the platform of the Eagles and Jaguars is build in a combined Maya and Toltec style and has a military origin
on our way to the Ball Court
A close-up of Chaac, the rain god
The Eglisia with its elaborately ornaments
the backside of the Nunnary complex needs some repair
A close up of the heads of the snake god Kukulcan at the pyramid base, with the temple entrance to the left
we are back for another inspection of El Castillo
a jaguar has caught a heart
the platform of skulls is called Tzompantli and shows hundreds of cut-off heads
the main monument, El Castillo, is the Temple for the snake god Kukulcan
The ruins sport several architectural styles, indicating strong influence from nearby central
Mexico.
By the time the Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1534 the place was still inhabited but generally in ruins.
El
Castillo,
the main pyramid, features two feathered Kukulcan snakes that seem to descend the stairway during the spring and
fall equinoxes.
A Mayan prophecy that Kukulcan would rise and destroy the whole world on Dec 22, 2012 proved false (at least
sofar..)
Today Chichen Itza draws more than a million tourist per year, mainly because it's location near to touristic Cancun.
We visited in September
1998, and at that time you could still climb the steep stairs of El Castillo and visit the old temple inside via a narrow passage.
the observatory temple El Caracol
the Chichanchop or Red House
a jaguar head is waiting for restoration
here the Mayans played ball. The captain of the loosing party was ceremonially decapitated
in 1998 you were still allowed to climb El Castillo, but the steps are small and the slope is steep
the Eagle is devouring a heart
