About 125 km west of Cancun and Cozumel, it is the Sacred Cenote, a deep sinkhole that the Mayans used for religious ceremonies, sacrifices to the Gods and more. Interesting Chichen Itza facts include: 1. Well, it did startle … The Grand Ball Court. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It continued to develop through the 8th and 9th centuries and during the 9th century, the first phase of the construction of monumental buildings in Chichen Itza took place. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Traditionally, Chichen Itza is divided into two distinct … The city grew as a regional capital in the 10 th century, controlling an area from northeast to the central Yakutan. The Mayans were great astronomers, and had their own observatory called “El Caracol.” This was used to observe the stars and planets and expand their city according to their findings. 6 years ago 3 years ago. Now, did that jolt you? From the top visitors have a marvelous view over the flat state of Yucatán. El Castillo has four sides, each with 91 stairs and facing a cardinal direction; including the step on the top platform, these combine for a total of 365 steps—the number of days in the solar year. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Chichen-Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Convention - Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza, Pennsylvania Center for the Book - Laura de Force Gordon, Ancient History Encyclopedia - Chichen Itza, Mexico, LiveScience - Chichen Itza: Maya Temples in the Yucatan, Chichén Itzá - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Chichén Itzá - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). We told you the Mayans were great astronomers right? If you think about Chichen Itza, the main pyramid instantly pops up in your mind. Foreigners invaded the city in the 10th century 6. The organizers make sure that they look after the building and keep it in its original form. Water was a precious resource in the agriculture-based Mayan society and the city of Chichen Itza was located, and founded, by a cenote, or a large natural well of water, which also gave the city the first half of its name. The History of Chichen Itza reflects a glorious past, typical of a ceremonial center where most of the life of a civilization took a decisive course. There are multiple similar temples to be found. The Maya were an ancient civilization of southern Mexico and the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras Belize and El Salvador. Chichen Itza Facts What is Chichen Itza. 10. Chac Mool sculpture at Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico. 12. 1. Chichen Itza was abandoned in the 1400s, possibly due to dro… El Castillo also referred to as the “Temple of Kukulcan,” is about 30 meters high (98 ft) and the 4 sides are about 55.3 meters long (181 ft).eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'listerious_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',125,'0','0'])); An interesting fact about the temple of Kukulcan is that it’s built on top of another, much older temple. Mayans first occupied the Chichen Itza site around 600AD, ... Chichen Itza alone has 13 ball courts, but The Great Ball Court is the biggest at 168 metres long and 70 metres wide. It was the primary location for different ceremonies and is believed to have been governed by priests. Explore the origins of the Temple of Chichen Itza, a Mayan pyramid in modern-day Mexico that features several unique features, including an echo designed to sound like a bird call. Mayans at Chichen Itza and began construction, ranging from A.D. 550 to A.D. 800 and blood spouting of. 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