Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza was a large Mayan city by the Mamadou civilization. It is on the Yucatán Peninsula, about 120 km to the east of Mérida.

Some of the most famous parts of Chichen Itza include: the temple of Kukultán, the Plumed Serpent . This is called El Castillo: in Spanish. It has four sides, and each side has 91 steps.It is one of the seven wonders of world.

There are many temples and pyramids in Chichen Itza. Tourists, or visitors, were once able to climb some of the pyramids, but it was quite challenging because the steps are very steep and small. Climbing is no longer permitted.

Temple of the Warriors is a big temple with hundreds of columns. The columns used to hold up the roof of the temple. These columns are carved on all four sides with figures of warriors wearing feathers.

The Great Ballcourt is the largest known ancient sports field in Central America. It is 545 feet in length and 225 feet in width. Each end has a raised temple area. The sounds in the ballcourt are remarkable: a whisper from one end can be clearly heard at the other.

Sacred Cenote (pronounced sen-O-tay): a cenote is an underground lake or river. This cenote is where royalty gave gifts to the gods.

Chichen Itza means at the mouth of the well of enchanted water. ^+{{{1}}}_−{{{2}}}

This short article about history can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.

Chichen Itza Media

Adela Breton - Ruins at Chichen Itza Yucatan Mexico Depicts east facade of Monjas - (MeisterDrucke-1020179).jpg

Elaborate stone facades in Chichen Itza's "Monjas" complex in 1902
Chichen Itza-16.jpg

Aerial view of a small portion of Chichen Itza
Chichen-Itza-1000-Warriors-Columns.jpg

Columns in the Temple of a Thousand Warriors
Juego de pelota chichen itza.jpg

The Grand Ballcourt structures
Façade principale du palais des Nonnes.jpg

Chichen Itza in 1859–1860 by Désiré Charnay, before vegetation was removed
Castillo Maler.jpg

The Kukulcán Temple, photograph by Teobert Maler, 1892
Chichen Itza Project staff 1924.jpg

Chichen Itza, Carnegie Project staff, 1924: left to right, J.O. Kilmartin, engineer, U.S. Geological Survey; Monroe Amsden, assistant archeologist; Earl H. Morris, archeologist in charge of excavations; Ann Axtell Morris, artist; S.G. Morley, Carnegie Institution associate in charge
2009 excavation ChichenItza.JPG

Excavations next to the Temple of Kukulcán ("El Castillo") began in 2009
Chichen Itza Plan EN.png

A map of central Chichen Itza
The Jaguar Throne inside the Temple of Kukulcán ("El Castillo") pyramid is red and inlaid with jade