I have finally arrived at the fabulous archaeological site of Chichen Itza, one of the greatest Maya cities and a centre of political and economic power. It was constructed around the 6th century and flourished until the 13th century when it was abandoned for unknown reasons. The name "Chichen Itza" means "at the mouth of the well of the Itza", referring to the "Cenote Sagrado" ("Sacred Cenote"), a sinkhole that was used for sacrificial offerings to the rain god Chaac.
As I explored the grounds, I first wandered through the Great Ball Court, where the Mesoamerican ballgame, called pitz in Classical Maya or pok-a-tok in English, was played with a solid rubber ball. Chichen Itza has 13 ballcourts, but the Great Ball Court is the largest and best-preserved. It measures 551ft (168m) long and 230ft (70m) wide. The parallel platforms flanking the court have rings carved with intertwined feathered serpents high up in the center of each wall. The game's objective is to hit the ball through the rings using only the hips, shoulders, elbows, knees, and occasionally the head to keep the ball in play. Essentially hands and feet were not permitted. The game was very symbolic to the Mayans and carried various meanings, such as the struggle between good and evil, life and death, wealth and power, politics, and warfare.
At the end of the ballcourt, I swung east, passing the Platform of Eagles and Jaguars, and the Platform of Venus, heading to the Temple of the Warriors. The temple is an amazing complex of a stepped pyramid surrounded by 200 round and square columns on its south and west sides. The square columns are carved in bas-relief, depicting warriors. A broad stairway leads to the top. Before the main entrance is Chac Mool, a sculpture of a reclined figure resting on its elbows and legs folded, supporting a plate on its stomach. Its head is turned 90 degrees from the front. It is believed to have been used in religious rituals and offerings to the gods, but scholars continue to debate its exact significance.
The grand finale of this journey is an exploration of the most impressive and iconic structure in Chichen Itza, the Kukulcan Pyramid, also known as El Castillo (The Castle). Built between the 8th to 12th centuries, this massive, nine-level, stepped pyramid served as a temple to the feathered serpent god, Kukulcan. It rises 98ft (30m) high with four sides, each with 91 steps and one more on top that contains a temple, making a total of 365 steps, one for each day of the year. The pyramid was constructed to align with the sun's movements, creating a fascinating effect during the spring and autumn equinoxes when the shadow of a snake slithers down the side of the pyramid.
Inside the main structure is a smaller pyramid, likely from an earlier Maya period, that contains a third pyramid within its walls. The pyramids were built on top of a cenote that connects to an underground river system. The second pyramid can be accessed via a dark and narrow stair climb. It contains the sculpture of a Chac Mool and a jaguar throne still in its original condition, including the jade-encrusted eyes, which kings used to communicate with the gods. The kings would sit on the throne and watch sacrifices made to the deity Chaac. Behind the throne embedded in the wall are bones thought to belong to ancestors.
The Kukulcan Pyramid continues to surprise as it slowly reveals its inner secrets. Yet, when Chichen Itza was abandoned and the jungle reclaimed the site, this grand and beautiful structure almost disappeared completely beneath the vegetation. In an 1892 photo, only the temple and parts of the stairway on one side were visible. Enormous restoration efforts were undertaken in the 1920s and 1930s when several buildings were reconstructed, including the Kukulcan Pyramid. Today, Chichen Itza is designated a UNESCO site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
There is so much more to learn and see here. I can see why archaeologists keep coming back to study this incredible site. However, I will end my journey for now and bid you farewell.
No comments:
Post a Comment
It's so good to see you here . . .