Anyone making a trip to the amazing Maya ruins at Chichn Itz will have a long list of sites to visit in and around the vast complex of temples and pyramids. Many of the most popular attractions have become household names, and watchwords for the engineering and artistic magnificence of the Mayan culture the huge pyramid El Castillo, the enormous Great Ballcourt, and the intriguing Observatory, to name a few. However, you might not be aware that hidden away within the boundaries of the ancient city are several lesser-known but equally fascinating sights that bespeak the grandeur and skill of the civilization which created them.
First is the Red House, or Casa Colorada, which takes its name from the shards of red paint that were discovered on the floor within the building. In the Nahuatl language, the Red House is called Chichancob, which most likely means small holes, a reference to the roof made of lime comb. However, the building's most salient feature is not its paint scheme nor its roof, but rather, its walls.
The Chichancob consists of four rooms, including an antechamber and external ball court adjacent to the back wall. Each room has walls filled with intricately carved hieroglyphs. One of the most well-preserved of all Chichn Itz's structures, the Red House's panoply of carvings have been dated to as early as 869 AD, and appear to tell stories about the rulers and nobility of the city over the generations. The building was probably constructed specifically to house these glyphs, and today they stand as a perplexing but intriguing testament to the longevity of the Mayans, and indeed of Chichn Itz itself.
The Temple of the Three Lintels
The Temple of the Three Lintels was, in all likelihood, not a temple at all, but rather a residence for Chichn Itz's royals or nobility. It takes it name from the elaborate hieroglyphs that rest above the structure's three entrances. Otherwise, however, the building is quite plain and modest; the outer walls lack ornamentation other than a lattice-like pattern of crosses on the cornice, making it a surprisingly unassuming place for royalty to dwell.
Scientists have discovered evidence of ritual offerings in the immediate area, leading them to believe that the Temple was frequently a site of Mayan Fire Rituals. The Chac mask figures with long, distended noses that perch watchfully near the entrances are a common architectural feature of Mayan structures; they believed to have a role in granting tribute to the Rain God, perhaps to enure a good harvest in the year to come.
Temple of the Bearded Man
Another site worth investigating, which is often overshadowed by a nearby famous structure, is the North Temple, or Temple of the Bearded Man. Lying as it does at one end of the Great Ballcourt, many visitors pass by this interesting building without taking much notice. However, the intricate carvings and bas relief artwork that cover the interior walls are certainly worth a look. Most notable is the temple's namesake, a central figure with carvings under his chin that give the impression of facial hair.
First is the Red House, or Casa Colorada, which takes its name from the shards of red paint that were discovered on the floor within the building. In the Nahuatl language, the Red House is called Chichancob, which most likely means small holes, a reference to the roof made of lime comb. However, the building's most salient feature is not its paint scheme nor its roof, but rather, its walls.
The Chichancob consists of four rooms, including an antechamber and external ball court adjacent to the back wall. Each room has walls filled with intricately carved hieroglyphs. One of the most well-preserved of all Chichn Itz's structures, the Red House's panoply of carvings have been dated to as early as 869 AD, and appear to tell stories about the rulers and nobility of the city over the generations. The building was probably constructed specifically to house these glyphs, and today they stand as a perplexing but intriguing testament to the longevity of the Mayans, and indeed of Chichn Itz itself.
The Temple of the Three Lintels
The Temple of the Three Lintels was, in all likelihood, not a temple at all, but rather a residence for Chichn Itz's royals or nobility. It takes it name from the elaborate hieroglyphs that rest above the structure's three entrances. Otherwise, however, the building is quite plain and modest; the outer walls lack ornamentation other than a lattice-like pattern of crosses on the cornice, making it a surprisingly unassuming place for royalty to dwell.
Scientists have discovered evidence of ritual offerings in the immediate area, leading them to believe that the Temple was frequently a site of Mayan Fire Rituals. The Chac mask figures with long, distended noses that perch watchfully near the entrances are a common architectural feature of Mayan structures; they believed to have a role in granting tribute to the Rain God, perhaps to enure a good harvest in the year to come.
Temple of the Bearded Man
Another site worth investigating, which is often overshadowed by a nearby famous structure, is the North Temple, or Temple of the Bearded Man. Lying as it does at one end of the Great Ballcourt, many visitors pass by this interesting building without taking much notice. However, the intricate carvings and bas relief artwork that cover the interior walls are certainly worth a look. Most notable is the temple's namesake, a central figure with carvings under his chin that give the impression of facial hair.
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Active travel is a great way to explore the Mayan Ruins from Playa del Carmen. Duende Tours offers amazing packages including Mayan ruins and activities like snorkeling, zip lining. See the Mexico ruins tours for more information.
