Chichen Itza - History, Story and Facts

Chichen Itza  was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya civilization. The archaeological siteis located in the municipality of Tinum, in the Mexican state of Yucatán.

Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the northern Maya lowlands from the Late Classic (c.600–900 AD) through the Terminal Classic (c.800–900) and into the early portion of the Early Postclassic period (c.900–1200). The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico and of the Puuc and Chenes styles of the northern Maya lowlands.

The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.

The ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property, and the site’s stewardship is maintained by Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History). The land under the monuments had been privately owned until 29 March 2010, when it was purchased by the state of Yucatán.
Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico; an estimated 1.2 million tourists visit the ruins every year.

History & Story about Chichen Itza

• Chichen Itza was one of the largest Maya cities and it was likely to have been one of the mythical great cities, or Tollans, referred to in later Mesoamerican literature. 
• The city may have had the most diverse population in the Maya world, a factor that could have contributed to the variety of architectural styles at the site.
• In its classic period, running about 250 BC through AD 850, the Mayan civilization ranged from Mexico through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador.
• But for some unfathomable reason they never discovered the wheel.
• In times when Chichen Itza flourished as a city, the Mayas formed a highly sophisticated society. Their elite did remarkable work in astronomy, mathematics, engineering and architecture, while the rest provided manpower to execute the plans.
• Largest of Mayan cities, Chichen Itza was started around 400 A.D., abandoned and returned to several times before the Toltecs arrived in 987 A.D.
• Everyone moved out by the thirteenth century, so when the Spaniards came in the 1500s they found crumbling buildings being devoured by the greedy jungle.
• A New York lawyer rediscovered them in 1842, following which an influx of amateur archeologists destroyed some.
• The interior of the Yucatan is very arid, and rivers run underground, creating fantastic caves and sinkholes (called cenotes). There are two large sinkholes at Chichen Itza, which would have provided enough water to sustain such a large settlement.
• The land on which the ruins sit was privately owned by a local farmer until the state of Yucatan purchased it in 2010.
• Also in 2010, Chichen Itza was placed on the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World along with the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the Great Wall of China; the Machu Picchu Inca ruins in Peru; the ancient city of Petra in Jordan; the Roman Coliseum in Italy; and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
• At each spring and autumn equinox the edge of the Temple of Kukulcan pyramid casts a shadow that resembles a serpent.
• This occurs on the west side of the north staircase when the sun rises and sets.
• As per certain Mayan chronicles including the Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel, ruler of Mayapan named Hunac Ceel, captured Chichen Itza in the 13th century.
• Archaeological evidences suggest that Chichen Itza was once looted and sacked.
• Chichen Itza has been declared as a World Heritage Site, by UNESCO.
• El Castillo, a structure in Chichen Itza, experiences an unusual phenomenon every year, during the spring equinox. The sunrays falling in the pyramid create a shadow down its stairs, which looks like an image of a descending plumed serpent.
• Juego de Pelota, another structure in Chichen Itza, is the largest ball court in Mesoamerica. It measures 168 meters in length and 70 meters in width.
• Cenote Sagrado is a large sinkhole in Chichen Itza, which measures 60 meters in diameter.
• The Observatorio (observatory) in Chichen Itza is called Caracol. Quite sophisticated for its time, the structure allows one to appreciate the scientific and astronomical achievements of the Mayans.
• Piramide de Kukulcan (Pyramid of Kulkulcan) is another interesting structure in Chichen Itza, with its bottom and top of the stairways adorned with several large serpent heads.
• Chichen Itza represents the blend of a number of architectural styles, right from the Mexican styles to the Puuc styles.
• Chichen Itza is maintained by National Institute of Anthropology and History (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, INAH), Mexico.
• The name ‘Chichen Itza’ literally means ‘At the mouth of the well of the Itza’.
• The Temple of the Warriors is one of the most impressive structures at Chichen Itza.
• There are 365 steps leading to the temple. Each of the steps represents one day of the year. On each of the four sides of the temple there are 91 steps, and the top platform is the 365th step.
• Pelota Court is the main ball court in Chichen Itza and also the largest and best preserved ball courts in the world.