Chichen Itza is one of the most famous Mayan cities, and for good reason. For many hundreds of years after its founding around 600 AD, it was an epicenter of Mayan culture, religion, and power. During its peak period, the city supported an unusually diverse population, which in part accounts for the myriad architectural styles drawn upon to construct the large number of ancient structures still visible within its boundaries. Building this city was truly an enormous undertaking, especially for a pre-modern culture; today, just the task of viewing their creation is so overwhelming that a map and compass are essential tools. This guide will help you get a bead on some of the most visually and historically magnificent buildings at Chichen Itza, so that you can more effectively plan an excursion that will leave you awe-struck and breathless at the skill and creativity of the city's inhabitants " and not just because you've been walking in circles all day!
Though there are seven ball courts at Chichen Itza, where the ancient Maya held their tlatchtli matches, one court in particular dwarfs them all. At the northwest corner of the city, the Great Ball Court measures over 150 meters in length, with huge audience stands and ornately carved goal hoops set high above the playing field. Though the exact rules of the games hosted here have been lost to history, the size and scale of the Great Court leads archaeologists to believe that only the most famed and skilled athletes were able to compete there " and records show that human sacrifice was a penalty suffered by at least some of the losers.
The Warrior Temple
Built in the form of an enormous stepped pyramid, the Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of the Warriors) takes its name from the rows of statues depicting fierce combatants that flank and front the structure. The Temple was actually constructed around another, earlier temple called the Temple of Chac Mool; a Chac Mool statue, featuring a reclining human with a sideways-looking head, rests atop the pyramid, and is thought to have been used as a platform for ritual sacrifices. The Temple is currently undergoing restoration, which prevents visitors from climbing its stairs, but not from appreciating its grandeur.
El Caracol
El Caracol, or "The Snail," is a round building constructed on top of a raised square platform. It takes its name from the spiral staircase located in the center of the dome. The construction of that kind of shape takes considerable skill and understanding of architectural principles and material properties; that it was built over a thousand years ago is a testament to the abilities and understanding possessed by the Maya on many levels. Not the least of their admirable traits on display at El Caracol is a now-famous interest in science and astronomy, as the shape of the building, coupled with the placement of its windows and doors (which appear designed to align with the movement certain astronomical bodies), suggests nothing so much as an observatory. If true, it would be one of the first ever constructed in the West, and one of the oldest that still exists today.
The Caves of Balanckanche
Close by the city lies the entrance to an extensive cave network. Known as the Caves of Balanckanche, the system of caverns contains a treasure trove of ancient pottery, carvings, and idols that date back many hundreds of years, spanning the entirety of the Mayan habitation of the Yucatn from the Pre-Classic era until after the Spanish conquest. The pottery and artifacts have been left exactly has they were when discovered, affording visitors an unprecedented look at an archaeological find undisturbed for millennia. Perhaps more fascinating is the size and shape of the cave system; its central limestone column and branching network of chambers is thought to represent the World Tree of Mayan mythology and folklore.
The Famous Light and Sound Show
You should be aware that if you purchase a daytime ticket to visit Chichen Itza, you're also allowed to stay or return to the site after sundown, when a spectacular light and sound show takes place near the giant pyramid El Castillo, featuring laser strobe displays and a heart-pounding musical score. With a duration of about an hour, the colorful and entrancing show is narrated in Spanish, but you can obtain headsets which provide the soundtrack in a variety of other languages.
Kukulcan's Descent
The Spring Equinox (occurring in late March) is an especially important time in the calendar of events at Chichen Itza; for three days, the city hosts a variety of music, theater, and dancing. The centerpiece of this experience is the "Descent of Kukulcan" on the pyramid itself; during the late afternoon, triangle-shaped shadows are cast by the northwest corner of the pyramid, creating an effect that looks uncannily like a snake crawling down the side of the temple. Though there is no archaeological data to support the conjecture, many have assumed the intention of the pyramid's designers was to simulate the great feathered serpent god Kukulcan descending to earth.
Though there are seven ball courts at Chichen Itza, where the ancient Maya held their tlatchtli matches, one court in particular dwarfs them all. At the northwest corner of the city, the Great Ball Court measures over 150 meters in length, with huge audience stands and ornately carved goal hoops set high above the playing field. Though the exact rules of the games hosted here have been lost to history, the size and scale of the Great Court leads archaeologists to believe that only the most famed and skilled athletes were able to compete there " and records show that human sacrifice was a penalty suffered by at least some of the losers.
The Warrior Temple
Built in the form of an enormous stepped pyramid, the Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of the Warriors) takes its name from the rows of statues depicting fierce combatants that flank and front the structure. The Temple was actually constructed around another, earlier temple called the Temple of Chac Mool; a Chac Mool statue, featuring a reclining human with a sideways-looking head, rests atop the pyramid, and is thought to have been used as a platform for ritual sacrifices. The Temple is currently undergoing restoration, which prevents visitors from climbing its stairs, but not from appreciating its grandeur.
El Caracol
El Caracol, or "The Snail," is a round building constructed on top of a raised square platform. It takes its name from the spiral staircase located in the center of the dome. The construction of that kind of shape takes considerable skill and understanding of architectural principles and material properties; that it was built over a thousand years ago is a testament to the abilities and understanding possessed by the Maya on many levels. Not the least of their admirable traits on display at El Caracol is a now-famous interest in science and astronomy, as the shape of the building, coupled with the placement of its windows and doors (which appear designed to align with the movement certain astronomical bodies), suggests nothing so much as an observatory. If true, it would be one of the first ever constructed in the West, and one of the oldest that still exists today.
The Caves of Balanckanche
Close by the city lies the entrance to an extensive cave network. Known as the Caves of Balanckanche, the system of caverns contains a treasure trove of ancient pottery, carvings, and idols that date back many hundreds of years, spanning the entirety of the Mayan habitation of the Yucatn from the Pre-Classic era until after the Spanish conquest. The pottery and artifacts have been left exactly has they were when discovered, affording visitors an unprecedented look at an archaeological find undisturbed for millennia. Perhaps more fascinating is the size and shape of the cave system; its central limestone column and branching network of chambers is thought to represent the World Tree of Mayan mythology and folklore.
The Famous Light and Sound Show
You should be aware that if you purchase a daytime ticket to visit Chichen Itza, you're also allowed to stay or return to the site after sundown, when a spectacular light and sound show takes place near the giant pyramid El Castillo, featuring laser strobe displays and a heart-pounding musical score. With a duration of about an hour, the colorful and entrancing show is narrated in Spanish, but you can obtain headsets which provide the soundtrack in a variety of other languages.
Kukulcan's Descent
The Spring Equinox (occurring in late March) is an especially important time in the calendar of events at Chichen Itza; for three days, the city hosts a variety of music, theater, and dancing. The centerpiece of this experience is the "Descent of Kukulcan" on the pyramid itself; during the late afternoon, triangle-shaped shadows are cast by the northwest corner of the pyramid, creating an effect that looks uncannily like a snake crawling down the side of the temple. Though there is no archaeological data to support the conjecture, many have assumed the intention of the pyramid's designers was to simulate the great feathered serpent god Kukulcan descending to earth.
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Do you want to travel to Mexico? Check our Mexico Travel site. In case you're looking for a way to enjoy the majestic Mayan ruins, you can see the Chichen Itza Tour .
