-
HISTORICAL
- Chichen
Itza was probably founded
around 450 AD
tribes migrated
from the south. It is assumed
now that the site
has not been abandoned at the end
of the classical era of the Maya
(around 900),
as was the other important
places in the center and
south of the region (Campeche,
Chiapas, Guatemala and Honduras).
According to recent studies
even thinks that in
VII and VIII
centuries tribes
in this area had
come from the plateau
of central Mexico, which
joined the Maya.
It is possible then
that in the ninth or tenth century
there has been a return, which
seems to be reflected
components present in
the Maya Tollan
(Tula).
Still
dominates the view that
the Toltecs had emigrated
around 1000 AD
from Tollan,
1200 km away,
and settled in the area
at that time was still called
probably Uucil-abnal
(in Maya 'seven
bushes').
In the
heyday of Chichen
Itza predominant
stylistic elements
were those Toltecs,
so that the buildings, although
many features Mayan
show, surprisingly resemble
those of
the ancient Toltec capital
of Tollan.
Even
the annotations on the end
of Chichen Itza
are contradictory,
probably was abandoned in 1250
AD, soon after
it came to a division,
a part of the Itza
tribe founded
in the line of the
Cocom of Mayapan
the city, where it
dominated, until 1450
around the
north of the peninsula. During this period,
Chichen Itza lost
all its importance, because construction activity
has ceased and a large part
of the city was abandoned.
In the sixties, especially the
Mexican Institute of Anthropology
and History is
interested in the area
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
The archaeological site
covers an area of
about 8 km2.
As in almost all
pre-Columbian sites, including
Chichen Itza has
unearthed only a small
part of the buildings, the rest
still lies hidden in
lush vegetation.
The signs to the
buildings, often inaccurate,
or go back
to ancient Spanish sources
have been affixed by archaeologists,
historians Mayan
names are almost
forgotten.
In the northern group
are mainly characteristics
of the Toltec
style.
Elements are
typically Toltec stone statues
of warriors in an upright position,
which supported the roofs of
temples or altars.
The ever-emerging
symbol of the
feathered serpent replaced
representations of Chac
(Mayan god of
rain).
Even scenes
of battles and sacrifices
appear more frequently here
than in the classic art of the
Maya.
The Castillo,
also known as the Pyramid of
Kukulkan.
Like almost all
pre-Columbian constructions
even this building was
built following strict
laws that
astronomers and astrologers.
The pyramid, a total of
30 m high, very
charming in its
classic simplicity and
beautifully restored, consists of
9 and 4
terraced steps
symbolizing
the nine heavens and the
four cardinal points. Each
of the 4 stairs has
91 steps, for a total of
364, with the platform
as the last step,
are all over 365,
which correspond precisely to the
day of the year.
On the stairs
every time you
placed the head of a
snake.
When it
is reached, with
the steep stairs at 45
°, the highest platform,
the temple of Kukulkan
appears real.
From here you can enjoy
a breathtaking view
over the whole area. The main
entrance is flanked by two
columns in the shape
of a serpent, typically
Toltecs.
Inside
a Mayan-style temple
completely lying on
a previous pyramid
later remodeled.
At the entrance were found
a stone
Chac-Mool and a throne
in the shape of jaguar
stone painted in
red, whose skin
was inlaid with
jade wells.
We arrive at these rooms
through a passage leading
into the pyramid.
The day
of the Equinox,
spring and autumn,
the pyramid of Kukulkan
becomes the scene of
a spectacular appearance.
As the sun sets in these
two afternoons, and until sunset,
the shadows of the corners
of 9 terraces
of the pyramid are projected
on the wall of the
north-west staircase, creating
a line that is projected
towards the snake heads,
giving the impression
a large snake
coming down from the top
of the pyramid of Kukulkan-symbol
announcing the planting period
and the end of the rains
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