How old is chichen itza

This easy access to water made the location perfect for a city the size of Chichen Itza. Historic accounts differ as to when Chichen Itza was built and ultimately developed into a center of political and economic power. Some accounts place the establishment of the city in the early s A.

By then, it was already one of the largest cities in the Mayan world, covering nearly two square miles with densely packed commercial, residential and other structures made of stone. Another larger structure on the site, Las Monjas, which served as a government building, was also built on leveled terrain. In addition, archeologists believe the Mayans painted many of the buildings in bright colors, including reds, greens and blues.

Today, though, the remains of the city retain the pale gray colors of the original stone. A large cenote sacred well or spring located at the northern end of Chichen Itza has immense ceremonial and archaeological significance. Long rumored to have been the site of human sacrifice, the cenote was dredged in the early s. The dredging yielded numerous precious artifacts made of gold, turquoise and jade, as well as human remains. Researchers found that the human remains had bone marks and other wounds indicating that they were killed before being thrown into the cenote.

By the ninth century, Chichen Itza was a de facto regional capital, with its rulers controlling much of the central and northern Yucatan peninsula. Via its port at Isla Cerritos on the northern coast, Chichen Itza became an important commercial center, trading in goods—including gold and other treasures—with other cities throughout the Americas. At its height, it is believed that as many as 50, people lived in the city. This population may have also been fairly diverse, at least by standards of the time, with residents immigrating to the city from beyond the Yucatan, including from present-day Central America.

Although the fall of Mayan civilization is widely attributed to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in , and the European colonialists that followed the famous explorer, Chichen Itza may well have lost its place as an important city in the region long before then.

Indeed, historians believe that many of the political and economic activities of the city had shifted to Mayapan, a newer community built to the south and west of Chichen Itza, by the mids. There is some evidence that Chichen Itza may have been raided and looted at this time, although that remains up for debate. Still, when Spanish conquistadors arrived in , there was a thriving community living in and around the city.

The Mayans were peaceful and smart people but also believed in curses and sacrifice to the gods they worshiped. The sinkholes mentioned above were frequently used for sacrifices during times of adversity such as a drought or famine. The Mayans would choose a person to be sacrificed to the gods in hopes that this would bring them luck.

In addition to sacrifices, the Mayans were also big fans of death penalties, which were gruesome and publicized to maintain order and spread fear. Next up is a fact that startles most people when they hear it, and it truly is shocking. Historians suggest that this famous Mayan community may not have been entirely Mayan, and that is true. The Chechen Itza was built in two stages, the Pre-Classic and a latter period. The Pre-Classic period was greatly influenced by the Mayans, but following an invasion of Toltecs in the 10th century, this all changed.

As a matter of fact, the most iconic buildings of the Chichen Itza, such as the Temple pyramid El Castillo may have been built by the Toltecs , and not the Mayans. While the huge pyramid of El Castillo looms at a whopping 98 feet, it is, in fact, hiding something beneath it. Within the pyramid are two smaller pyramids that stand at The smallest of the three pyramids is believed to have been built by the Mayans, as it features a unique, Colombian-style architecture style while the other pyramids have Mexican influences in them.

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How old is Chichen Itza? When was Chichen Itza built? Who built Chichen Itza? Why was Chichen Itza built? Can you climb El Castillo? What is the tallest building in Chichen Itza?

The pyramid was banned to climbers in January when a woman tumbled to death while descending the steps. It was an unfortunate incident. The pyramid has now been roped off and can only be adored from a distance. And I feel this is healthy for both the visitors and the monument. It is easy to feel a surge of adrenaline when you climb up these ancient monuments.

Once on top, you can appreciate the magnificent vistas of the Yucatan peninsula. Maybe you can spot another pyramid or two. But climbing is not easy. The way down is especially difficult with the steps having been smoothened over centuries.

And it erodes the structures so much more. Recommended: Other Mayan pyramids in Yucatan that you can still climb! The glory of Chichen Itza declined and the city met a mysterious end in the 14th century. The residents moved out never to come back to the city again. Researchers attribute this mass exodus to poor weather and a massive wave of droughts.

The, once prosperous, Mayan city of Chichen Itza had been lost to the jungles of Yucatan. Have you been to Chichen Itza yet?

How many of these riveting facts about Chichen Itza did you know? Is there something interesting that I missed? Do let me know in the comments below. Well done! The sounds are quite mysterious, agreed. I would love to find out more about the Queztal bird too. The intense history of the place related to the Mayan blue seems interesting. Also the second and third pyramids inside the main pyramid in a Russian doll concept is something new to me. I am also surprised by the idea that it is more Toltec than Mayan.

It was all so surprising to me too when I started my research. So many legends. So many stories. Chichen Itza is definitely a storehouse of interesting facts.

I love these quirky facts! I also want to see it at night! So many interesting facts. I love how they built these ancient structures along astronomical principles. Makes it so much more evocative when we visit today knowing how advanced they were hundreds of years ago. It is just fascinating how they were such great astronomers thousands of years ago. Mayan civilization has always fascinated me. I love the intriguing design and architecture of the pyramid — nesting multiple smaller pyramids inside, astronomically aligned and especially in a way that one can see the shadow of their Serpent God slowly move down the stairs — this is definitely an engineering marvel.

Your echo resembling the warble of the sacred Mexican quetzal — this gives me goosebumps. I wish to explore this intriguing place in person some day. Yeah so many intriguing things going on there. I hope you can visit soon. With your flair for history, I am sure you will love it. That should be very interesting. I lvoe its structure and I really want to visit it.

I hope I can book a flight soon and take a video of it. Well, it could be a mix of Mayan and Toltec.