Pyramids of the city of Chichen Itza in Mexico - a new miracle of light from Maya. Chichen Itza Mexico - Ancient City of Maya Photo Travel

115 km from and 193 km from.

Ancient city Chichen ICA recognized UNESCO as the object of the world cultural heritage and is the second most popular tourist destination archaeological excavations in Mexico (after Teotihuakana).

Translated from the language of local tribes, this name means "the well of the ICA tribe". Archaeologists consider it one of the religious "places of force" associated with the culture of Maya.

Throughout approximately millennial history Various peoples left their mark in the appearance of the city. The representations of the peoples of Maya, Toltec and ICA about the world and the universe were reflected in stone monuments and artwork.

The buildings in Chichen Itza are conventionally divided into two groups. The first includes the buildings dated VI-VII centuries. n. e. And relating to the Mayan culture period. The second group of buildings belongs to the Toltext period of the X-XI centuries. n. e.

History

Chichen Itsa was founded presumably in the VII century. e.

In the 10th century was captured by Tolteki.

In the middle of the XI century, Chichen Itza became the capital of the Toltec state.

In 1178 was defeated by the United Armed Forces of the Three Cities-states - Majapan, Ushmal and Izmal, who headed Hunak Keel. By the time of Spanish conquests (the middle of the XVI century), Chichen Itza was ruins.

After 1194. mysterious city finally empty. Accurate data on what caused the cause is absent. The policy of Spanish conquerors who invaded the territory of Mexico included the burning of manuscripts and the murder of the clergymen of the Maya people. In this way, most of His mysterious history was lost.

Recent changes: 07/27/2011

Attractions Chichen Itsa

Pyramid Kukulkan (Kukulkan) or El Castillo (El Castillo) - Temple structure, surviving among the ruins of the ancient city of Maya Chichen-Itsa.

Inside the pyramid, the entrance to which is located on the northern side, is located directly the temple with two rooms. In it is the sacrificial figure of Chuck-moole and the jaguar throne. The height of the pyramid is 24 m, the base is 55x55 m, there are 365 steps, symbolizing the days of the year. In addition to the function of the temple of the pyramid, probably performed the calendar function.

Every year on the days of autumn and spring equinox (March 21 and September 23), you can observe the unique spectacle of the "Feather Snake". The shadow of the stepped edge pyramid falls on one of the stairs. At the same time, it seems that the snake crawls in March, and in September down. The end of the staircase in accordance with this effect is crowned with a stone head of the snake.

- Natural Well, located 300 meters away north of the main buildings of the city, with which the sacred sacbe is connected.

It is a gigantic round funnel with a diameter of more than 60 meters. Its sheer walls, isolated from limestone layers, cool down cool down, to dark green water. According to Maya's ideas, the god of rain chak lived inside the well. Maya brought him human sacrifices by throwing them to the bottom of the Senot.

In 1961 and 1967, the Sacred Senot investigated Mexican expeditions. Two large wooden throne were found, about a hundred clay jugs and cups of different sizes, gold jewelry, jade products, mining crust, dice, pearl, amber, copper and onyx, and bones of people and animals.

- The building located on top of the stepped pyramid (40x40m), surrounded by a large number of carved columns (group of thousands of columns). The height of the column reaches 3 m. On most of these columns, Toltec soldiers are depicted, that is why the temple of the warriors is called.

Opposite the main door of the temple of Warriors there is a Chak Moul statue (Chac Mool), depicting a human figure in a lying position, with a head facing one side and holding a bowl in the hands, intended for gods gods.

- Located on the south side of the temple of the soldiers and is formed by three colonnades surrounding a fairly large platform from three sides.

It is believed that once the columns supported the roof. But from the roof over the sanctuary, which is located on the top platform of the temple of the warriors, where two stairs lead, nothing left. Only two stylized snakes performed in the form of columns and symbolizing the Cukulkan remained.

- Round construction on a large platform. According to researchers, there was an astronomical observatory for observation of the planets, especially for Venus.

- the biggest playground Of all Maja created. The length of the playing field reaches 150 m. On the sides of the playing field - vertical walls of 8.5 m high. In the center of each wall there are heavy stone rings with a snake ornament - by 7.25 m above ground.

The goal of the game is to get a heavy (up to 2 kg) rubber ball, the size of the human head, in the stone rings. The ball was taken on the "clamp" or dismissed the bat, only elbows, knees or hips were used. The ball, representing the sun, probably did not allow to touch the earth, otherwise his symbolic "path" was interrupted.

The losers were considered the team that missed the ball into the ring. As it is believed, the losers were brought to a ritual sacrifice (reliefs on the panels decorating the bases of the walls show decapitated players).

In Chichen Iz, there are some more such structures, but the "large field" is much superior to them in size.
Recent changes: 04/10/2015

Recent changes: 04/10/2015

(Chichen Itza) Ancient city founded by Maya Indians in the VI century. Pyramids Chichen Itza are one of the most visited places in Yucatan. The name of Chichen-Itsa from Maya is translated as " maja tribe well", Because of the fact that 13 sensational (natural wells) is located on the territory of an ancient city. One of them, the sacred senote, served to sacrifice the Rain God.

In the 10th century, the city of Chichen Iz captured Toltec, and in 1194 the city was empty. Why residents left Chichen Izu still not known.

Ancient city and pyramids Chichen-Itza Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, 205 km from famous resort And 120 km from Merida. Chichen Itza is one of the most popular and most visited attractions on Yucatan Peninsula. Almost all tourists who arrived on holiday in Mexico, to Cancun, consider their duty to visit the Archaeological Complex Chichen Itza, so there are always a lot of people here. It is advisable to come to the opening, then there is a chance to walk along the complex alone 😎

The ancient city and pyramids of Chichen-Itsa guarded by UNESCO.

How to get to Pyramids Chichen Itza, Mexico

1. By bus. From Cancun, ADO buses go from Merida. Ticket price Cancun - Chichen-Itza 80 - 140 peso (depending on the class of the bus). Time on the way 3-4 hours. Ticket price Merida - Chichen-Itsa 50-80 Pesos, travel time 1.45 - 2.5 hours
2. Can buy organized excursion in Chichen Izu, group or individual. An excursion can be ordered in any hotel or agree in advance with an individual guide. To order the excursion just follow the link.
3. On the rented car . As for me, this is the most optimal way to get to Chichen Iza. On the way, you can see other attractions. About how to rent a car in Mexico in Cancun read. From Cancun you can get to Chichen Itsa by paid or free roads.

Mode of operation and the cost of visiting the Archaeological Complex Chichen-Itza

Chichen-Itza is open to visit from 8:00 to 17:00. Evening light performance takes place at 19:00 in the winter and at 20:00 in the summer.

The cost of tickets in Chichen-Itsa: a ticket to Chichen Itza consists of two parts - a ticket for 125 peso and a ticket for 57 pesos, and the entrance is worth 182 Pesos ($ 14.5). These are the most expensive pyramids on which we were in Mexico 😎

Parking near Chichen-Itsa is also paid - 22 peso (just less than 2 dollars).

We knew that we had to come to Chichen Izu needed as soon as possible, so I left at 6:30 am! It is good that the difference in time with Moscow 10 hours, in the first days I got up at 6 am without problems.

We drove into Chichen Iza on a paid road to save time. Passage, on a paying road Cancun - Chichen-Itsa is not at all cheap: we paid two times, the first time 251 pesos, the second time is 61 pesos, total 312 pesos (almost 25 dollars !!!) ....

Paid Cancun - Chichen-Itsa

... and for what? For a little less than 200 km of way. We drove these 200 km in 3 hours, I do not know how people manage to pass them in 2 hours? We do not break the rules, the speed did not exceed, stopped once at the gas station for 5 minutes.

To the entrance to the archaeological complex Chichen-Itsa arrived at 9:30 am.
There were already cars of independent travelers in the parking lot, but not much as I thought. Bought tickets, immediate guides began to pester us, but we, of course, were refused. At the entrance to the complex there is a toilet (free), souvenir shops, cafes.

The first thing that rushes into the eye at the entrance to the archaeological zone, the main attraction is Chichen-Itsi - (or El Castillo, translated from the Spanish "Castle").

The main attraction of Chichen-Iza - Pyramid Kukulkana

This nine tier pyramid, a height of 24 meters, at the top of which is the temple in which sacrifices were made. Pyramid Cukulkana symmetrical, has four stairs. And each staircase consists of 91 steps. If the number of steps 91 is multiplied by the number of stairs 4 and add a unit (upper platform), then we get the number 365 - the number of days a year!

Central (North) Staircase Pyramid Kukulkana
Not the front staircase Pyramid Cukulkan 🙂

Pyramid Cukulkana is also known as pyramid of feathered snake . Every year, in the days of the equinox, March 20 and September 21, a lot of people go to the Pyramid of Kukulkan to look at one very very interesting phenomenon: At about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the sun illuminates the main staircase of the pyramid so that the shadows are formed - triangles, together on the tail of the snake, as the sun moves, the triangles go out and form the effect of the snake.

By the way, you can look at this spectacle on a black-eyed light show.

Temple of warriors

We go to "Group of thousands of columns" Here is a place that is called the market.

In general, in this part of the Archaeological Zone, Chichen Itza is rather low and calmly. And the sun is not a bake, nice to walk or relax under the crown of trees.

Attracts attention ball game . This is one of the largest fields in the complex, its length is 166 m, the width is 68 m, the height of the walls is 12m. At the height of 8m, stone rings are fixed. Maya Indians played the ball here. The game was called "Pot-Ta-Po", played a rubber ball, which was about 4 kg weighing and he could only beat him. It is assumed that the game ended with the sacrifice.

Ball game field: on the wall Ring, where according to the rules of the game it was necessary to score the ball

It is impossible to rise on the pyramid of the Cukulkan and on other ruins. They say, before it was possible to climb the pyramid, but then this case was banned. Whether someone fell from the pyramid, or they are simply afraid that the pyramid will deteriorate and collapse ... Therefore, we took a walk along the Chichen-Its complex - just two hours.







When we headed for the exit, around 11:30, crowds of tourists began to train, there were many Russian-speaking groups.

Look a little video from this amazing place 😎

Immediately, local traders have already laid out their trading tents with souvenirs. By the way, here you can not expensive souvenirs. Much cheaper than in Cancun. There are a lot of interesting masks, which, with a further journey through Mexico, did not meet anywhere else. Later we regretted that I did not buy anything from souvenirs near Chichen Iza. If you need souvenirs - buy them here and be trapping!

Souvenirs in Chichen-Ice for every taste and cheaper than in Cancun

You can do not sleep near the Chichen Itza complex in one of the hotels. Choose to your taste and enjoy the rest 😎 At the same time, you can visit the Archaeological Complex Chichen Itza twice: in the afternoon of sightseeing, and in the evening, come to watch the evening light-music show for which you do not need to buy separate ticketThe cost is already included in day tickets.

And two hotels are easier (3 stars):

We did not spend the night near the pyramids of Chichen Iza, but we went further, an interesting rich program was waiting ahead, so subscribe to the newsletter of the site, to receive notifications about new blog articles! 😎

Chichen Itza is an ancient Maya city, located in the northern part of Yucatana, 120 km east of Merida and 185 km west of Cancun. The city was founded as believed in the V-VI centuries and was one of the largest cities of Maya. The city's flourishing fell on the VIII-IX century.

The name of the city is translated from the Language of Maya as "the mouth of the Yeta tribe" ("Chi" in the language of Maya means the mouth, "Chen" - the Well, "ICA" - the name of the tribe or the Maya group, which, according to legend, the first appeared on this land) . This is associated with the fact that in the territory of the city there are two large sources of clean water - natural karst wells, not drying throughout the year, which is very important for the inhabitants of dry Yucatan.

The capital and most significant political and ceremonial center of Maya on the Peninsula Yucatan Chichen Itza became in the eighth century. In the X century, the Toltec army captured this city-state and formed his capital here. In 1178, the city was captured by neighboring cities-states, and from 1194 he comes to complete launch. No one now can say that the inhabitants caused. The Spaniards came here in the XVI century only came across the ruins of Chichen-Itsi.

Now there are many structures in the city, in particular, famous pyramids Chichen-Itsi. The most distinguished among them is the Pyramid of Cukulkan (El Castillo). Kukulkan is one of the supreme deities in Maya mythology. He was considered the god of wind and water, fire and air, the founder of royal dynasties and major cities. Maya believed that Kukulkan trained their fisheries, invented writing and calendar for them, came up with ceremony. In the end, the cult of Kukulkana became a kind of cult of the nobility, sacrificed Kukulkan brought only noble young men, and in an extremely solemn atmosphere.

The main embodiment of Cukulkana was the featful snake, he also depicted as an eagle, jaguar, in the form of blood like a snail shell and finally like a flute made of bones. The Pyramid of Cukulkana is located in the center of the terrace of about 18 hectares and is surrounded by a wide stone parapet. Its height is 24 meters and 6 meters - the height of the temple on top, where the sacrifices of Cukulkan were taken. The length of each of its sides is 55 meters, each face of the temple has 9 steps. Leading from all four sides of the foundation to the top of the pyramid four cool stairs, oriented on the sides of the world. The stone balustrade staircases, which begins at the bottom of the serpent, and continues in the form of a bent snake body before the top of the pyramid.

Each of the four stairs of the temple has 91 steps, and their total quantity is 364. Together with the platform on the top of the pyramid, which combines all four stairs, the number 365 is the number of days in the leap year. The number of sections on each side of the temple (9 steps of the pyramid dissected the ladder is also symbolic) - 18, which corresponds to the number of months in the Mayan calendar year. Nine defendors of the temple corresponds to the nine levels of the afterlime world.

The Maya calendar consisted of two parallel cycles: the ritual period of Zolkin (Totsolkin) in 260 days and civilian 365-day haabs period, which lay at the heart of agricultural work and the daily life of the Indians. Maya combined two calendar into the so-called "calendar circle". Thus, any date was made up of elements of both calendars. Dates in the "Calendar Circle" were repeated only after 52 years. 52 Stone reliefs located on each sanctuary wall symbolize one calendar circle.

Every year, on the days of autumn and spring equinox, it is possible to observe the unique spectacle of the "Feather Snake". During the sunset, the shadow from the corner of the stepped terraces of the pyramid falls on the stones of balustrades. At the same time, it seems that the feathers come to life and crawl, in March - up, and in September - down.

The acoustics of the temple is so perfect that with his top you can speak a calm voice, which will be heard in the whole district. The sound of steps on external staircases of the pyramid is converted inside her in the sounds of falling raindrops. If you clap your hands at a certain distance from the pyramid - Echo corresponds to the voice of the sacred for Maya Bird Ketsal. The sacred bird Ketsal represented the spirit of Maya, and Echo is a voice of spirits. It is believed that that is why the Echo of the Spirit of the Temple of Cukulkana speaks Ketsal's voice.

To the right of the pyramid of Cakulcan is the temple of warriors, placed on a five-speed pyramid with a height of 11.5 m with one staircase. The staircase is framed by balustrades, at the top of which on the top platform the pyramids are standing and sitting out of stone men's figures. In antiquity during the festivals and solemn ceremonies, the banners inserted into their hands.

In front of the entrance to the sanctuary there is a chuck-moole sculpture, depicting a semi-roll man with a highly raised head, turned toward and holding a dish on his stomach in his hands. To the end, the purpose of Chuck-Molation is not clear. It is assumed that it was a sacrificial altar for collecting donations and to offer the gifts of gods, perhaps even in the form of human hearts.

Before the staircase leading to the top of the pyramid to the sanctuary, there are four rows of 60-coated columns, a height of 2.6 meters, on which images of join-to-toltec soldiers are carved, and none of the reliefs repeats the other. Initially, these columns maintained a massive roof, now there is no trace left. The name of the temple of the warriors gave numerous reliefs and paintings inside and outside the temple. This temple served as the place of traditional human sacrifices.

Another famous landmark of Chichen-Iza is an El Karakol Observatory (EL Caracol translates as "Snail's shell"), named so because of the inner screw staircase leading to the upper dome. El Karakol was built up to 904 years old, during the highest heyday of the Mayan civilization. Square windows in the cylindrical tower are directed at the sunrise points and sunset in the days of winter and summer solstice, spring and autumnal equinox.

Astronomers believe that the observatory in Chichen-Itsi was built to observe the activity of Venus, which had a special meaning for Maya. They believed that Venus is the planet of war and the sister of God the wisdom of Cukulkana. Scientists have discovered in El Qarakol marks indicating that Maya accurately calculated the Cycle of Venus, consisting of 584 days.

Seario (OSARIO) translated from Spanish means "cemetery". Like El Castillo, it is a stepped pyramid with a temple on top, but only in a decreased scale. Like her larger neighbor, it has four faces with stairs on each side. But unlike El Castillo, in the center there is a hole in the pyramid leading to a cave 12 meters deep below the ground level. Herbert Thompson excavated this cave at the end of the XIX century, found several skeletons and artifacts, and called the Supreme Priest Tomb (Tumba del Gran Sacerdote). Archaeologists today believe that the structure was neither a tomb, nor the place of burial of priests. But the scientists did not come to the final conclusion.

Chichen Itza has nine sites for games with the ball. The largest of them is located behind the pyramid of the Cukulkana. Its length is 166 meters, and the width is 68 meters. Places for viewers are on elevated platforms. The ball game was called Pok-Po and was an important religious ritual to ensure fertility. On the origin of the game of historians argue so far: some believe that it was invented by Maya, others give the championship to Toltekam or even Olmecam.

The site is located on the line "South-North", with a deviation to the east, as it was focused on the sacred well. It is framed by vertical walls of 12 meters high with stone rings attached to them at an altitude of about 8 meters, through which it was necessary to defeat the rubber ball weighing from 2 to 4 kg.

The diameter of the ring hole was slightly more than the ball. The field was divided by half and the players of each team were supposed to be each on their half of the field.

It was impossible to touch the ball with his hands or legs, only the hips, buttocks, elbows, knees, passing from one edge to another for a set of glasses and trying to get into one of the stone rings. For hitting the ring, the victory was awarded at once, since it was not only insanely difficult, but, most importantly, it was believed that in this way the connection was established with the Divine, in honor of which the game was held. And each hit by the ring itself was counted as a penalty point. Since it was extremely difficult to get into the ring, the game could last for hours, and sometimes the result was determined by the number of penalty points, since not one of the teams could not score the ball into the ring. Players put on special means of protection, softening the ball - leather loin belt and knee pads. The ball in the game imitated the symbolic struggle of the "day and night" of the lower world with the gods of the sky.

It is assumed that the game ended with a ritual sacrifice - the team captain beheaded. Judging by the bas-reliefs, sacrified the captain of the winning team, who first pulled the heart, then cut off her head. Until now, there are disputes who sacrificed the gods - the captain of winning or loser's team. The majority believes that the captain of the winning team was brought to the sacrifice, since the gods are given only the best, as it was with the warriors.

The playground has a unique acoustic effect - if we speak at one end site, then everything is heard on the other.

To the right of the ball in the ball is the Temple of the skulls (Tzompantli) - T-shaped platform, the walls of which are covered with embossed images of skulls.

The stone wall of Zucubantley was the basis for wooden frames, on which the skulls of killed enemies were hung and sacrificed. The name of this complex is given in the language of Nauil - the language of the Indians of Central Mexico, where such structures were often met.

The road laid out of the stones and walking from the pyramid of Cakulcan to the north leads to the sacrificent Sacred Senot. In the depths of the Senot, 82 meters, in diameter - 60 meters, from the edge of the sensation to the water - 20 meters.

This natural round well with the walls of karst sediments and water of a green shade for more than 1000 years served as a place of ritual worship of the Rain God. The color of the water well is obliged to specific local flora and mud sediments at the bottom. Maya believed that the Rain God lives in aquatic depths, and during drought, human sacrifices brought here. It was believed that Senot is, a kind of portal through which you can get to God.

The priests after certain ceremonies sent the "chosen" to meet with God and for a long time watched the victim, whatever she was on the surface of the water, helping her to go to God with the help of stones. Taking into account the fact that the surface of the water to the bottom was a rather big distance and the fact that the priests were closely followed that the victim would accurately hit God, it was almost impossible to get out of the Senot. The only famous Indian who somehow got out of the Holy Senot, is considered to be Hunak Keel. Subsequently under his leadership in 1178 and was captured by Chichen Iza.

Professor Harvard University and American Consul in Merida, Herbert Thompson explored the Sacred Senot since 1904 to 1910 and extracted from there many ancient artifacts from gold, jade, ceramics, rubber, obsidian, as well as human remains. In consequence, most of the found finds found themselves at the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology Peabody at Harvard University.

Mayan Indian game in the ball (Fragment of the Evening Show)

Mayan Pyramids in Mexico are true monuments of antiquity. Despite the fact that there are quite a few in the country, only a few will be visited, since most of the pyramids are covered with a thick layer of the Earth or covered with thick vegetation.

I would like to stay in more detail on the main attraction of Chichen-Iza - the Pyramid of Kukulkana, which is a real miracle of light. Another name is "El Castillo" - in translation means "Castle". It was built in the 11th century in honor of the Higher God. Her name in Maya is "Operated Snake." It rises to a height of 25 meters. At the very top platform, the pyramid is a temple. It's rather difficult to get there, four extensive steep stairs, separated by 18 spans, and each of them have previously matched the month of the year. Despite the difficulties of the rise, such an excursion will cause a huge delight. The base of the pyramid is a square with parties 55.5 meters.

On the sides of the pyramid you can see 9 terraces - for each room of the kingdom of the dead on one. Maya was a diploma world as a place where they should go after death.

Each staircase has a 91 step. When multiplying the number of stairs for the total number of stairs and add one platform located on the top of the pyramid itself, on which the temple is worth it, then the result will be 365 - a number equal to the number of days a year.

And this is not a simple coincidence. Scientists believe that Maya took the principle of the most ordinary calendar as the basis of the pyramid. There is also an assumption that the pyramid has previously had some astronomical importance.

The staircase that goes along the northern side of the pyramid ends at the bottom of the snake heads, and they, as you know, are the main symbol of God the Cukulkan. Their location is not accidental. Lifting to the upper platform is not safe. Of all the stairs are restored only one, Western. It will be possible to climb on it, you only need to hold on to the iron chain stretched along the iron chain.

The Mayan city stores many secrets, his story is unique. Pyramid Kukulkana, which is located in this city, has another the most interesting feature. It was possible to detect only in the 20th century, when the restoration of this facility was restored. Twice a year it was possible to observe an extraordinary phenomenon that it seems mystical to many.

Twice a year, a special visual effect appears on the pyramid. It happens in the days of spring, as well as autumn equinox. In anticipation of such an amazing action near it, there are several thousand people. Absole to a second on the steps of the northern staircase, the triangles of light and shadows fold the image of a giant sacred snake, which slowly slides to the very base of the pyramid. This phenomenon is of great importance for Maya, since the impression was created that the sacred feathered snakes seemed to return to life.

it mysterious phenomenon He was an equinox onset signal and proves the fact that astronomy and survey was well developed for Maya. It was worth to position the pyramid at least for a single degree not in the other side, there would be no light game at all.

Here is such a riddle lurking on the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico.

History chichen Itza, in a short time, who became one of the main centers of the Mayan civilization and as quickly soldered in almost absolute oblivion, is still waiting for its researchers. Archaeologists recreated part of the main monuments of the city, the benefit of the main cyclopic buildings were built on conscience and well preserved. Historians are trying to restore his chronology. But in general, the rapid elevation of the city and no less rapid decline is still one big mystery.

The city is located in modern Mexico, the name of Chichen-Itsa various researchers are interpreted to their manner. They converge only in one - this name, Maya emphasized the value of a huge natural well ("Chen" in these places ("Chen" in the languages \u200b\u200bof the peoples of Maya meant "water source", "Well", mouth "). In conditions of dry climate, Yucatan Peninsula, on which Posted by the city, the presence of a uninterrupted water source gave settlement Key value.

Speaking about the mystery of the city Chichen Itsa And in general, the Mayan civilization, it is not necessary to deepen into conspiracy theories. Everything is much easier. In the 16th century, Spanish colonialists who brought the light of civilization in the land populated by wild nations diligently supported this light with the flame of ancient manuscripts. The writing of the documents they spent so carefully that to this day the researchers restore the possible purpose of the preserved buildings literally along the grains. And be at the disposal of Spaniards at least primitive bulldozers, we, quite possible, would never have learned about the stunning imagination of the facilities of Maya.

However, by the time of the arrival of Europeans to the countries of Latin America, the Mayan civilization was already in ruins. Founded by about the 6th century of our Chichen-Itsa era in the second half of the 11th century, it was abandoned and abandoned. Highly developed civilization was commissioned internal conflicts and fratricide wars. The flourishing and decay of the Mayan civilization was divided into some 500 years ... of the separated Maya without much difficulties defeated Toltec. Conquerors attached northern part cities. In the 14th century, Maya managed to unite and knock off Chichen Izu, but it was their last success before the arrival of the Spaniards. Europeans caught the city already as a place of pilgrimage for residents from the surrounding settlements.

Even for the time released, Maya was managed to become developed in the technical and cultural relations of the people. The cult buildings preserved in Chichen Ice, including the Mayan pyramids, testify not only about their serious technical abilities, but also about deep knowledge in the sciences.

For instance, pyramid Kukulkana, which is the main attraction of Chichen-Iza, is not only a temple. It is a combination of a observatory with a laboratory. The lifting to the temple located on the top of the four-headed pyramid, passes through four stairs from 91 steps. Thus, the number of steps, if adding balustrade to them, is exactly 365. Moreover, the pyramid is so focused in space that in the days of the equinoxy of the shadow of the ledges form an image of the pennate snake. On the day of the spring equinox, the shadow rises, and on the day of the autumn equinoxy is lowered. Thousands of people are going to look at this optical effect. Maya was not forgotten about acoustics - the word uttered on the top of the pyramid even a quiet voice, perfectly heard her foot.

A wide staircase resting to the statue of Chuck Mooled to the temple. Apparently, her foot brought victims. The walls of the temple are also decorated with the patterns of warriors and the deities of Maya, including the Cukulkan.

A little more norther from the pyramid of the Kukulkana is the Sacred Senot. Most likely, it was from this gigantic well and the history of Chichen-Itsi began. Water in a funnel with a diameter of about 60 meters never dries. Despite the scarcity of information about Chichen Ice, conversations about large-scale sacrifices in Holy Senot reached modernity, and the well was investigated several times in search of precious finds. Contrary to expectations, gold, which Maya allegedly threw into a well to die the gods, was found not yet found. The main mass of sacrifices was products from obsidian and ceramic decorations. The great impression on the researchers produced found at the bottom Sacred Senota Human bones confirmed the thesis about the human sacrifices of Maya. There is another similar source of water in the city, the named Stenot of the Stolot, but due to small sizes, it, apparently, was not an object of worship and was used exclusively as a water source.

Human sacrifices from Maya were committed not only for the malfunction of the gods responsible for natural phenomena. The playground for the ball, which is in Chichen Ice, is decorated in a spirit, not allowing other interpretations, except the notorious "winner gets everything."

The lack of proper agility caught death - drawings on the walls of the ancient stadium demonstrate teams from the seven people, proudly holding the cut-off heads of rivals in their hands.

To the north-west of the pyramid of Kukulkan near the playground for games there is a Temple of Jaguarov. Like the temple of warriors, he is richly decorated with paintings, and received his name due to the prevailing drawings. According to some assumptions, he was a similarity of VIP-lies on modern football stadiums - a place where Knowledge Maja could comfortably watched sports fights.

Next to the Temple of Jaguarov is a tsompantley - a structure, apparently, recognized to get the enemies of Maya. Otherwise, this building is called the temple of the skulls - one of its walls is entirely made of human heads. The rest of the walls are decorated with drawings that glorify the wisdom of the gods and the courage of warriors Maya.

In the south-west, Chichen-Ice archaeologists discovered a small ten meter pyramid, called the grave of the Supreme Priest. At its top there are tombstones, testifying to the burial at least seven representatives of noble families of Maya. Under the pyramid, a practically vertical underground stroke was found. He leads to a cave, in which the remains of the dead, providing them with various utensils and decorations.

Approximately the same on recognition symbol Chichen-Ice, as the Pyramid of the Cukulkan, is El Karakol. It is a huge (dimensions of 52 by 67 meters) The construction is erected on a giant platform, which is crowned with a semicircular tower. Due to the form of the tower, it is customary to be an el-karakol observatory. Part of the scientists believes that the windows in the tower helped observe the position in the sky of Venus. This, allegedly, helped Maya streamline agricultural work. But regardless of its destination, El Karakol simultaneously affects both its scale and the grace of construction.

In 2007, the city of Chichen Itza, which is the second most popular with the archaeological attraction of Mexico, was fairly recognized as one of new Wonders of Light. It is located in the densely populated part of the country. In the city and around it is developed tourist infrastructure. Getting to Chichen Iza is better from the cities of Merida or Cancun in the speed highway. In the city itself, due to its size (6 square meters. Km.) You need to use the guide card or services. For the visit most of all the months from October to April - the summer journey Latin America Completed with exhausting heat.