"Ruins of Chichen Itza" Ruinas Chichén-Itzá by Waxbag

Perhaps one of the most famous of all Mayan Cities, Chichen Itza is one of the best restored of all the important cities on the peninsula. It offers the visitor one of the most amazing of the pyramid style temples and the largest known ball court in the Mayan world. The importance of the Mayan astronomical calendar is shown clearly through the various temples dedicate to the telling of time. Another huge draw of Chichen Itza is its grizzly past. There is much evidence that during the Toltec era there were many sacrifices. Several of the platforms have reliefs depicting skulls and men having their hearts ripped out. In the Cenote Sagrado many human remains have been discovered as well as many fine artifacts.

Wall Of Skulls

Chichen Itza was settled during the late classic period of the Mayans some time during the 9th century by the Itzas, a purely Mayan people. It was abandoned in the late 10th century only to be re-settled and then taken over by the brutal Toltecs that practice human sacrifice. It was finally abandoned in the late 14th century. The Itzas immigrated south to Lago Petin Itza in present day Guatemala where they founded their city on the island of Flores.

Chac Mask

The style of Chichen Itza is a blending of that from the Toltec of the north and the Puuc of the Yucatan Peninsula. Much of the Toltec structure are newer and have been built over the Mayan Puuc as is the case with El Castillo. The Puuc god is depicted in the Chac Mask. He is the rain god, an important deity in this dry region. The Toltec god is Quetzalcoatl and is represented by a plumed serpent.

• Pros:Well Preserved Mayan Ruins, Accessible
• Cons:Very Touristy
• In a nutshell:Touristy But Excellent Ancient Mayan Site