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| Chichen Itza, "El Castillo." |
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Chichén Itzá (Chee-chen-eet-sa) Is one of the few Maya ruins which retains its original name as given to us by the Maya and not by the Spainards or archaeologists. It means "the mouth of the well of the Itza." The well is the sacred cenote of the Maya. Other names are Uucil-Abnal (seven bushes) or Uucyabnal (seven great owners). The site is probably the best known of the Mayan ruins and it has been explored since 1923 for about twenty years, it has never been completely studied. Chichen Itza shows evidence of being built as early as about 600 AD with most of its building being built in about the the seventh through tenth centuries. It is thought that the site was abandoned about 1200AD. Chichen Itza may have been the capital for an association of warring groups of invaders who came to this place in kind of an uneasy alliance. It is now thought that the original builders were not the Toltecs as originally believed. Rather the thought is that the builders were people who migrated up the east coast who were Mayanized Mexicans instead of Toltecs. Indications are that the site was abandoned in a Katun 6 Ahau which ended in A.D. 1224. "El Castillo", which was named by Bishop Landa, was dedicated to the feathered serpent god, Kukulcan. El Castillo is probably one of the best known of the Mayan structures in Mexico. The outer part of the structure is about 190 feet square and 79 feet high. Inside this structure is another substructure probabally built 52 years earlier. No one is certain when construction started but it is thought to be in about A.D. 800. The superimposed temple has four grand stairways that lead to a platform at the top of the pyramid where a temple stands. There are 91 steps to each stairway making a total of 364 steps and one grand step all around the top, making a total of 365 steps, perhaps symbolic of the 365 day year. The main entrance to the temple is on the North side with two serpent columns and a sanctuary behind. On three sides are vaulted chambers with doorways opening to the East, West, and South. The pyramid has nine terraces of regularly diminishing size. Each terrrace is separated by undecorated molding. The bodies of serpents with heads on the ground form the "alfardas" of the great stairway to the temple. On equinoxes the light plays upon the Western side of The North Stairway of the temple in such a way as to make the snakes on the stairways come alive in movement. Truly a great sight to see! The facade of the building is without decoration except for a medial and cornice molding with insets between. When the inner temple was discovered, an excavation was made under the north stairway of the Castillo to the stairway of the inner pyramid. Then the excavation continued up the inner temple to an outer room and inner room in the inner pyramid which contains a chocmool in the outer room and the famous "red jaguar" in the inner room. The red jaguar which is inlaid with jade spots and eyes and pyrite teeth was probably a throne for a priest or ruler. There are some other thrones which are not as nice in the Temple of Jaguars at the Great Ball Court located across the plaza. When visiting El Castillo, expect to do a lot of climbing in order to see it all. You will soon learn the famous "Jaguar Crawl" as you explore El Castillo! |
YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES: For touring the majesty of Chichen Itza and/or the newly uncovered Ek Balam, we suggest getting a hotel in either Cancún or Mérida, and then letting them arrange either a car or a tour of Cancún and/or the surrounding areas such as, the newly uncovered Ek Balam and/or Chichen Itza. If you call the hotels Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. We do this all the time, when traveling in Mexico. It is safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem doing it this way! If you choose Cancún, you will use the Cancún International Airport (IATA: CUN, ICAO: MMUN) which is located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It is Mexico's second busiest airport, after Mexico City International Airport in Mexico City, but it is the largest in Mexico and Latin America for International passengers.
We have placed a link to Expedia.com on this page if you wish to arrange your flights into and out of Cancún; as well as your hotel, when visiting this area. If you choose Mérida, you will use the The Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, formerly known as Mérida-Rejón Airport (IATA: MID, ICAO: MMMD) is the international airport located in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán. It is located on the southern edge of the city. The airport handles both domestic and international flights, and is open 24 hours a day. We would then suggest flying into Mérida and staying in one of their many fine hotels when touring Chichen Itza and/or the newly uncovered Ek Balam. We have links on this page that will connect you with flights into Mérida and several of the best hotels in Mérida. After getting a flight and a hotel we suggest asking your hotel concierge to arrange either a car or a tour of Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and/or the Mérida area. If you call their Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. We do this all the time, when traveling in Mexico. It is safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem, doing it this way! Therefore, we have placed links to Expedia.com on this page so you can arrange your flights into and out of Mérida; as well as your hotel, when visiting this area.
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| Chichen Itza, "The Red Jaguar." |
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| Chichen Itza, "The Red Jaguar." |
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| "Chac Mool" Or "Choc Mool" Inside Outer Room Of Inner Temple |
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| Through This Road In The Jungle | We Discover Chichen Itza And The Temple Of Kukulkan! |
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| Also Called "El Castillo" 190 Foot Square And 79 Feet High The DeLange's Start Their Climb! | Audrey, Noel, & Laurine DeLange Doing The "Jaguar Crawl" Up The 91 Steps To The Top |
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| George At West Side Of Temple At Top Of El Castillo | Carvings At Temple Of El Castillo |
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| George At Temple Of El Castillo West Side "Temple Of TheWarriers" In Background Facing East | George Checking Out The Serpents At Base Of North Stairway |
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| Hole Through Outer Temple To The Inner Temple Made Under North Stairway Of El Castillo | Arch Inside Entrance To Inner Temple |
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| Tourist Doing "Jaguar Crawl" Up The Steps Of The Inner Pyramid! | Its A Long Way Up! |
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| Chocmool Inside Outer Room Of Inner Temple | Red Jaguar Throne Inside Inner Second Room Of Inner Temple |
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| Close Up Of Red Jaguar Pyrite Fangs Glowing In The Light Jade Eyes And Spots! | Audrey Checking Out The Serpents Located At Base Of North Stairway The West Serpent (Next To Her) Apprears To Move At Equinox |
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| Chichén Itzá Page Two
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| Chichén Itzá Page Three
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| Chichén Itzá Page Four
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