2012. Believing in an ancient prophecy, many adherents of the famous calendar rushed to Chichen Itza, wanting to "meet" the end of the world among the ancient Mayan structures.
Chichen Itza: history of occurrence
It is rather difficult to reliably describe the history of the creation of the city, since there are practically no manuscripts describing the ancient events of Chichen Itza - they were destroyed by the Spanish conquerors. Archaeologists believe that people first began to settle in this place from the 4th century, and the first city buildings began to be erected around the 6th - 7th centuries. At the same time, an urban community arose. Until the 10th century Chichen Itza was the home of the Mayan Indians. And by the end of the X century. the city was conquered by the conquerors from Central Mexico - the Toltecs, who practiced sacrifices and served the cult of the Feathered Serpent. They did not begin to destroy Chichen Itza, but on the contrary, they were firmly rooted in it. During the reign of the Toltecs, the city became one of the most powerful settlements in the Yucatan Peninsula. From the 11th century the Toltecs made it the capital of their empire. Over time, it gradually changed and more and more acquired Toltec features. The symbiosis of two peculiar cultures made the ancient city truly unique. For unknown reasons, at the end of the XII century. it was abandoned by the inhabitants and overgrown with jungle. Only in 1920 did archaeologists discover its mysterious structures to the world.
The main attractions of the ancient Mayan city
The most famous building of the ancient city is the pyramid of Kukulkan (or otherwise - the pyramid of El Castillo). In 2007, she entered the list of the seven new wonders of the world. Chichen Itza was built in the 11th century. joint efforts of the Maya and Toltec Indians. They erected a grandiose monument dedicated to the wind, Quetzalcoatl, which had the appearance of a feathered serpent with a human head. The Maya Indians called the deity Kukulkan, that is, "feathered serpent." This building was created on the basis of Mayan and Toltec cosmological and calendar knowledge. It reaches a height of 24 m, and its faces face all four cardinal points. At the top of the pyramid is a platform, which in ancient times was used for making sacrifices.
Four steep and wide stairs lead to the site, each of which consists of 91 steps, which in total (together with the upper platform) gives a sign number 365, equal to the number of days in a solar year. On each side of the pyramid there are 18 sections - terraces. This number is also symbolic. It is equal to the number of months in the Mayan calendar. In addition, there are 52 stone reliefs on each of the four sides of the pyramid. They represent the coincidence of the special calendar cycles of the Toltecs - the daily xiupoualli and the daily tonalpoualli - occurring once every 52 years. Interestingly, inside the sanctuary there is another nine-stage pyramid, the entrance to which was found relatively recently. There is a relic - "Jaguar Mat" and a statue of "Chuck Mool".
The second unique attraction of the city of Chichen Itza in Mexico is the famous Temple of the Warriors. It is located right 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 is why the pyramid got its name. At its top is a temple, consisting of a hall and a sanctuary. An impressive staircase surrounded by balustrades leads to the temple. The entrance to the sanctuary is marked by snakes carved from stone. In the temple there is a stone altar resembling a low table, the legs of which are made in the form of human figures. There is also an ugly stone idol of the Toltec deity Chak-Mool - a reclining demon holding a large empty dish in his hands and pressing it to his stomach. It is believed that it was on this dish that the priests burned the hearts of their victims.
Another mysterious attraction of the ancient Mayan city is the "Sacred Cenote"
Not only the pyramids of Chichen Itza in Mexico deserve the attention of many tourists. To the north of the El Castillo monument is another mysterious attraction called the Sacred Cenote (otherwise known as the Well of Death). This karst formation, unlike other wells, did not serve the Toltecs as a source of fresh water.
Priests threw victims into it, 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 - 1925. it was explored by Herbert Thompson, who extracted from it a large number of antiquities: gold, ceramics, rubber, obsidian and, of course, many human remains.
Pyramid of Ossuari
In Chichen Itza, there is another karst formation - the Shtolok cenote, which is located south of the Temple of Kukulkan. It, 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 explored another interesting Chichen Itza pyramid - Osuari (otherwise - the Crypt).
It, like the Temple of Kukulkan, was built with stairs on each of its four sides. Interestingly, in the center of the pyramid there is a deep vertical hole leading to a natural cave. In it, Thompson found several interesting jade artifacts, as well as human remains.
ball court
Another ominous attraction of the city of Chichen Itza is Tzompantli. It is a T-shaped platform, the walls of which are decorated with relief images of skulls.
Used by Tzompantli to display the heads of victims as well as prisoners of war. To the west of the Temple of Skulls is one of the nine ball courts, striking in 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. To the east of the site is the Temple of the Jaguar, which includes two shrines. The upper sanctuary is located on the wall that bounds the site. Probably from here they watched 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 is another building - the Temple of the Bearded Man. A staircase leads to its entrance, 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 Caracol
To the south of the ball court there are several other attractions, including the Red House - a building with a red facade - and Caracol (translated as "snail shell") - a tower built on a platform. It is believed that it was used by the Maya Indians for observing astronomical objects, calculations, and therefore Caracol is otherwise called the Observatory.
South of the tower is another powerful Toltec structure, which the Spaniards called the "Convent" for its majestic and impregnable appearance. It reaches a height of 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 Chak 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 the northern Yucatan - Cancun and Merida. You can get to the city of Chichen Itza on your own by renting a car or using a bus (a ticket for it costs from 80 to 140 pesos, depending on the class). A taxi will cost you much more than public transport, since the distance from Cancun or Merida is not close, about 200 km and 120 km, respectively. The archaeological zone is open to visitors daily, from 8:00 to 17:00. If you want to save money - go sightseeing Maya and Toltec on Sunday, admission is free.
Step pyramids are an important part of the architecture of the peoples who once inhabited the territory of Mexico. The pyramids of Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza, Uxmal are the most popular among tourists. It is they who usually come to mind when mentioning the Mexican pyramids. But there are much more ancient pyramidal structures on the territory of this country. Different peoples were engaged in their creation at different times, and, of course, they all differ from each other.
El Tajin arose during the heyday of the pre-Columbian culture of Veracruz on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the area of \u200b\u200bthe current city of Poza Rica. On the territory of more than a thousand hectares there are multi-tiered pyramids, ball courts, statues depicting gods, dwellings of priests and Indian leaders. The heyday of the City of Thunder, as its name is translated from the Totonac language, fell on the 9th-12th centuries. Then it occupied an area of more than 10 square kilometers, and its population was several thousand people.
In the center of the city there is a palace and temple complex, most of the buildings of which were erected in the period from 600 to 900 AD. e. The pyramid of El Tahin or the pyramid of Nish is dedicated to the supreme thunder god Tahin, the patron of rain. The seven-tier structure, the height of which reaches 25 m, is decorated with deep niches running along the ledges.
At the base of the pyramid is a square with a side of 35 meters. All seven tiers of the pyramid have square niches, painted red on the inside and decorated with reliefs depicting snakes. There are 365 such niches. On the eastern slope there is a staircase decorated with mosaics and numbering 364 steps.
The city was destroyed at the beginning of the 13th century. The fire, as scientists suggest, forced the inhabitants of the city to leave it. Until the end of the eighteenth century, Europeans did not know about the existence of El Tahin. Only in 1875 was the pyramid of Nis accidentally discovered.
2 Tula
Tula is the ancient capital of the Toltecs, one of the main pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. It is usually identified with the mythical city of Tollan. Tula is located 65 km northwest of Mexico City on the banks of the river of the same name.
The most famous of the surviving structures is the Pyramid of the Morning Star, on the platform of which stands a group of five-meter stone sculptures of warriors that once supported the roof of the temple. At the entrance there are large statues of snakes.
In the XIII century Tula was destroyed. Huge figures of warriors at the foot of the pyramid were ritually buried and thanks to this they have survived to this day.
3 Zintsuntsan
The city of Tsintsuntsan was founded in the 13th century by the Purepecha people. In the same century, it became the capital of a state known among historians as Tarasco. The area of the city was about 7 km². Ancient Tsintsuntsan is located on a slope, slightly higher than the modern city.
The ritual construction of the Purepecha people was a platform consisting of 10 steps (total height 13 m). On the platform stood five funerary pyramids with 12 steps.
The Spaniards, who arrived in Tsintsuntzan in 1529, burned the ruler of Tangahuan II alive and destroyed the city in order to use its stones to build Catholic cathedrals and houses for the Spanish administration. But the pyramids are partially preserved.
4 Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan is an abandoned city located 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City in the municipality of San Juan Teotihuacan. The pyramids of Teotihuacan are among the most famous Mexican pyramids. They are often called the Aztec pyramids, although this is not the case.
Very little is known about Teotihuacan. It was abandoned 700 years before the Aztecs arrived there in the 15th century and gave it its name. The first settlements were founded in these places in the 5th century BC, and in the 5th century AD, Teotihuacan was the largest city in Central America. Modern researchers believe that the area of this ancient settlement was 26-28 square meters. km, and the population is about 200 thousand people.
One of the main and oldest buildings of Teotihuacan is the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in the city of Teotihuacan and one of the largest in Mesoamerica. It is located on the Road of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Citadel in the shadow of the massive mountain Cerro Gordo and is part of a large temple complex.
The pyramid is a 5-tier structure with a flat top, on which a small temple once stood. The height of the pyramid is almost 64.5 meters, the length of the sides of the base is 211, 207, 217 and 209 meters, the total volume is 993 thousand cubic meters. The Pyramid of the Sun is made of cobblestone, clay and earth, lined with stone. Probably the orientation of the pyramid has some anthropological significance. It is oriented with a slope to the northwest to the point of sunset on the horizon, when twice a year - August 12 and April 29 - the calendar year of Teotihuacans was predetermined.
At the northern end of the Road of the Dead is the Pyramid of the Moon - an almost exact, but reduced by a third, copy of the Pyramid of the Sun. Its height is 42 m, the base is -150 by 130 m. But due to the features of the relief, the tops of the pyramids are located on the same level.
5 Xochicalco
Xochicalco is an ancient pre-Columbian settlement in the western part of the Mexican state of Morelos, located 25 km south of the city of Cuernavaca and 85 km south of Mexico City.
The main ceremonial center and residential buildings (most of which have not been excavated) are located on long terraces on the slopes of an artificially leveled hill. The settlement was first founded in 200 BC. e., but developed into an urban center only by the period 700 - 900 AD. e. Almost all the surviving buildings were built during this period.
The site now houses the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, temples in the form of terraced pyramids, palaces, three ball fields, steam rooms, an unusual row of round altars, and a cave with carved steps.
6 Cholula
Cholula is a city located in the Mexican state of Puebla. In Cholula there is a Toltec pyramid, also known as Tlachihualtepetl. This is the largest pyramid in Mexico, and in general in the world. Its base is 440 m long and 77 m high.
The ancient pyramid is hidden under a layer of clay, making it look more like a natural mountain than an ancient place of worship. On top of this hill, the Spaniards built the Church of the Blessed Virgin Comforter.
Most of the Cholula Pyramid is built of unbaked bricks. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, archaeologists unearthed and restored one side of the pyramid, which was lined with stone. Moreover, there are often inserts from well-crafted granite blocks with an ornament applied to them. Also, archaeologists have discovered tunnels penetrating the pyramid in various planes. Some of them are open to visitors.
7 Monte Alban
Monte Alban is a large pre-Columbian settlement in southeastern Mexico, in the state of Oaxaca. It is located on a low mountain range that runs through the central part of the Oaxaca Valley.
The foundation of Monte Alban dates back to approximately the 4th century BC. e. At the time of its heyday (200-700 AD), the city occupied an area of 40 square meters. km, and its population exceeded 20 thousand people. On the artificially leveled giant area on the top of the hill, step pyramids still rise today. On the slopes descending in terraces, the remains of palaces, steles with inscriptions, a stone staircase 40 m wide and other structures have been preserved. The walls of the buildings were decorated with mosaics, frescoes and reliefs.
The main god of the locals was the rain god Kosiho. The main pyramid of the city, crowning the top of the hill, was dedicated to him.
8 Palenque
Palenque is the largest ruins of an ancient Mayan city located in the northeast of the Mexican state of Chiapas. More than a thousand buildings have been discovered here, only a part of them have been studied in detail and restored.
The Spaniards named the city after Palenque, in Mayan times it was called Lakam-ha - “Big Water”. Originating around 100 AD. e., the settlement reached its peak in the period from 630 to 740 years. After 900, Palenque was deserted. The surrounding area is known for the highest rainfall in Mexico, due to which the city gradually disappeared behind dense tropical thickets and fell into oblivion until 1746, when the Spaniards discovered it.
In the center of the settlement, on a ten-meter platform, rises the palace, which served as the residence of local rulers. This is a majestic building with an area of 104 × 80 m, consisting of galleries, stairs, intricate labyrinths of underground passages and many rooms with exits to four courtyards.
To the southeast of the palace is the Palenque triad, which includes the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Cross, the Temple of the Leafy Cross. All these names are given to religious buildings, thanks to the motives prevailing in the painting of their walls and altars.
Also in close proximity to the palace is the Temple of the Inscriptions. This is the tallest building of the complex, the height of its pyramid is 23 m, and in order to get to its top, you need to overcome 69 steps.
9 Comalcalco
Comalcalco is a former Mayan city located about 60 km northeast of the city of Villahermosa in the Mexican state of Tabasco.
Comalcalco is the westernmost of the Mayan temples. Due to the lack of limestone, the buildings in this city were built of baked bricks, which were held together with lime mortar from crushed oyster shells.
The buildings are mostly from the Late Classic period, 700-900 BC. n. e. Many bricks are decorated with images. The most famous buildings: the northern square, the pyramids "great acropolis" and "eastern acropolis".
10 Calakmul
Calakmul - in the past, a powerful Mayan city, the capital of the Canul kingdom. Located in the Mexican state of Campeche, deep in the jungles of the Peténian Basin region. The heyday of Calakmul falls between 200 and 700 AD. e.
In 1931, Calakmul was discovered by the American Cyrus Lundell. Calakmul occupied an area of approximately 30 km² and consisted of more than 100 large buildings, and a total of about 5000 buildings. Two pyramids dominate among the structures, which are commonly called "Structure I" and "Structure II" 45 m high. The largest pyramid has a side length of 140 m.
11 Etzna
Etzna is a Mayan archaeological site in the northern Mexican state of Campeche. The city was inhabited already in 400 BC. e., and was abandoned around 1500 AD. e. In the late classical period, Etsna was part of the state of Calakmul. The city was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century.
The classical period of the existence of Etsna fell, as elsewhere in the Yucatan, in 600-900 AD. It was then that the most significant architectural monuments of this city were born. Among them is the main temple, standing on a pyramidal base forty meters high.
The city was in a swamp. The Indians did a great job of draining the area, building a complex and extensive system of canals and reservoirs.
12 Uxmal
Uxmal is a major Mayan city in the northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula, 68 km south of the city of Merida.
Uxmal was settled in the 8th century BC. e., at the peak of power (about 800-900 AD) had about 25,000 inhabitants. It was during this period that most of the surviving monuments were built. But prosperity did not last long. When the Toltecs took control of the Yucatan Peninsula at the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries, construction in Uxmal ceased, and the city began to decline. And shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, it was finally abandoned.
The Pyramid of the Magus is the highest monument (35 m) and the main attraction of the Uxmal archaeological complex. It is also called the Dwarf's Pyramid. Both names come from the legend of the magical dwarf. Hatching from an egg, he became an adult in one day and built this pyramid in one night. In fact, archaeological excavations show that the Pyramid of the Magus was built as a result of five stages of construction on top of previously built pyramids. Starting in the 6th century, it regularly increased its height until the 10th century.
13 Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is the political and cultural center of the Maya in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Located 120 km east of the city of Merida.
The city of Chichen Itza was probably founded around 455. It can be conditionally divided into two groups. The first includes buildings dating from the 6th-7th centuries. n. e. and related to the period of the Mayan culture. The second group of buildings belongs to the Toltec period of the X-XI centuries. n. e.
The city was captured by the Toltecs in the 10th century. In the middle of the XI century, Chichen Itza became the capital of the Toltec state. In 1178 it was defeated by the united army of three city-states - Mayapan, Ushmal and Itzmal. By the time of the Spanish conquests, Chichen Itza was a ruin.
El Castillo (aka the Pyramid of Kukulkan) was the main structure of the city. The square base pyramid has nine steps. Four staircases, bordered by a balustrade, lead to the top, which begin on the ground floor in the form of a slightly raised snake head and continue their way like a snake body to the upper floor. Each staircase consists of 91 steps, and if the number of steps is multiplied by the number of stairs, then 364 steps will be obtained and the 365th step of the top of the pyramid symbolizes the last day of the past year. At the top is a temple, the entrance to which, decorated with columns in the form of snake bodies, is located on the north side.
To the east of El Castillo is another famous structure of Chichen Itza: the Temple of the Warriors. It consists of four platforms, surrounded on three sides by round and square columns. The square columns are carved in the shape of Toltec warriors. During the restoration, some of the columns were restored and put in their original place. At the top of the Temple of the Warriors is a sculpture of Chaak-Mool in the form of a reclining man.
The observatory is another famous landmark of Chichen Itza. The Spanish word El Caracol means "spiral staircase" (it is inside). Through holes in the walls of the tower, Mayan astronomers observed the movements of Venus, the Sun, the Moon and other celestial bodies, calculated the spring and autumn days of the equinox, the day of the summer solstice. Maya astronomical skills helped to predict even solar eclipses.
Teotihuacan is an ancient city located 50 kilometers northeast of the capital of Mexico. The height here is 2228 meters above sea level, since Teotihuacan stands on the Mexican Highlands.
Teotihuacan was the largest city, the center of culture and various ceremonies for the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. Here are the largest Mexican pyramids. Travelers in Mexico are sure to look into this archaeological complex.
History of Teotihuacan
Although the city of Teotihuacan, perhaps the largest in Mesoamerica, is ahead of other Mayan ruins in terms of monumentality, its mysteries have not yet been solved, and there is still no unequivocal opinion about history.
To study Teotihuacan, only the data obtained as a result of excavations were used, there are very few written documents, they can only characterize the period after Columbus and the Spanish conquistadors traveled to America.
Initially, scientists believed that the city was built by the Aztecs, but then it turned out that the Aztecs appeared here much later. Nevertheless, Europeans learned some legends about Teotihuacan from representatives of this people.
Teotihuacan - in other words, "the city in which the gods are born"
Legends of the ancient city of Teotihuacan
There is an ancient legend according to which the sun and moon gods were created here. Two wanted to be able to create light, the first was powerful and arrogant, the second, on the contrary, was completely covered with ulcers and humiliated. Tecuxistecatl and Nanahuatzin had to throw themselves into the fire in order to turn into gods.
Nanaucin, covered in ulcers, sacrificed himself and threw himself into the fire, and his arrogant brother Tecucistecatl did not have the courage, and he collapsed into the ashes. Therefore, Nanahuatzin was reborn and shone with a bright light, becoming the god of the Sun, and the other, who chickened out, became the god of the Moon with a dull radiance in the firmament. Thus the sun and moon gods were born, and the cycle of the universe began.
History of development
A thousand years before our era, a small settlement began to exist on the site of the ancient city. Its inhabitants were engaged in agriculture and crafts. They grew corn, pumpkin and beans. They were engaged in weaving, making pottery, carving from stone, erecting buildings. They revered mainly the gods of fire and water.
3rd century BC - the settlement turns into a city. Young Teotihuacan is growing more and more.
Its entire territory is paved with gypsum slabs, buildings and religious buildings lined up around the main axis.
A century later, an irrigation system was built. A whole network of canals was created, the water to which came from nearby reservoirs. Already at this time, Teotihuacan was a city of temples, beauty, luxury and abundance. Builders, artists, talented artisans worked on its creation.
One Pyramid of the Sun was built over 30 years, 20 thousand workers were involved. In 250 AD, Teotihuacan was already completely built.
The heyday of the city falls on the 2nd-5th century AD, at that time the population of Teotihuacan was 200 thousand people. The city begins to dominate the rest of pre-Columbian Mexico. Teotihuacan became an empire, and its inhabitants began to settle in other cities.
In the 5th century AD, the ancient Mayan city of Tikal was filled with Teotihuacans who brought their culture there. In the 6th century, for unknown reasons, the city of Teotihuacan is moving towards its decline, losing its influence and possessions. It is believed that in the future it was conquered and destroyed.
Mayan pyramids in Mexico
The city on the plan was located around the axis, it was a street that was called the street of the Dead. Along it are the main temples and famous Mexican pyramids.
At one end of the Street of the Dead is the citadel. In it, in the very center, there is a temple of a particularly revered deity - Quetzalcoatl or the Feathered Serpent.
Two more pyramids - one bigger, the other smaller.
The first is called the Pyramid of the Sun, the second is the Pyramid of the Moon, which is located at the other end of the Road of the Dead.
In the buildings of Teotihuacan, its architecture mainly used two elements - tablero and talud. The first is a rectangular panel, the second is a ledge. Such techniques can be traced in many structures of the archaeological complex.
The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. It is also in third place among such buildings in the world, after such as the Egyptian pyramid of Cheops and the Mexican pyramid in Cholula.
Initially, the height of the pyramid was 71 meters, now it is 64.5. The perimeter of the base is 900 meters. The Pyramid of the Sun is located along the Road of the Dead. The Pyramid of the Sun received its name, as well as the legend of its origin, from the Aztecs.
The Pyramid of the Sun has two levels, on the second there was once an altar, which deity was worshiped here is not known for certain. A trip to the temples is not complete without climbing this pyramid.
The height of the Pyramid of the Moon is from 42 to 46 meters. It is located on a small earthen embankment, therefore, approximately on the same level as the Pyramid of the Sun. Also, the Pyramid of the Moon is the extreme northern point of the road or the Street of the Dead. Rising to the very top, you can see the axis of Teotihuacan and how clearly straight lines can be traced in the layout of the city.
Road of the Dead
The language of the Indians is Maccaotli Nahuatl. Its width is 40 meters, and its length is approximately equal to 2300 meters. The extreme northern point of the road is crowned by the Pyramid of the Moon, and along the road there are majestic temples and all other Mayan ruins.
The name of the street (or road) of the Dead, appeared thanks to the Aztecs. When they saw the mounds, they first thought that these were burial mounds, and not at all the city of Teotihuacan with its pyramids and temples.
When planning a trip to Teotihuacan, it is recommended to climb the pyramids, where the ancient priests once stood, in addition, magnificent views open from here. It is best to make ascents in the morning, here you can meet the dawn, until a stream of tourists poured into the city.
Kukulkan: the right side of the pyramid has been restored, the left side has not been restored Karakol - the ancient Observatory
Chichen Itza is a city of the Mayan civilization, well preserved from antiquity, built in accordance with the religious ideas of this people. It can be said right away that all Mayan cities were built taking into account the positions of heavenly bodies and stars.
Once the city of Chichen Itza was the center of culture of several Indian peoples. Its name is translated as "a place at the well of the Itza tribe." Such peoples as the Maya, Toltecs, Itza left their mark in the city of Chichen Itza.
Now this city in Mexico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where is Chichen Itza located?
This seventh wonder of the world is located in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The ancient city of Chichen Itza is 205 kilometers away from the famous resort of Cancun and 120 kilometers from Merida. Not far from it (1.5 kilometers) is the small town of Piste.
Popularity of the ancient city
Chichen Itza is one of the most popular destinations in the Yucatan and in Mexico in general. It is in second place in terms of attendance among ancient cities, only Teotihuacan () is ahead of it.
It is estimated that the number of tourists who visit this archaeological complex exceeds one million a year. A huge influx was observed here in December 2012, because it was at this time that the Mayan calendar was supposed to end. Many people wanted to spend the end of the world in the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza.
Currently, you can come to Chichen Itza with a 1-day excursion from both Cancun and Merida.
City `s history
The history of the city dates back to the 6th century AD. Then it was one of the largest cities of the Mayan civilization. The southern part of the ancient city was built in accordance with the traditions of the Mayan people.
In the 10th century, after the capture, the city was dominated by the Toltecs, who arrived here from Central Mexico. Later, from about the middle of the 11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital and center of the Toltec state.
Blood sacrifices began here precisely because of this people. The entire northern part of the city testifies to their presence. A century later, the city was defeated by a huge army, which included the soldiers of three states - Ushmal, Mayapan, Itzmal.
Chichen Itza was defeated by the ruler Hunak Keel. In the future, the city was empty and turned into ruins (this is how the Europeans discovered it).
Many treasures were stolen by the Spaniards and the manuscripts were destroyed.
Therefore, very little can be said about history, but it is assumed that if it were not for the actions of Europeans, archaeologists could have discovered many unique finds. In 1923, archaeological excavations began in Mexico, and now about 6 square kilometers of the ancient city is on the surface.
Pyramid of Kukulkan in Chichen Itza
The very first building that is very conspicuous is the huge pyramid of Kukulkan. It is the center in the city of Chichen Itza. In Spanish, it is called El Castillo, which means "castle".
The total height of the Kukulkan pyramid is 24 meters. The pyramid has nine tiers, and at the very top there is a temple.
Kukulkan, like any pyramid, has 4 faces that are directed to 4 cardinal points. And on each side a wide staircase leads up, which is decorated with snake heads below.
The path leads to the main northern staircase of the pyramid. To go upstairs, you must overcome a certain number of steps - there are 91 of them.
It is interesting that the total number of steps on the pyramid, including the upper platform, is 365, that is, an even number of days in a year.
Such a coincidence suggests that this pyramid may have some relation to the calendar, or it may have astronomical significance.
At the very top is a temple where sacrifices were made in ancient times.
As studies have shown, a large pyramid was built on top of an even older pyramid, into which a hole in the floor of the sanctuary leads.
In the hidden rooms of the pyramid of Kukulkan, archaeologists discovered two main antiquities: the Jaguar Mat and the figure of Chaak Mool, the god of rain.
- "Mat Jaguar"- is a stone throne in the shape of a jaguar, the paint on it is fiery red, it is a symbol of the power of the ruler of the city. The very first owner of this throne, according to legend, was Quetzalcoatl. The spots on the animal body and the eyes of the animal are made of jade. The fangs are carved from volcanic stone.
- - made for ritual purposes. She has a flat bowl on her stomach, on which the heart of the victim was placed, for later burning.
The second name of the construction of Kukulkan is the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent (the most correct translation is the Feathered Serpent). Firstly, this pyramid and temple are dedicated to this deity. Secondly, the name is associated with a certain phenomenon.
Light illusion of Kukulkan - the play of shadows on the faces of the pyramid
Every year, at the time of the equinox, an event takes place here that attracts people to Mexico. At 3 p.m., the pyramid is lit so that the staircase casts a shadow - a series of triangles that together resemble a snake's tail.
During the movement of the luminary in the sky, the triangles go out one by one, thus, it seems that this is the tail of a huge snake, 37 meters long, moving down.
Now this phenomenon can be seen not only on certain days, but every evening a light show is held here.
Kukulkan: the right side of the pyramid has been restored, the left one has not been restored
Learn more about the Pyramid of Kukulkan on our website - "Pyramid of Kukulkan - the ancient Mayan god"
Temples of the ancient city of Chichen Itza
The Temple of the Warriors as well as the Temple of the Jaguars are important buildings in the city of Chichen Itza. Both stand on small pyramids with 4 steps. Both have many paintings.
Temple of the Warriors
The Temple of the Warriors is located on the western side of the Kikulkan Pyramid. It has four platforms, and on three sides around it you can see rows of three-meter stone columns. They are called "Group of a Thousand Columns".
The pillars are skillfully carved from stone, and represent Toltec warriors, as if standing in formation. Once upon a time they propped up the roof.
On the south side of the temple is a small building, which has the name "Market".
The upper sanctuary also once had a roof, now it is gone, and at the top there are two "snakes" that guarded the passage to the temple.
There is also a statue of a man in a reclining position on the platform. This is Chaak Mool - the god of rain.
The Temple of the Jaguar has two shrines: an upper and a lower one. At the top, the elite watched the game on the field.
At the entrance to the lower sanctuary, you can see the figure of a jaguar, thanks to which the temple got its name.
Another building is called the Temple or the tomb of the great priest. During Mayan times, it played an important role.
Externally, the structure is similar to other temples with pyramids. But its difference is that inside there is a passage to a cave underground. Ancient graves of noble people were discovered there.
The second name of this building is Osuari, in other words, the crypt.
Other attractions
In addition to temples, the city of Chichen Itza has other interesting places.
Sacred Cenote is a huge well. Its diameter is approximately 60 meters, and the depth of the well is 50 meters. There is water in it, from the edge to its surface about 20 meters.
The well served as the place where the sacrificed young girls were thrown. Therefore, the second name of this object is the Well of Death.
Ball fields
There are 9 ball fields on the territory of the archaeological complex. This game was somewhat similar to modern basketball, only it was played with a heavy rubber ball, which could only be hit with the hip. Instead of ordinary baskets, stone rings are attached to the walls.
The found sites are quite large, the largest one is located in the northern part of the complex. Its dimensions are: length - 160 meters, width - 70. The entire field is surrounded by eight-meter walls, they depict scenes of torment of losing players and many skulls.
Caracol tower - ancient observatory
Another ancient building is Karakol. This is a tower on two platforms, it was used to observe celestial astronomical objects. It is often referred to as the Observatory.
Cacti, tequila, sombrero and of course with mayan pyramids.
Unlike the pyramids in Egypt, the pyramids in Mexico were not used as the tomb of the rulers, but for religious rituals and sacrifices.
It is assumed that the first to build pyramids was the mistletoe civilization, and later the Mayan tribes. The secrets of the pyramids of Mexico have not yet been solved; they attract many tourists with their energy, history and legends. So, the Mayan Indians predicted the end of the world for us on 12/12/12, which we successfully survived.
There are a lot of pyramids in Mexico and the ancient cities of the Maya, Aztecs, Toltecs and other tribes, more than a thousand. But not all of them are available for visiting, many pyramids are lost in the impenetrable jungle, in many restoration work is just beginning. But do not try to visit even all the pyramids available for visiting in Mexico. Today I will talk about the most popular and visited pyramids and ancient cities in Mexico, and you already decide which of them to visit and which not.
Teotihuacan
The ancient city is located 40 km from the capital of Mexico -. It is still not known who built this city, but the very name Teotihuacan, which means “City of the Gods”, was given to the city by the Aztecs. Teotihuacan was built in the 2nd century AD, and peaked in 450-600 years, when about 200 thousand people lived in it. There are three pyramids in Teotihuacan. One of them - pyramid of the sun- the third highest pyramid in the world, you can climb to the top of this pyramid and feel the extraordinary energy of this place. Just as interesting moon pyramid, which most likely served as a place of sacrifice.
Cholula
Pyramid of Cholula- the largest pyramid in the world, located in Mexico, 15 km from the city of Puebla and 130 km from. The pyramid was built during the time of the Toltecs. And now it is a high hill, on top of which the Spaniards built a church in the 17th century.
In the city of Tula, the ancient capital of the Toltecs, which is located 90 km north of Mexico City, the remains of Pyramids of the Morning Star- Pyramids on which the figures of warriors stand.
Chichen Itza
The Yucatan Peninsula has many ancient Mayan cities and interesting pyramids. The most visited ancient Mayan city in the Yucatan .
It is located 205 km from the popular resort, it can be quickly reached by. The city of Chichen Itza was founded in the 6th century by the Maya Indians. Located on the territory Pyramid of Kukulkan(or Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent) with a temple at the top, which served as a place of sacrifice. It is here that believers and curious tourists gather on the days of the equinox to look at a natural phenomenon when the sun illuminates the pyramid so that it seems that a snake is running along it.
Tulum
The second most visited by tourists in the Yucatan is the ancient city. Although the pyramids themselves and the ancient city of Tulum have not been preserved as well as Chichen Itza, it attracts tourists with its beautiful landscapes, because Tulum is located on a cliff with a magnificent view of the azure Caribbean Sea, and below, in the bay, there is a beach , which is so nice to swim after walking through the ruins of Tulum. Tulum is the only Mayan city built on the seashore and serving as a port.
Koba
In 40 km of Tulum there is another Mayan city visited by tourists - Koba. Here is the "Great Pyramid" or Nooch Mul, 42 m high, which is even allowed to climb!
Uxmal
Another Mayan city built in the 6th century, .
Uxmal is located 382 km from Cancun, from the airport in Merida to Uxmal 82 km. Located on the territory of the city Pyramid of the Wizard (or Pyramid of the Magician)- a pyramid of unusual shape, the base of which has the shape of an ellipse. There is a legend that a wizard built this pyramid in just one night. Unfortunately, the Pyramid of the Wizard is now impossible to climb. But in Uxmal there is another pyramid - Great Pyramid, here you can climb it and inspect the entire ancient city from a height.
Palenque
An ancient city hid in the jungles of Chiapas. This city is famous for the fact that the sarcophagus of the ruler Pakal was found here, which is now stored in the archaeological museum in Mexico City. Sarcophagus found in Temple of the Inscriptions- this is one of the few pyramids in Mexico, which was built for the burial of the ruler. The territory of Palenque is large, located in the jungle, along with the ruins and pyramids there is a small waterfall, and you can also see many exotic birds, iguanas, and even monkeys.
