In what country is Chichen Itza located? Of course, in Mexico! Chichen Itza- one of the main ones. The ancient Mayan city, located on the Yucatan Peninsula, is known to everyone who comes to this magical country. The pyramids of the ancient Mayans and Toltecs, numerous architectural monuments and proximity to - all this annually attracts millions of tourists from all over the world and makes Chichen Itza a real tourist capital of Mexico.

Pyramids and ancient city Chichen Itza in Mexico

Chichen Itza is an ancient city in northern Mexico, located on the Yucatan Peninsula. The ancient Mayans and Toltecs lived in these places. At its very dawn, the population of the ancient city of Chichen Itza was 10 thousand, although some scientists believe that this number should be 2, or even 3 times larger. It is now included in the UNESCO heritage. Ancient objects are carefully protected.

The architecture of the city dates from the 6th to the 13th centuries. The Spaniards dismantled most of the ancient cities for building materials, but they did not touch Chechen Itza. You can admire the view at any time of the year. Unofficially, Chechen Itza is called the eighth wonder of the world. Opening hours from 8.00 to 18.00. Entrance to the territory costs 220 Mexican pesos, and guide services 750 pesos. Children under 12 years old do not need a ticket.

Chichen Itza is located in North America, country Mexico. On the map you need to find the Yucatan Peninsula, where the city is located. The neighbors of Chechen Itza are the cities of Cancun and - these are also popular tourist places. To get to these places by plane, you need to fly to where the nearest international airport is located. Flights are made both from Europe and directly from the capital Russian Federation, Moscow.

The map allows you to notice the main goal of many tourists - the Pyramid of Kukulkan. On the left side of it, 100 meters away, is the entrance to the city of Chechen Itza itself. There is also parking nearby.

How to get there from Cancun

To get to the city from Cancun, tourists and guests of the peninsula can use several available methods. For example:

The bus is the most practical transport. The journey will take a little more than 3 hours. Served by carrier ADO. Ticket prices range from 10 € to 16 €.
Ordering a transfer will cost from 30 € to 40 €. The car can be picked up directly from the airport, or from another place of stay, for example from a hotel.
By renting a car you can get there more comfortably and faster. The journey will take only 2 hours. To Chichen Itza you need to travel 200 km, which will take 16 liters of fuel. Gasoline will cost about 20 €.

How to get there from other regions

The bus from Merida is the same as from Cancun, it costs 6 €. You can comfortably travel from Valladolid by shuttle bus.

History of the city of Chichen Itza

The name has been widely used since Mayan times. In local languages, Chichen Itza can be translated as “At the mouth of the well of Itza”, or “The mouth of the well of the water sorcerers”. The particle Chi indicates the mouth or edge, chen means the source, or well. The Itza are an ancient people who ruled the entire region near the city. The word Itza itself is often translated as “sorcerer.” If you break it down into two parts, Itz is a sorcerer, and ha is water.

The ancient documents available to us show that there are other options for the name of the city. For example, this is evidenced by the data of the Chilam-Bilam codex. At the same time, the incomplete discovery of the ancient dialect prevents us from establishing exactly what the city was called before the arrival of Itza. Today, several ancient names are known: Yuuk Yabnal, (Seven Great Houses), Yuuk Hab Nal (Seven Bushy Places), Yuukuabnal (Seven Great Rulers) and Uk Abnal (Seven Ways of Abnal).

History of discovery

History can be divided into two periods. The first lasted from the 7th to the 10th centuries, when the city belonged to the Maya tribe. The second began with the Toltec conquest of the area in the 10th century. The 11th century was marked by the granting of the status of the capital of the Toltec lands. But the city did not last long on the throne. The Mayans decided to take back the city. Hunak Keel gathered a skilled army from the cities of Mayapan, Uxmal and Itzmal. He led the campaign against Chichen Itza, which led to success in 1178.

Subsequently, due to unknown reasons, the city was completely destroyed and was abandoned. This happened in 1194. Although the Spaniards destroyed all the documents of the ancient tribes, historians have found that frequent attacks on the city weakened the people. The upper strata of society scattered to other places. From Spanish records it was established that the Indians went on pilgrimage to the ruins of the ancient city. Since the 15th century, the area has been used as pasture for livestock. It is unknown why the city was deserted. Some researchers talk about a terrible famine, others about a bloody war.

There is also an opinion that a terrible epidemic hit the residents and that the virus is still under the ruins of the city.

Be that as it may, everything changed with the arrival of the Spaniards. The 18th century was marked by various explorations and archaeological excavations. Even then, many artists and photographers came to capture the unique wealth of the Maya. And since the middle of the last century, the Mexican government issued a decree to globally restore the city of Chechen Itza to its original appearance. All possible work has been carried out and now it is an extremely popular place.

Attractions Chichen Itza

The city of Chichen Itza has a huge number of places of interest to tourists. If you come here as part of excursion program, then an experienced guide will tell you in detail about each attraction. In this article we will do short review major architectural monuments that you simply cannot miss.

There are many interesting things in the city, but the Kukulkan pyramid stands apart from all famous places. The pyramid is one of the surviving ancient architectural structures of ancient tribes. In Spanish there are such names: Pirámide de Kukulkán, Templo de Kukulkán, “El Castillo”. This is the name of the ancient pyramid of the feathered serpent. Kukulkan is a god similar to Quetzalloatl. The object immerses you in the times of the Mayan tribe. You can learn many exciting stories and retellings about how the worship of wondrous deities was carried out here. In their religion, blood was shed and cruel rituals were performed to appease the objects of worship. In essence, the pyramid is a sacred temple.

The pyramid is located in the center with a large area of 18 hectares. The temple is surrounded by a wide parapet made of stones. The size of the building itself is also impressive. The height is 24 meters, and if you take the top, then all 30. The length of each side measures 55 meters. All faces of the pyramid have 9 steps. On each of the four sides there are steep stairs, following which you can get to the top. The stairs are also oriented according to the cardinal directions. Each of them has 91 degrees, the total number of steps is 364. And if you add to this number the platform at the top, which combines 4 stairs, you get 365 - which indicates the number of days of the solar year.

The edge of the stairs is a stone fence in the form of a kite, the head of which is at the bottom and the body goes to the top. The size of the kite is 37 meters. An amazing show takes place here several days a year. When the autumn and spring equinoxes arrive, the shadow from the steps falls on the stones of the balustrade. At the same time, it seems that the Feathered Serpent is not just a sculpture, but a real reptile moving along the course. In spring in March the snake appears to be moving upward, and in autumn in September downward. This action lasts 3 hours 22 minutes.

It is noteworthy that the stairs are cut into two, that is, the number of sections on each side of the pyramid is 18. This number is symbolic and indicates the same number of months in the Mayan calendar year.

The temple has 9 ledges and this is not accidental. The Toltecs had their own beliefs about the “nine heavens.” Each wall of the temple has 52 stone reliefs, which represent 52 years - the Toltec calendar cycle.

Ruins of Chac-Mool in the north (Chacmools)

Ruins of Chac-Mul

This attraction in Chichen Itza includes sculptures that will not leave you indifferent. You can see altars, statues of Atlanteans and stone paintings. The architecture amazes the visitor's gaze.

Temple of the Warriors

Temple of Warriors

This is also a unique building. It has been amazingly preserved. A visit encourages you to admire the ancient people and their approach to business. The atmosphere makes you feel like you are in the distant past. This is never forgotten.

The Hall of the Thousand Columns

In ancient times, this alley was a trade street. At the market, clever tribes even built a roof so that the weather would not interfere with trade. Previously, the building had a large hall. There were rows of crafts made of iron and ceramics. It was also possible to purchase simple household items. It was located near a large market.

Wall of Skulls (Tzompantli)

Although the name exudes some mysticism and horror, the picture of this object shows the opposite. Ta rock painting, which is here is unique. Picturesque patterns and beautiful composition arouse considerable interest. At the same time, it is not completely known how ancient people used the Wall of Skulls.

Stadium (The Ball Courts)

Many people do not know that even before the invention of football by the British, the ancient Mayans used a similar ball game with all their might. The stadium was built over 3000 years ago. Of course, the purpose is very different from modern sports facilities. Back then, people held religious rituals at the stadium. And the losing football team immediately lost its life. They were executed and sacrificed to deities. The terrible picture is that the height of the walls did not allow the players to escape from their sad fate. And the leaders watched this picture from above. It's also creepy that a skull was used instead of a ball.

Chichen Itza has 7 sports facilities. The largest stadium is called "Huego de Pelota" (translated as "Big Ball Field"). The length of this field is 135 meters.

After visiting amazing sites ancient culture stadiums seem like a pretty boring place.

Temple of the Jaguars

It cannot be said that this temple is actually something unusual. The building is quite small in size. The most worth seeing is the jaguar sculpture that stands in front of the temple. This is the most significant attraction of the temple; besides it, there are no other features in the Temple of Jaguars.

Pyramid of Old Chichén

The name Old Chichen was not given in vain - this building is one of the oldest in the city. Amazing and appearance pyramids. She is beheaded. Nature contributed to this. During an ancient hurricane the top was destroyed. The restored steps are striking in beauty. Tourists would even like to climb the small pyramid, but this is not provided.

Observatory (Caracol)

Stunning building. I want to examine it in detail from different angles. There is a tower near the observatory, which is certainly an interesting object. You won't be able to climb the steps here either.

Church (Nunnery)

This is an amazing building. At least according to the Mayan Chenes style. And this is the most picturesque style of the ancient Mayan tribes. The ornaments amaze with their sophistication. For a tourist this place is a must have mandatory place visits.

Sacred Cenote

The sacred cenote is located right within the old city of Chechen Itza. You need to work hard to find such a desired object... First you need to find Chichen Itza Park. Next, you need to leave behind the Kukulkan pyramid and to the left of the Platforma de Venus ruins there will be a sign to the cenote. It is important to look carefully at the signs indicating the way. The cenote is a natural well. The depth is approximately 50 m. It was used for sacrificial purposes. Girls and children, as well as various religious objects, were thrown there, asking the gods for rain.

Cenote Ik-Kil

Cenote Ik Kil

The cenote is located just 5 kilometers from the city. You can get there along highway 180. This one is very a nice place, worth it to go separately. Mexico can be proud of such facilities.

Shops and shopping near Chichen Itza

The closest shops to Chichen Itza are in Pista. Here you can find several grocery stores, butchers, restaurants and savings banks. Shops and their addresses along Dsitas-Piste street:

Bootix de los mayas – goods for handicrafts;
Taller la escondida – at the intersection with 5th street;
Las sobrinas de la tia – restaurant at the intersection with street 5-A;
Pollaria Suemi - grocery store closer to the intersection with 7th Street;
Banco Azteca - between 7th and 9th streets;
El Panal - at the intersection with 11th Street;
Novedades Y Regalos El Arca is a gift shop at the intersection of 12th Street and Highway 180.

Along Highway 180 Costera del Golfo there are 4 Mexican restaurants, at the intersection with 22nd Street there is Marthas Pizzeria, and closer to the intersection with 18th Street there is a Tecate Six beer store.

The following shops and establishments are located along Highway 180:

Maxicarne – meat products, on street 15-A;
Neveria Basulto – at the intersection with 8th Street;
Balam House – pizzeria at the intersection with street 6;
Fruiteria Dorcy – food market, between 4th and 6th streets;
Taller Mecanico “El Chino” – grocery store. Azteca – between 7th and 9th streets.

There are also museums, hotels and small hotels in Pista. Here you can buy everything you need for more affordable prices than in smaller resort towns. It is more profitable to purchase souvenirs and food products in larger cities. From Chichen Itza to Piste the distance is about two kilometers, so a shopping trip will not be difficult and will not take much time, even if you take a walk along the Merida-Valladorit highway. At a distance of 4 km in the opposite direction from Piste, the town of Kh-Kalakoop is located. There are several grocery stores, a bar, a restaurant and a home improvement store.

Also on the way you can stop by Libre Union, Tsitas, Tuncas, or more Big City Valladolite, where a selection of groceries, shops and other goods will help you make more varied and profitable purchases.

Kukulkan: the right part of the pyramid has been restored, the left has not been restored Caracol - ancient Observatory

Chichen Itza is a city of the Mayan civilization, well preserved from antiquity, built in accordance with the religious beliefs of this people. We can immediately say that all Mayan cities were built taking into account the positions of the heavenly bodies and stars.

Once upon a time, the city of Chichen Itza was the center of culture of several Indian peoples. Its name is translated as “place at the well of the Itza tribe.” Peoples such as the Mayans, Toltecs, and Itzas left their mark on the city of Chichen Itza.

Now this city in Mexico is the object of the world cultural heritage UNESCO.

Where is Chichen Itza located?

This seventh wonder of the world is located in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The ancient city of Chichen Itza is 205 kilometers away from famous resort Cancun and 120 kilometers from Merida. Very close to it (1.5 kilometers) is small town Piste.

Popularity of the ancient city

Chichen Itza is one of the most popular places in Yucatan and Mexico in general. It is in second place in terms of attendance among ancient cities, ahead of only Teotihuacan ().

It is estimated that the number of tourists who visit this archaeological complex exceeds a million per year. A huge influx was observed here in December 2012, because it was at this time that the Mayan calendar was supposed to end. Many people wanted to spend the end of the world in the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza.

Currently, you can come to Chichen Itza on a 1-day excursion from both Cancun and Merida.

City `s history

The beginning of the city's history dates back to the 6th century AD. Then it was one of largest cities Mayan civilization. South part The ancient city was built in accordance with the traditions of the Mayan people.

In the 10th century, the city was dominated after its capture by the Toltecs, who arrived here from Central Mexico. Subsequently, from about half of the 11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital and center of the Toltec state.

Blood sacrifices began here precisely because of these people. All Northern part cities testifies to their presence. A century later, the city was defeated by a huge army, which included warriors from three states - Uxmal, Mayapan, Itzmal.

Chichen Itza was defeated by the ruler Hunak Keel. Subsequently, the city was deserted and turned into ruins (this is how Europeans discovered it).

Many treasures were stolen by the Spaniards and the manuscripts were destroyed.

Therefore, very little can be said about history, but it is assumed that if not for the actions of Europeans, archaeologists could have discovered many unique finds. In 1923, archaeological excavations began in Mexico, and now about 6 square kilometers of the ancient city are on the surface.

Pyramid of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza

The very first structure that stands out is the huge Pyramid of Kukulkan. It is the center of the city of Chichen Itza. In Spanish it is called El Castillo, that is, “the castle.”

The total height of the Kukulkan pyramid is 24 meters. The pyramid has nine tiers, and at the very top there is a temple.

Kukulkan, like any pyramid, has 4 faces, which are directed to the 4 cardinal directions. And on each side there is a wide staircase, which is decorated with snake heads at the bottom.

The path leads to the main northern staircase of the pyramid. To get to the top you must overcome a certain number of steps - there are 91 of them.

It is interesting that the total number of steps on the pyramid, including the upper platform, is 365, that is, the exact number of days in a year.

This coincidence suggests that this pyramid may have some relation to the calendar or may have astronomical significance.

At the very top there is a temple where sacrifices were made in ancient times.

As studies have shown, great pyramid was built on top of even more ancient pyramid, into which a hole in the floor of the sanctuary leads.

In the hidden chambers of the Kukulkan pyramid, archaeologists discovered two main antiquities: the “Jaguar Mat” and the figure of Chaak Mool, the god of rain.

"Jaguar Mat"- is a stone throne in the shape of a jaguar, the paint on it is fiery red, this is a symbol of the power of the ruler of the city. According to legend, the very first owner of this throne was Quetzalcoatl. The spots on the animal's body and the animal's eyes are made of jade. The fangs are carved from volcanic stone.
- made for ritual purposes. On her stomach there is a flat bowl on which the victim's heart was placed for subsequent burning.

The second name of the Kukulkan structure is the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent (the most correct translation: feathered serpent). Firstly, this pyramid and temple are dedicated to this deity. Secondly, the name is associated with a specific phenomenon.

Light illusion of Kukulcan - the play of shadows on the edges of the pyramid

Every year around the time of the equinox there is an event that attracts people to Mexico. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the pyramid is illuminated so that the stairs cast a shadow - a series of triangles, which together resemble a snake's tail.

As the star moves in the sky, the triangles fade out one by one, thus creating the feeling that it is the tail of a huge snake, 37 meters long, moving down.

Now this phenomenon can be seen not only on certain days, there is a light show every evening.

Kukulkan: the right part of the pyramid has been restored, the left has not been restored

Find out more about the Pyramid of Kukulkan on our website - “Pyramid of Kukulkan - the ancient Mayan god”

Temples of the ancient city of Chichen Itza

The Temple of the Warriors and the Temple of the Jaguars are important buildings in the city of Chichen Itza. Both stand on small pyramids with 4 steps. Both have many paintings.

Temple of Warriors

The Temple of the Warriors is located on the western side of the Kikulkan Pyramid. It has four platforms, and on three sides around it you can see rows of three-meter stone columns. They are called the "Group of a Thousand Columns".

The pillars are skillfully carved from stone, and represent Toltec warriors, as if standing in formation. Once upon a time they supported the roof.

On the south side of the temple there is a small building called “Market”.

The upper sanctuary also once had a roof, but now it is gone, and at the top there are two “snakes” that guarded the passage to the temple.

On the platform there is also a statue of a man in a reclining position. This is Chaak Mool - the god of rain.

The Temple of the Jaguar has two sanctuaries: an upper and a lower one. At the top, the elite watched the game on the field.

At the entrance to the lower sanctuary you can see the figure of a jaguar, thanks to which the temple received its name.

Another structure is called the Temple or tomb of the great priest. During Mayan times it played an important role.

Externally, the structure is similar to other temples with pyramids. But its difference is that inside there is a passage to a cave underground. Ancient burials of noble people were discovered there.

The second name of this structure is Osuari, in other words a crypt.

Other attractions

In addition to the temples, the city of Chichen Itza has other interesting places.

The Sacred Cenote is a huge well. Its diameter is approximately 60 meters, and the depth of the well is 50 meters. There is water in it, from the edge to its surface about 20 meters.

The well served as the place where young girls were thrown for sacrifice. Therefore, the second name of this object is the Well of Death.

Ball fields

On the territory of the archaeological complex there are 9 ball fields. This game was somewhat similar to modern basketball, only it was played with a heavy rubber ball, which could only be hit with the hip. Instead of ordinary baskets, stone rings are attached to the walls.

The sites found are quite large, the largest is located in the northern part of the complex. Its dimensions are: length - 160 meters, width - 70. The entire field is surrounded by eight-meter walls, they depict scenes of torment of losing players and many skulls.

Karakol Tower - ancient Observatory

Another ancient structure is Karakol. This is a tower on two platforms, it was used for observing celestial astronomical objects. It is often called the Observatory.

In the north of the Mexican Yucatan, the largest center of the Mayan people was once located - Chichen Itza. The city, roughly translated as “The Mouth of the Well of the Itza Tribe,” was founded in the 7th century AD. In the 10th century, the Toltec army captured this city-state and formed its capital here. In 1178, the city was captured by neighboring city-states, and from 1194 it fell into complete desolation. No one can now say what caused the residents to leave. The Spaniards who came here in the 16th century only came across the ruins of Chichen Itza.

Excavations carried out in our time on the site of this ancient city have made it possible to find many interesting architectural monuments from the culture of that time. One of the most famous was the Temple of Kukulkan, which is a 9-step pyramid. Another interesting structure is the Temple of Warriors on a 4-step pyramid, decorated with paintings. Stadiums for brutal ball games, a 50-meter well for sacrifices, a sacred cenote, and an observatory with statues of local gods were also discovered.

Ball ring at the stadium

Interestingly, the land with these structures was in private hands until 2010. But competent actions of the government allowed it to be returned to the state for $17.8 million. The ancient Mayan city is very popular among tourists. A monument of this scale, of course, was taken under the control of UNESCO. And in 2007, it was awarded the title of one of the new wonders of the world.

Temple of Kukulcan at Chichen Itza

The main interesting architectural buildings in Chichen Itza were built during the so-called Mexican period - the time after the Toltecs captured the city. At the same time, the main temple of the Mayan city was built - the Temple of Kukulkan. The temple was dedicated to the Toltec god Kukulkan, whom they called the Feathered Serpent.

The temple, due to its expressiveness and popularity, has become a symbol of all of Mexico. This 24-meter nine-step pyramid has been seen by every inhabitant of our planet at least once in his life.

The building has a square plan and a massive appearance. It is not surprising that the Spaniards who came here called it a castle. The temple is set on a huge terrace (18 hectares) along with many other famous buildings Chichen Itzi. On the right is the temple of the Warriors, on the left is the temple of the Jaguars.

Four staircases, oriented according to the cardinal directions, lead to the top of the temple. The stairs are accompanied by a balustrade starting from a snake's head. On the days of the equinox, the lighting creates an interesting effect: it seems as if the Kukulcan Serpent is beginning to crawl out of its lair.

Snake Head

In addition to its orientation to the cardinal points, the temple is also distinguished by other astronomical details. Each staircase has 91 steps, which gives a total of 364. And if we add the upper platform to this number, we get the total number of days in the year - 365. The nine main steps of the pyramid are separated by a staircase, which actually doubles them to 18. With the number 18 is associated with the number of months in a year among the Mayans. Each wall depicts 52 reliefs - the number of years in the calendar cycle.

At the top of this large pyramid is the temple itself, with four entrances. Main entrance the sanctuary is located in the north. There are two columns depicting snakes. Inside there are two more pairs of the same. In ancient times, it was here that terrible human sacrifices were performed.

Temple of Kukulkan building

An interesting fact will be the presence of another similar nine-step pyramid in main pyramid. The entrance to it was found relatively recently, and it was here that the symbol of Mayan power was hidden - the Jaguar Mat.

Jaguar Throne

The Jaguar Mat is the ruler's throne, carved from stone, resembling the shape of a jaguar. The throne is inlaid with 73 jade discs in the shape of jaguar spots. The eyes of the beast are filled with them. The first owners of the throne include Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, the founder of the Toltecs.

Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza

Another famous temple of the city of Chichen Itza is located to the right of the Kukulkan pyramid. The Temple of the Warriors is also located on the pyramid, the approaches to which are guarded by a detachment of patterned columns.

This structure completely copies the Temple of Quetzalcoatl in Tollan. The Toltec leader Topiltzin Quetzalcoatla, before uniting the tribes and carrying out major conquests, lost this city. So that in the new place many things would remind him of his past glory, and a copy of this temple was built.

In front of the temple staircase there are 60 patterned columns, 2.6 meters high, arranged in four rows. Previously, there was a roof on these columns, of which now, alas, nothing remains. Everywhere in the temple there are images of warriors - hence its name. Just like in all Toltec temples, human sacrifices were made here.

The pyramid of this temple is smaller - only 11.5 meters and consists of five steps. The balustrades of the central staircase are decorated with stone male figures. The top is decorated with the temple itself, which consists of two rooms - the front hall and the sanctuary itself. The entrance to the sanctuary is decorated with the already familiar columns with snakes. The sanctuary contains an altar for sacrifices, supported by human figures. Nearby stands the idol of the demon Chak-Mool, holding a dish on which the priests threw people's hearts. There are not so cruel assumptions from researchers about this idol. Some also believe that the dish is used for offerings in the form of intoxicating drinks, and that the idol itself is the god of rain or the guardian of the temple.

Chac Mool

Inside the temple, everything is outwardly calmer and does not remind of the cruel past. There are many sculptures and frescoes here, with familiar images of snakes, jaguars, and eagles. The warriors on the temple reliefs depict typical Indians of that time. They move in a march or stand majestically in place. The murals depict the history of the Toltec conquest of the Mayans, as well as the peaceful life of the inhabitants of the place. The Temple of the Warriors is undoubtedly one of the most interesting structures for studying the Maya-Toltec culture.

And although after the defeat the city fell into decay, the beginnings great civilization preserved their cultural heritage for centuries and passed it on to their descendants. Chichen Itza in Mexico is indeed one of the... the most unique places of our planet.

Video about Chichen Itza

In the north of Yucotan, in Mexico, there are unique buildings of the ancient city of the Itza Indian people, who once declared their power and subjugated other tribes. “Chichen Itza” means in the Mayan language - “At the mouth of the well of Itza” (its - sorcerer, ha - water). The ancient handwritten codex Chilam-Bolam, consisting of nine collections, mentions another, more ancient name of the city, but due to forgotten spelling it is not possible to accurately decipher it.

Historical information

Presumably, the city of Chichen Itza was founded around 455, during the heyday of the Mayan civilization, which became famous for its culture, architecture and quite significant, for that time, knowledge in mathematics and astronomy.

The buildings erected at Chichen Itza can be divided into two parts. One of them includes buildings of the 6th–7th centuries AD. e. This is the culture of the ancient Mayans. Buildings characteristic of the Toltec culture belong to another group. They captured the city in the 10th–11th centuries AD. and after some time they made it their capital. But already in 1178, Chichen Itza was literally defeated by the troops of three united cities: Itzmal, Mayapan, Uxmal under the command of Huanak Keel.

The Spaniards who invaded Mexico burned Indian manuscripts. But, despite the loss of historical data, archaeologists were still able to establish that in the 13th century the city was plundered and could no longer continue to influence the economy of the surrounding regions. In this regard, rich and noble citizens left Chichen Itza, and after them the rest of the inhabitants left the city. The Spanish conquerors discovered a completely empty city, around which there were small Indian settlements; their inhabitants treated the ruins of the ancient city as a sacred place. Centuries have passed, but the exact reason for the transformation of the once powerful city into one abandoned and forgotten by literally everyone has not been established.

Sights of the Holy City

Archaeologists worked for a long time on the territory of the ancient city of Chichen Itza, revealing unique Indian structures to the whole world:

1. The famous Kukulkan Temple.

2. Temple of Jaguars with unique paintings on the walls.

3. Temple of warriors with a base of 40 m, erected on a 4-step pyramid.

4. A group of a thousand columns - ruins of 4 colonnades arranged in the shape of a rectangle.

5. Karakol - an ancient observatory.

6. Seven stadiums built to host ball games and competitions - the largest of them is 135 m long.

7. The sacred cenote - a natural well, 50 m deep, was necessary for making sacrifices to the god of forests and fields Yumkash.

Nearby historical monuments statues of gods made with the stylization characteristic of the Mayan civilization, various reliefs that at one time were decorations of buildings and religious centers, as well as handicrafts were discovered.

Main temple of the city

The main structures of Chichen Itza were built during the period later called Mexican. The Toltecs, who captured the area, built a temple, which became the main one. It was created in honor of the Toltec god Kukulkan or the Feathered Serpent. Nowadays, it has become a real symbol of Mexico.

The building is a nine-step pyramid, 24 m high. Its base is square and very massive. The layout of the temple used the astronomical knowledge of the Indians, as well as the numbers of their calendar cycles. There are four staircases with balustrades leading to the top of the structure, which start from the head of the snake. The play of light on the days of the equinox allows you to observe the illusion that the powerful Serpent is slowly emerging from a secret hiding place.

The Temple of Kukulkan has four entrances. At the main one, oriented to the north, there are two columns in the form of snakes. There are exactly the same ones inside. This creepy place. Many years ago, human lives were sacrificed here.

Surprisingly, in the pyramid under the temple there is another one, the same, nine-step, only smaller. The entrance to it was discovered by scientists quite recently. The discovered artifact that was hidden there is truly priceless. This is a symbol of power of the Mayan Indians - the Jaguar Mat, the stone throne of the Supreme Ruler in the form of a jaguar. Inlaid with 73 jade discs, which are spots on the skin. Presumably the first owner of the throne was Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, the ancestor of the Toltecs.

To preserve the heritage left by the ancient people, the government of Yucotan made a deal with the owner of the land. 83 hectares were purchased, along with the holy city. UNESCO has awarded Chichen Itza the status of a World Cultural Heritage Site. Its sights are visited by tourists from all over the world, and for those who are interested in the history of the civilizations of our planet, this is a very important place, with a huge amount of unexplored information.

Ancient city of Chichen Itza- Mayan heritage; the most ancient city on the Yucatan Peninsula. Located 120 km from the regional capital - the city of Merida, and 205 km from popular resort Cancun. Probably everyone who has ever been to Mexico wanted to see the remains of this ancient settlement, which is ranked among the new wonders of the world. Chichen Itza is included in the version of our site.

This is a special place where the Mayan Indians once lived and worshiped their gods. For unknown reasons, they were forced to leave the city, which later became the prey of conquerors: first the Toltecs, and then the Spaniards. In the Mayan language, the sonorous name of the settlement was translated as “The mouth of the well of the Itza tribe.” It is no coincidence that the word “well” appears in this phrase, because 13 cenotes, so-called natural wells, were dug on the territory of the city.

By the way, one of these wells, the “Sacred Cenote,” served for sacrifices to the God of Water. On the territory of the deserted settlement, the famous Temple of Kukulkan, with which much symbolism is associated, has also been preserved. This is a pyramidal structure, on top of which stands a temple for sacrifices. Visitors are prohibited from going up to the temple. There are 4 wide staircases leading up, each of which consists of 91 steps.

If you multiply the number of stairs by the number of steps and add one to the resulting number, you get the number 365, that is, exactly the number of days in a year. In addition, every year on the days of the spring and autumn equinox, an unforgettable show takes place on the stairs of the pyramid. At about 3 p.m., the sun illuminates the main staircase so that shadows appear in the form of triangles, folding into the tail of a snake. Because of this, Kukulcan is sometimes called the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent. In the evenings in Chichen Itza you can see the same artificially created light show.

Many tourists linger on the huge court, created for brutal ball games. The ancient Mayan ball was so heavy that it could only be hit with the thigh. Well, as expected, every game ended with a sacrifice. According to chronology, the city was founded perhaps in the 7th century AD. as a religious center for a Mexican tribe. Today, the remains of the buildings are conventionally divided into two parts: old and new. The most significant buildings are located in the new central part. At the entrance to the complex there are souvenir shops and cafes.

The most convenient way to get to the ruins is by bus from Merida or Cancun. You can also drive to Chichen Itza with a rental car. The route runs along both a toll (shorter) and free road.