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A place that time forgot
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Chichen Itza is one of the most important archeological sites in Mexico. It is about 2 – 3 hrs drive from Cancun. It is clear that a large Mayan community thrived here between around 700AD and 900AD, and built most of the structures. However, the main buildings in the central area, including the Pyramid of Kukulkán, the Temple of the Warriors, and the Ball Court, are Toltec in design and influence.
The description provided below is from www.differentworld.com
Towering above the other buildings at Chichen Itza is the Pyramid of Kukulkán. It is 24m tall. Two of its sides have been completely restored, the other two were left to show the condition before work commenced. Each side had originally 91 steps, adding the platform at the top as a final step there are 365 in total one for every day of the year. Further evidence that this building was linked to the Mayan interests of astronomy and the calendar is demonstrated at the spring and autumn equinox. On these days the shadow of the sun playing on the stairs causes the illusion of a snake processing down the pyramid. Naturally, it’s an impressive sight, and there are usually thousands of people on the site at these times.
From the Pyramid of Kukulkán, situated almost north-east is the Great Ball Court, the largest of its kind in the Maya world. There are eight other much smaller ball courts at Chichén Itzá and more in other Maya cities, but this one was deliberately built on a much grander scale than any others. The length of the playing field here is 40 feet (135 m) and two 25 feet (8 m) high walls run alongside the field.
The game itself involved two teams, each able to hit the ball only with elbows, wrists or hips, and the object was to knock the ball through one of the stone hoops on the walls of the court.
Look at the carvings on the lower walls of the court and you will see that this was not a casual sport there are clear depictions of one team member with blood spurting from his headless neck, whilst another holds the head aloft. Some people think the captain of the losing side was executed by the winner; others suggest that the winners earned an honorable sacrifice. No-one knows for sure. It is said that the game was used either as a method of settling disputes, or as an offering to the gods, perhaps in times of drought. Only the best were selected to play, and to be sacrificed in this way was a great honor.
The photo shows the Pyramid of Kukulkán, and the Temple of the Warriors seen from the Ball Court. Decided to show this view because the closer views show that the structures teeming with people! Being so close to Cancun, the place overflows with tourists. |
chrisJ has marked this note useful
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Chichen Itza is a very beautiful very old ancient city! The clouds above the pyramid! The Pyramid of Kukulkán is a very beautiful pyramid! Nice shot!