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| The Maya - some background Dating as far back as 1500 B.C., The Maya Civilisation flourished until about 900 A.D. in México’s Yucatán peninsula and parts of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Because they made science, writing, mathematics, astronomy, and religion pillars of their lives, the details of this mysterious group continue to intrigue us. 
Map showing the important Ancient Civilisations and Cities of MesoAmerica The Maya were fascinated with the sky, and most of their activities were based upon different cycles of the sun, planets, moon, and stars. Their astrological observations were written down and provide us with a multitude of data related to the paths of celestial bodies. From the observations they made, the Maya people were able to predict agricultural events and eclipses. More info: Maya History - Maya Civilization
Chichén-Itzá VIDEO TOUR BELOW The Temple of Kukulcan  Chichén-Itzá 1 hour east of Mérida, was the major city of the Post classic Maya. It was a place of mystery and magic, and power so pervasive , that centuries after its decline it was considered holy. Monumental architecture marks the centre of a city that in its day covered more than 25 sq kilometres.
Settlers appeared in the area as early as 300 B.C., but not until 750 A.D. is there evidence of urban planning. By 900 A.D. and under the Maya, Chichén-Itzá was a thriving metropolis of 50,000 inhabitants.When the toltecs invaded Chichén-Itzá around 1000 A.D. they brought with them human sacrifice, and a military discipline not known to the Maya. The Maya-Toltec built the northern-most structures of Chichén-Itzá, most notably the temple of Kukulkan and the temple of the warriors.
At Chichén-Itzá, the Maya civilization reached its pinnacle. Art, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, architecture -- they all flourished here. The Maya understood the concept of the space between zero and one. They used binary numbers that are used today in computing. Their calendar was more accurate than ours today, by not requiring a leap year to make up for adjustments.
They knew of penicillin 199 years before we rediscovered it. Also, their astronomical calculations allowed them to come up with a theoretical "True North", this enabling them to create effects such as that of the light effect of the descending snake on the Castillo during the Equinox. The major structures include the Castillo, or Temple of Kukulcan; the Nunnery Complex; the Caracol, which was the centre for astronomy; the Temple of the Warriors, with its magnificent colonnade of carved stelae; the largest ball-court in México and the Temple of the Jaguar.
Two cenotes, or natural wells, were the primary reason the city was situated at this location. One provided water for the people and the crops; the other was the sacrificial well, where animal and often human victims were tossed into the dark waters in rituals of purification, celebration and renewal.
The Castillo is perhaps the best-known pyramid in the entire Maya civilization. Exquisitely proportioned, every aspect of its architecture had religious meaning as well as functional purpose. Less well-known is the fact that the Castillo as it is seen today sits atop an earlier structure; and that a steep, dark stairway inside the building takes visitors to a secret chamber, where the brilliant red Throne of the Jaguar scowls at those brave enough to intrude on this powerfully sacred site. The Caracol or Observatory 
Everywhere at Chichén-Itzá one encounters strong, silent testimony to the power and achievements of this remarkable civilization. The reflecting basins at the Caracol, each sculpted with a god-figure, allowed Maya astronomers to chart the positions and movements of the planets and stars. The magnificent carvings on the walls of the ball-court tell the grisly yet enthralling story of the ritual version of the Maya game of Pok-ta-Pok, and portray the losing captain being decapitated in the spring renewal ritual. The Temple of the Warriors celebrates the battlefield exploits of this mighty race, and pays homage to its greatest fighters. Everywhere the carvings portray the supreme jaguar and feathered serpent gods, the morning star Venus, and the enigmatic Lord Kukulcan. Also worth a visit for its amazing plaster carvings is the nearby and much quieter site of Ek Balam
On 07.07.07 Chichén-Itzá was voted one of the 7 new Wonders of the World! BACK TO TOP OF PAGE | |
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