Visiting the Mayan Ruins of Yucatán – Part 2 – Chichén Itzá
The Chichén Itzá pyramid is what most people envision when they think of Mayan ruins. It is truly a majestic complex, covering approximately 2 square miles. It consists of many structures, including the main pyramid (El Castillo/Templo de Kukulcán), the old ball court, the Temple of the Warriors, the Platform of the Skull, the Group of the Thousand Columns, and an Observatory. Chichén Itzá was a powerful regional center for the Maya and one of their largest cities. It is now among the most visited sites in Mexico and the Castle has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The design of the structures is positively surprising. The most famous is the appearance of a shadow along the side of the steps of the Temple of Kukulcán on the spring and fall equinoxes. It looks like a snake slithering down the pyramid connecting to the stone carving of Quetzalcoatl (the feathered serpent) at the bottom. Also, when a person in the field in front of the stairs claps their hands, the sound of a bird (cóatl) resounds from the pyramid while the sound of a snake’s rattle (quetzal) resounds from the area of the Temple of the Warriors. Each of the 4 sides of the pyramid has 91 steps (representing a season) that add up to 364 plus the top step to equal 365 (representing a year).
Another architectural marvel is the 551 by 230 foot ball court. Due to the slight curve built into the 26-foot-high walls of the court, a whisper can be clearly heard from the other end. The number seven was sacred to the Mayans and is repeated many times on the site. There were seven players in one team, the “goals” of the hoop were seven meters high, and if you clap or shout on the court, the sound will resound exactly seven times. The captain of the winning team was sacrificed and there are carvings on the stone walls representing the seven snakes that emerged from his neck. Beheading sounds like a strange reward, but the Maya felt it was a true honor and thought they would ascend straight to heaven.
Be sure to visit the Cenote Sagrado (sacred sinkhole) for which Chichén Itzá is named. The well is 200 feet in diameter and 90 feet to the water surface. Since this area of Mexico is a limestone plain, the cenotes flow into underground rivers. It was not only the main source of fresh water for the Maya, but also a ceremonial place. In the early 1900s, dredging was done and many bones of sacrificed victims and treasures were found. Due to dredging, the water flow decreased and the cenote is now green with algae.
This massive Mayan site is something not to be missed if you are staying anywhere in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.