Worldwide interest in the heritage of the Mayan civilization continues unabated. Numerous religious and cult mysteries, gloomy predictions and the most accurate calendars, gigantic destroyed cities, among which the most famous is Chichen Itza, invariably attract crowds of tourists and curious. The very name Chichen Itza from the Mayan language is translated as "the well of the Mayan tribe", due to the fact that there are 13 cenotes (natural wells) on the territory of the ancient city.
Chichen Itza: History of the City
Based on archaeological data and scraps of ancient chronicles, the researchers concluded that the famous Mayan city was founded in the 5-6 centuries AD. It immediately became the center of the Yucatan territory: political, religious, cultural. According to some reports (all statements about Chichen Itza are not confirmed and are hypotheses that require proof that are almost impossible to find), from 20 to 30 thousand inhabitants permanently lived in the city. Countless pilgrims and wanderers, merchants and money changers visited this settlement every year.
In the 10th century, the Maya were conquered by the Taltecs, the city was partially plundered and left by most of the population. But life did not leave him. The decline falls on the 13th century from the birth of Christ. Buildings collapsed, people left Chichen Itza. Since the 15th century, herds of cattle have been grazing on a territory that was once rich, prosperous and populous.
For a long time, no one showed interest in the majestic and ominous ruins. From the middle of the 19th century, the passion for culture, astrology, and most importantly, the legendary riches of the Maya began. The site began scattered, but numerous excavations, studies, artists and photographers from all over the world came to capture the bizarre buildings and mysterious temples.
In the second half of the last century, the Mexican government decided to restore (as far as possible) the original appearance of Chichen Itza. This place has become a Mecca for tourists.
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In 2007, the ancient city of Chichen Itza Mexico was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Mayan city of Chichen Itza has been named one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. Tuja might have hit Machu Picchu, but not destiny.
Chichen Itza, Mexico and the Artistic Value of the Ruins
The area of the city is about 6 km. sq. The surviving architectural complexes are numerous and, if you study them in detail, consider each relief and column, one day to visit will not be enough. Unfortunately, excursions organized from Cancun are only one day. There is nowhere to spend the night in Chichen Itza, and even creepy.
A professional guide will lead the group along the paved roads, perfectly preserved for fifteen centuries, and show and tell about all the religious buildings of the city. The most significant and huge of them is the Chichen Itza pyramid called Kukulkana "Feathered Serpent". The guide will entertain (and even scare someone) with legends about bloody sacrifices, cruelty and religious beliefs of an ancient tribe. The Temple of Warriors will amaze you with its realistic reliefs and sculptures; it is easy to get lost in the group of "thousand columns". The "ball court" will surprise you with the size of its territory and will give you goosebumps with images of severed heads.
The excursion includes a visit to the sacred cenote - a natural reservoir with a diameter of 60 m. The depth is almost the same. There is evidence that the Maya threw girls and children into this "lake", as well as numerous objects of worship, asking their deities for rain.
You can read about other ancient cities of Central America in our articles about Palenque and Tenochtitlan.