Chichen Itza, Mexico

Location: Mexico
Original purpose: worship complex
Current purpose: museum, archaeological site
Affiliation: Mayan
Open to public: Yes, $

Chichen Itza is perhaps the most recognized remnant of once glorious Mayan culture. It is definitely very touristic. There are plenty of tours organized from all resorts along Mayan Riviera and Cancun along with cruise ships traversing at Cozumel and
Playa del Carmen. Relative distance from the coast make it an organized tour a more cost-effective way of getting there.

Chichen Itza is actually a complex of a variety of buildings. The true meaning of all buildings have been lost, however it is apparent that the whole complex was used in some sort of sophisticated worship. Ancient Mayan seemed to have been built around the double lunar-solar calendar and highly dependent on astrology. Every building at Chichen Itza reflects that – all of them are oriented according to the movements of celestial bodies. For that matter archaeonomy (combination of archaeology and astronomy) is a very popular area of research at local universities. Local guides with pride will tell you that modern astronomy just recently confirmed calculations maid by Maya thousands of years ago concerning the movements of celestial bodies and the accuracy of their calendar.

El Castillo is the focal point of the complex and the symbol of all things Mayan. It is the temple of Kukulkan, the feathered serpent god, which was apparently specifically designed by Toltecs to assist them in occupying Mayas in the area of Itza. The stepping pyramid contains a lot of mysterious and unusual features. The descending serpent of the spring and autumn equinoxes are a huge crowd draw. At that time, one can observe a shadowy serpent descending the steps of the pyramid. There is also an interesting set of echo features, when you can “hear” the voice of Kukulkan. Recently it was discovered that the square pyramid sits a top a round foundation, which makes it even more mysterious and misunderstood.

Within close proximity there are also the famous ball court, with its own echo features; what is believed to be an observatory with multiple levels of celestial alignments; a likely sacrificial cenote (underground water pond); a temple with a thousand columns, which have a very strange Greek feel to them; and tonnes of more partially uncovered and reconstructed temples and structures. One can spend days wonder the grounds (and trying to avoid plethora of merchants) deciphering this sophisticated culture and belief system.


View Larger Map