Chichen Itza Savannah Stephens. Information EL Castillo EL Castillo Chichen Itza means “at the mouth of the Itza well” It is a Mayan city on the Yucatan.

Chichen ItzaChichen Itza

Savannah StephensSavannah Stephens

InformationInformation

EL CastilloEL Castillo

Chichen Itza means “at Chichen Itza means “at the mouth of the Itza the mouth of the Itza well”well”

It is a Mayan city on It is a Mayan city on the Yucatan the Yucatan Peninsula Peninsula in Mexico. in Mexico.

It’s the 2It’s the 2ndnd most visited most visited site in Mexico. site in Mexico.

Chichen Itza became one Chichen Itza became one of the new seven of the new seven wonders of the world on wonders of the world on July 7July 7thth, 2007. (7/7/07), 2007. (7/7/07)

The Basics of Chichen The Basics of Chichen ItzaItza Chichen Itza is a city built in Chichen Itza is a city built in

the state of Yucatan in the state of Yucatan in Mexico.Mexico.

It covers about six square It covers about six square miles and was made to be a miles and was made to be a religious center for the religious center for the Mayans. Mayans.

The city was built in the The city was built in the typical Mayan style of the 7typical Mayan style of the 7thth to 10to 10thth century A.D. century A.D.

A second half of the city was A second half of the city was added when it was taken over added when it was taken over by the Toltecs. It was built in by the Toltecs. It was built in the typical Toltec/Mayan style the typical Toltec/Mayan style of the 10of the 10thth to 13 to 13thth Century A.D. Century A.D. (see right) (see right)

CenotesCenotesCenote of SacrificeCenote of Sacrifice

Chichen Itza was mostly Chichen Itza was mostly agricultural, the reason being agricultural, the reason being because of the three sinkholes because of the three sinkholes located nearby. They were called located nearby. They were called Cenotes and provided plenty of Cenotes and provided plenty of water.water.

Because of the perfect location Because of the perfect location of Chichen Itza, the city became of Chichen Itza, the city became a city of art, sciences, and a city of art, sciences, and ceremonies. ceremonies.

One of the Cenotes, however, One of the Cenotes, however, was used for sacrifice. (see left)was used for sacrifice. (see left)

When the Toltecs merged with When the Toltecs merged with the Mayans, they brought with the Mayans, they brought with them their way of life, including them their way of life, including sacrifice to appease their gods. sacrifice to appease their gods. Sacrifices included pottery, Sacrifices included pottery, jewels, and even humans. jewels, and even humans.

Kukulcan's Pyramid Kukulcan's Pyramid Kukulcan’s Pyramid is also known as El Castillo.Kukulcan’s Pyramid is also known as El Castillo. It’s a square-based pyramid about 75 feet tall built for astronomical It’s a square-based pyramid about 75 feet tall built for astronomical

purposes.purposes. At the vernal and autumnal equinox, at about 3pm, sunlight hits the At the vernal and autumnal equinox, at about 3pm, sunlight hits the

western balustrade of the pyramid’s main staircase, causing 7 isosceles western balustrade of the pyramid’s main staircase, causing 7 isosceles triangles to form, imitating the body of a serpent. The serpent’s head is triangles to form, imitating the body of a serpent. The serpent’s head is carved into the stone at the bottom of the stairway. The body slowly carved into the stone at the bottom of the stairway. The body slowly grows until it connects to the head. The shadow serpent is a total of grows until it connects to the head. The shadow serpent is a total of about 37 yards long.about 37 yards long.

Shadow serpentShadow serpent

Temple of Warriors Temple of Warriors

The temple is named for the The temple is named for the more then 1000 total stone more then 1000 total stone columns with Toltec columns with Toltec warriors carved in the side. warriors carved in the side.

The temple of warriors is The temple of warriors is dedicated to the god Chac-dedicated to the god Chac-Mool, known because of the Mool, known because of the Chac masks on either side Chac masks on either side of the staircase, and the of the staircase, and the reclining statue of the god reclining statue of the god in the center of the temple.in the center of the temple.

Along the west side of Along the west side of the temple, where about the temple, where about 800 of the columns are, 800 of the columns are, they was probably a they was probably a thatched roof over the thatched roof over the columns. Guides usually columns. Guides usually refer to the place as the refer to the place as the marketplace of Chichen marketplace of Chichen Itza.Itza.

The Great Ball CourtThe Great Ball Court The great ball court at The great ball court at

Chichen Itza is 545 feet Chichen Itza is 545 feet long and 225 feet wide long and 225 feet wide (the whole area included.) (the whole area included.) And is totally opened to And is totally opened to the sky.the sky.

Each end has a raised Each end has a raised ‘temple’ area. A whisper ‘temple’ area. A whisper can be heard clearly from can be heard clearly from one end to the other, and one end to the other, and is not affected by wind or is not affected by wind or time of day/night. To this time of day/night. To this day, is not explained how day, is not explained how that is possible.that is possible.

Many different ball games Many different ball games were played here, but the were played here, but the most played was a game most played was a game called pok ta pok. The six called pok ta pok. The six field players could use field players could use any part of their bodies any part of their bodies except their hands to try except their hands to try to get the ball through the to get the ball through the stone hoop on either side stone hoop on either side of the court.of the court.

The winning team’s The winning team’s leader’s head would be cut leader’s head would be cut off by the loosing team’s off by the loosing team’s leader. This may seem leader. This may seem strange but it was believed strange but it was believed they would get a direct they would get a direct ticket to heaven. ticket to heaven.

Seven was a lucky Seven was a lucky number to the Maya number to the Maya culture. They’re were 7 culture. They’re were 7 players on each team, the players on each team, the stone rings were 7 meters stone rings were 7 meters high, and if you clap or high, and if you clap or shout, it will echo exactly 7 shout, it will echo exactly 7 times. In paintings the times. In paintings the decapitated winning decapitated winning captain’s body had 7 captain’s body had 7 serpent grew out of his serpent grew out of his neck.neck.

Although this was not the Although this was not the only ball court at Chichen only ball court at Chichen Itza (in fact there was at Itza (in fact there was at least 12 others) But the least 12 others) But the great ball court is in fact great ball court is in fact the largest. the largest.

Mayan Calendar Mayan Calendar

THE LONG COUNT: THE LONG COUNT: 12.18.16.2.6 The long count represents all the days that have passed 12.18.16.2.6 The long count represents all the days that have passed since the beginning of the Mayan era. The basic unit is a Kin, which is equal to 1 day. The kin is since the beginning of the Mayan era. The basic unit is a Kin, which is equal to 1 day. The kin is the last number in the sequence reading from right to left.the last number in the sequence reading from right to left.

uinal(1 uinal = 20 kin = 20 days)uinal(1 uinal = 20 kin = 20 days) tun(1 tun = 18 uinal = 360 days = approx. 1 year)tun(1 tun = 18 uinal = 360 days = approx. 1 year) katun(1 katun = 20 tun = 7,200 days = approx. 20 years)katun(1 katun = 20 tun = 7,200 days = approx. 20 years) baktun(1 baktun = 20 katun = 144,000 days = approx. 394 years) baktun(1 baktun = 20 katun = 144,000 days = approx. 394 years) The Long count should have started at the beginning 0.0.0.0.0 but in reality it started at The Long count should have started at the beginning 0.0.0.0.0 but in reality it started at

13.0.0.0.0 13.0.0.0.0 THE TZOLKIN: THE TZOLKIN: The Tzolkin is the combination of two “week” lengths. One is a numbered week The Tzolkin is the combination of two “week” lengths. One is a numbered week

of 13 days, and the other is a named week of 20 days. of 13 days, and the other is a named week of 20 days. THE HAAB: THE HAAB: The Haab was the civil calendar of the Maya. It consisted of 18 months, with 20 The Haab was the civil calendar of the Maya. It consisted of 18 months, with 20

days each and an extra 5 days known as Uayeb. This adds up to 365 days total. The months days each and an extra 5 days known as Uayeb. This adds up to 365 days total. The months names are:names are:

1. Pop 1. Pop 2. Uo2. Uo 3. Zip 3. Zip 4. Zotz4. Zotz 5. Tzec 5. Tzec 6. Xul6. Xul 7. Yaxkin 7. Yaxkin 8. Mol8. Mol 9. Chen 9. Chen 10. 10. YaxYax 11. Zac 11. Zac 12. Ceh12. Ceh 13. Mac 13. Mac 14. Kankin14. Kankin 15. Muan 15. Muan 16. Pax16. Pax 17. Kayab 17. Kayab 18. 18. CumkuCumku

The El Castillo has yet another amazing thing about it-It’s a calendar. The El Castillo has yet another amazing thing about it-It’s a calendar. Each of the four stairways on each side of the El Castillo had 91 steps. Added Each of the four stairways on each side of the El Castillo had 91 steps. Added

together with each other and the platform at the top, that is 365 steps, which is together with each other and the platform at the top, that is 365 steps, which is equivalent to the number of days in a year. In the Mayan calendar it’s 365 kin. equivalent to the number of days in a year. In the Mayan calendar it’s 365 kin.

A typical Mayan date looks like this: 12.18.16.2.6, 3 Cimi 4 Zotz. A typical Mayan date looks like this: 12.18.16.2.6, 3 Cimi 4 Zotz. The Maya’s have three different ways to calculate time as it goes (Ex. Months, The Maya’s have three different ways to calculate time as it goes (Ex. Months,

years, etc.) They are called the Long count, the Tzolkin, and the Haab.years, etc.) They are called the Long count, the Tzolkin, and the Haab.

The ObservatoryThe Observatory

The Maya’s intense interest in astronomy is The Maya’s intense interest in astronomy is evident yet again when you look at the evident yet again when you look at the strange round building south of the Castillo. strange round building south of the Castillo. This is known as the Carocal. This is known as the Carocal.

The domed observatory has several The domed observatory has several windows. Most of them point towards the windows. Most of them point towards the location of the equinox sunset. The last two location of the equinox sunset. The last two (the northernmost and southernmost) face (the northernmost and southernmost) face the horizon where Venus rises and sets.the horizon where Venus rises and sets.

TourismTourism

Fernando B. Peon started the first offical tourism business for Fernando B. Peon started the first offical tourism business for Chichen Itza in the early 20s, in 1944 he purchased the entire Chichen Itza in the early 20s, in 1944 he purchased the entire site of Chichen Itza and opened a hotel, which opened its way site of Chichen Itza and opened a hotel, which opened its way to more tourism. In 1972 the site became federal property.to more tourism. In 1972 the site became federal property.

In 1961 and 67’ there were expeditions to recover artifacts from In 1961 and 67’ there were expeditions to recover artifacts from the Cenote Sagrado. the Cenote Sagrado.

It was in the 1980s that the shadow effect at El Castillo during It was in the 1980s that the shadow effect at El Castillo during the spring equinox really started to gain tourists.the spring equinox really started to gain tourists.

Over the years the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and Over the years the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) have closed some of the ruins of Chichen Itza to the History) have closed some of the ruins of Chichen Itza to the public. You can go around them but not in them any longer. The public. You can go around them but not in them any longer. The most recent was in 2006, El Castillo was closed to climb on most recent was in 2006, El Castillo was closed to climb on after a woman fell to her death.after a woman fell to her death.

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