Chichen Itza
Location
About
A major Maya city on the Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itza flourished from approximately 600 to 1200 CE and contains some of the most impressive Maya architecture in the world. El Castillo (the Temple of Kukulkan) — a stepped pyramid precisely aligned for the serpent shadow effect at the spring and autumn equinoxes — is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Sacred Cenote (natural sinkhole) received sacrificial offerings for centuries.
Significance
Chichen Itza was the most powerful Maya city of the Terminal Classic and Early Postclassic periods, its influence extending across all of Yucatan. The equinox serpent shadow effect on El Castillo — where a shadow creates the illusion of a serpent ascending the staircase — demonstrates extraordinary astronomical precision in Maya architecture. The Sacred Cenote's archaeological recovery revealed offerings spanning over 1,000 years of ritual deposition.
History & Historical Arc
Chichen Itza was founded as a Maya city around 600 CE. It rose to regional dominance around 900 CE, possibly with Toltec…
Archaeological Notes
The Sacred Cenote yielded over 30,000 objects and skeletal remains of individuals — primarily young males and children —…
Key Features & Structures
- El Castillo/Temple of Kukulkan (equinox shadow)
- Sacred Cenote (sacrifice pit)
Visitor Information
UNESCO World Heritage Site and New Seven Wonders. Open daily. Very crowded; arrive at opening. 200 km from Merida. Equin…
Related Figures
Source References
- Landa, Relación de las Cosas de Yucatán (1566)
- Schmidt, Chichen Itza (2007)