Chichen Itza short description. Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan city in Mexico, home to the famous Mayan pyramids and temples. Comfortable guided tour
The ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza made one of the strongest impressions on me in Mexico. Even the huge waves of the surfing spot Zicatela, which are simply dangerous even for the most professional surfers, did not leave such vivid, mind-stirring memories. And all because of the history of this place, which I managed to touch (in the literal sense of the word, although in general you can’t touch anything here).
The ancient city of Chichen Itza has a very colorful history, which is full of bloodshed, wars and, at the same time, amazing economic prosperity. Most of the buildings that you will find here in ruin format were erected about 1200-1300 years ago. Not so long ago, if you think that the city itself lived several thousand years before that.
In Mexico, Chichen Itza is a major attraction of Mayan culture. There is, of course, amazing Tulum on the coast, and Coba is amazing, but Chichen Itza looks like the mother of all cities.
Story
Not everyone knows that not only the Mayans lived in Chichen Itza, but also the Toltecs (also Indians). Those pyramids you see are not Mayan buildings, but are located in a Mayan city. No one knows for sure why the city of Chichen Itza (and Tikal) was abandoned about 1,200 years ago. Some archaeologists talk about drought, others about war, others about an epidemic of a terrible disease from which more than half of the inhabitants died, and the persistent virus of which may still be buried under a layer of soil under the pyramids.
By the way, the Toltecs, according to scientists, did not expel or take by force the city of Chichen Itza from the Mayans. On the contrary: they, like us, also found the ruins of an abandoned city and began to restore it. So, Chichen Itza was first abandoned by the Mayans for an unknown reason, and then, 1200 years ago, by the Toltecs.
So, the Toltecs are not Mayans, but the people of the Uto-Aztec family, and it was under them that most of the attractions of the city of Chichen Itza, which will be discussed below, were built. Surprisingly, on all the prospectuses and brochures in all the cities of Mexico the word “Mayan” is written, and not “Toltec”.
Where is
Chichen Itza is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The neighboring cities -, and - are also tourist areas. The nearest international airport is located in Cancun, it can be used for flights to Europe or even direct flights to Moscow.
On the map you will see marked the main attraction of Chichen Itza - the Pyramid of Kukulkan. To the left of it is the entrance to Chichen Itza (100 meters) and parking for cars.
How much is admission
The entrance ticket to Chichen Itza costs about 13 USD, paid strictly in Mexican currency, in the amount of 204 MXN. For children under 12 years of age, admission is free. The evening show takes place at 20:00 and is free for those who have already purchased a ticket to Chichen Itza.
How to get there
To get to Chichen Itza, you will have to take an ADO bus from Cancun (2.5 hours, 15 USD) or from Merida (1 hour, 7 USD). You can rent a car and get here using the following route, for example, from Cancun:
Operating mode
Chichen Itza is open every day, seven days a week, from 8:00 to 18:00. The evening show takes place a little later, at 20:00, but not every day. Mostly animation, sometimes fireworks.
Attractions
Chichen Itza has many ruins of temples, public buildings and even residential buildings. The outlines of the streets have also been preserved; thanks to these ruins, you can also feel like a real resident of the city, who is simply walking from the market to his home.
Among the main attractions, these are worth highlighting.
Translated from the language of the local tribes, “Chichen Itza” means “Mouth of the Well of the Itza Tribe” or “Mouth of the Well of the Water Sorcerers.” Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the El Castillo (Kukulcan) pyramid located here has been declared one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Chichen Itza is the most famous and at the same time the best preserved ancient city of Yucatan.
In Mexico, the legendary city is the second most visited by tourists among ancient attractions. It is estimated that more than a million people devote it every year. The largest influx of tourists is observed twice a year, on the days of the spring (March 21-22) and autumn equinox (September 21-22). These days there is a play of light and shadow, when during sunset the shadow from the corner of the stepped terraces of the El Castillo pyramid creates the illusion of a crawling serpent. These days, so many people gather in Chichen Itza that it is unlikely that you will be able to clearly see the play of light and shadow. A week before and a week after these dates, the effect of light and shadow remains almost the same.
At the same time, recently, due to the enormous attendance of Chichen Itza, many note that the ancient city has turned into such a tourist and commercialized center that during its visit it is not possible to feel the magic of ancient culture due to the crowds of tourists and sellers souvenirs located on the territory of the complex. Chichen Itza became most famous in the world in 2012, when, according to the Mayan calendar, the end of the world was supposed to occur on December 21. A huge number of people from different countries flocked to Mexico to Chichen Itza to celebrate this significant date. Some television companies broadcast live from the scene. The cost of one night in some hotels located near the archaeological complex reached several thousand dollars. To find Chichen Itza without crowds of tourists, it is better to arrive at the opening of the complex at 8 am, when tour groups have not yet arrived.
Chichen Itza map
The lands on which Chichen Itza is located came into public ownership on March 30, 2010. On this day, the deal was completed, after negotiations between Governor Yvonne Ortega Pacheco and landowner Hans Jurgen Thies Barbacciano, on the purchase of a plot of land with an area of 83 hectares on which the ancient city is located, for $17.8 million. It was reported that the landowner himself insisted on the sale, so that preserve the heritage of Yucatan.
Story
It is not possible to completely reliably describe the history of Chichen Itza, since the policy of the Spanish conquerors included the destruction of manuscripts and the murder of Mayan priests. It is believed that people developed this place in the 4th century, and in the 7th century the first buildings began to be built and an urban community appeared. From the 7th to the 10th centuries the Mayans lived here. In the 10th century, it was captured by the Toltecs, who did not destroy the city, but absorbed part of its culture into themselves. It was during the reign of the Toltecs that Chichen Itza became the most powerful city on the Yucatan Peninsula. In the mid-11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital of the Toltec state. In 1178, the city was captured by the united army of three city-states - Mayapan, Uxmal and Itzmal, led by Hunak Keel. After 1194, the city was completely deserted for unknown reasons and overgrown with jungle.
Archaeologists rediscovered the mysterious city to the world in 1920. The ancient structures were cleared and reconstructed, and the archaeological complex began to attract tourists.
Chichen Itza attractions
Unfortunately, since the beginning of 2006, climbing ancient structures has been prohibited, with the exception of a few specially designated places.
Pyramid of El Castillo (Pyramid of Kukulcan)
The main attraction of Chichen Itza is the El Castillo pyramid and for good reason. When Chichen Itza was captured by the Toltecs, they combined their knowledge of cosmology with that of the Mayans, resulting in El Costillo. The pyramid is dedicated to Kukulkan, the god of wind and rain in the form of a feathered serpent with a human head. Built a thousand years ago, El Castillo is the main symbol of Chichen Itza and perhaps the entire Yucatan. It is one of Mexico's most famous and visited structures in pre-Columbian America. In 2007, the monument was included in the list of the new seven wonders of the world.
The architecture of the 24-meter pyramid is filled with symbolism connected with the cosmology and calendar of the ancient Indians. The four staircases leading to the top and central platform have 91 steps each, giving a total of 364. This corresponds to the number of days in a year. There are 18 terraces on each side of the pyramid (9 on each side of the steps), which is equal to the number of months in the Mayan calendar. The Mayan calendar consisted of two cycles: the 365-day Shiupohualli and the 260-day Tonalpohualli. These two cycles coincided every 52 years. There are 52 stone bas-reliefs on each of the four sides of the pyramid. Which represent the coincidence of these cycles once every 52 years.
Juego de Pelita ball court
There are a total of nine ball courts in Chichen Itza. The main and largest of them is Juego de Pelita. This is the largest and best preserved Indian ball court in all of Mesoamerica. Its length is 168 meters and its width is 70 meters. The site has a unique acoustic effect; if you speak at one end of the site, you can hear everything at the other. If you clap your hands, the clap will echo, which some compare to the cry of a bird. It is believed that the Indians accidentally achieved this effect during construction, but when they discovered it, they brought it to perfection.
How the Mayans, Toltecs and Aztecs played ball
Exactly how the ball was played and what the rules were is not reliably known, but most historians agree that the shadberry looked like this.
The game was played with a rubber ball (in some cases said to be a human head), which could only be touched by knees, elbows and a carved bat. The ball had to be thrown into one of the rings, which were located on the left and right walls, one on each side. The diameter of the hole in the ring was slightly larger than the size of the ball. The field was divided in half and the players of each team had to be in their own half of the field. The team that hit the ring with the ball won, and each hit on the ring itself was counted as a penalty point. Since it was extremely difficult to get into the hoop, the game could last for hours, and sometimes the result was determined by the number of penalty points, since not one of the teams managed to get the ball into the hoop. At the end of the game, the captain of the winning team would cut off the head of the captain of the losing team, and sometimes the heads of the entire losing team would be cut off. Sometimes the game had a ritual significance, in order for the priests to make a certain decision.
To the right of the ball field is the Temple of Skulls (Tzompantli). The name comes from the image of skulls carved on a stone platform. Near this temple, severed heads were impaled on a pole in a row.
Temple of the Warriors (Templo de los Guerreros)
The Temple of the Warriors is a five-step pyramid, 11.5 meters high, on top of which is the temple building. It consists of a front hall and a sanctuary, the entrance to which is decorated with a portal with writhing snakes carved from stone. The sanctuary contains a low stone altar in the form of a table supported by small human figures. On the open area of the sanctuary stands a stone idol of the demon Chak-Mool in the form of a reclining man with a tray on his stomach for sacrifice. It is believed that most often a heart was placed in it. The Temple of Warriors itself is surrounded on three sides by columns made in the shape of warriors, hence the name of the temple.
El Caracol Observatory
El Caracol is the largest discovered ancient astronomical complex on the Yucatan Peninsula. From the observatory, the Indians observed celestial objects, calculated the spring and autumn equinoxes, the summer solstice, and it is likely that it was here that they made their predictions. Observations were carried out through special holes made in the round vault of the observatory. The round vault of the observatory was rebuilt several times during the operation of the observatory.
The observatory was named El Caracol because the Spanish word for snail is associated with the spiral staircase inside El Caracol.
Sacred Cenote
The Yucatan Peninsula is a limestone plain without rivers or streams. The only source of fresh water was the cenotes, in which groundwater came to the surface. Cenotes are karst formations - lakes, wells, and sometimes entire cave complexes with underground rivers and sometimes access to the sea.
But the Indians did not always use cenotes to obtain water; in some cases they played a ritual role. Donations were thrown here and human sacrifices were performed in them. It was believed that the cenote was a kind of portal through which one could get to God. After certain ceremonies, the priests sent the “chosen ones” to meet God, and more often they were undesirable people and watched the victim for a long time so that she would not be on the surface of the water, helping her go to God with the help of stones. Taking into account the fact that there was a considerable distance from the surface of the water to the ground and that the priests were closely watching to ensure that their fellow tribesman would definitely get to God for a long time, it was practically impossible to get out of the cenote. The only known Indian who somehow got out of the Sacred Cenote is considered to be Hunak Keel. Subsequently, under his leadership in 1178, Chichen Itza was captured. The sacred cenote of Chichen Itza is located 5-10 minutes walk from El Castillo. Harvard University professor and American consul in Merida, Herbert Thompson explored the Sacred Cenote from 1904 to 1910 and recovered many ancient artifacts from gold, jade, ceramics, rubber, obsidian, as well as human remains. Subsequently, most of the discovered treasures ended up in the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology at Harvard University.
Some excursion tours do not include a visit to the Sacred Cenote.
Osario
Osario means cemetery in Spanish. Osario at Chichen Itza is not a large step pyramid with a temple on top. Like El Castillo, it has four sides with stairs on each side. But unlike El Castillo, Osario has a hole in the center that leads to a cave 12 meters deep below ground level. This cave was excavated by Herbert Thompson in the 19th century and found several artifacts and skeletons in it. Thompson called the pyramid the Tomb of the High Priest (Tumba del Gran Sacerdote), since then it has had two names.
Chichen Itza hotels
For serious history buffs, it is recommended to avoid a day visit to Chichen Itza and spend at least one night at a nearby hotel. This needs to be done for two reasons: firstly, you will have the opportunity to visit the archaeological complex in the morning, when there are no tourist groups yet, and secondly, you will be able to watch the sound and light shows that take place in the evenings.
In the vicinity of Chichen Itza there are a number of hotels of different price categories. Chichen Itza search for cheap hotels
Chichen Itza how to get there
Chichen Itza is a popular tourist complex; getting to it is not difficult. This can be done either independently or as part of a tourist group. Usually, an excursion tour to Chichen Itza also includes visits to several attractions, for example it could be: the Ik-Kil cenote and the city of Valladolid.
There are pros and cons to visiting Chichen Itza as part of a tour group. The advantages are that as part of a tourist group, you will visit several places at once and all this will most likely cost you less if you traveled on your own by ADO bus, bought a ticket to the archaeological complex and possibly hired a guide. The main disadvantage when visiting as part of a tour group is that you will be visiting Chichen Itza along with a bunch of other tourists and the time for viewing will be strictly regulated. There will also be no opportunity to attend the evening sound and light show.
How to get to Chichen Itza on your own
From Cancun by ADO bus, travel time is about three hours, price is 236 pesos (about $20) one way.
From Playa del Carmen by ADO bus, travel time is about four hours, price is 316 pesos one way.
From Merida by ADO bus, travel time is about an hour and a half, price is 142 pesos one way.
Fares may change, so it is better to check them on the company’s website http://www.ado.com.mx.
Chichen Itza travel photo
Entrance to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza.
Near the entrance to the complex there are Mexicans dressed in the likeness of Mayan Indians, with whom you can take pictures.
The main attraction of Chichen Itza, the El Costillo pyramid, is also called the Pyramid of Kukulkan, as it was built in honor of Kukulkan, the god of wind and rain in the form of a feathered serpent with a human head.
The head of a snake against the background of the El Costillo pyramid.
Stairs leading to the top of the El Costillo pyramid. Direct access and the ability to climb the pyramid were closed in 2006.
Pyramid of El Costillo.
Pyramid of El Costillo.
Pyramid of El Costillo.
Pyramid of El Costillo.
The head of a feathered serpent and the pyramid of El Costillo.
The main ball court in Chichen Itza (Juego de Pelota), there are nine of them in the city. It is the largest and best preserved ball court in all of Mesoamerica.
A ring into which the players had to score the ball.
El Caracol Observatory
The Spanish word El Caracol means spiral staircase. Inside the observatory there is a spiral staircase.
Temple of the Warriors (Templo de los Guerreros)
Chichen Itza is a very tourist place and taking a photo in front of the El Castillo pyramid without tourists is very problematic. And even at the moment of closing I was not able to do this.
Many sellers working on the territory of Chichen Itza come to work with their children.
The archaeological complex of Chichen Itza is very commercialized today. On its territory and also nearby there are many sellers of souvenirs, ponchos, sambreros, etc.
Approximately 120 kilometers southeast of the city of Merida are the ruins of the ancient city of Chichen Itza. This is the most famous archaeological site of the Mayan period and the state of Yucatan
We continue the series of stories about the pyramids of the world from LifeGlobe. Last time we talked about the underwater pyramids of the island of Yonaguni, now we came through a story about the great city of the Mayans, their culture and buildings.
Contrary to popular belief, the Mayans were not an empire - they were a group of autonomous cities, often interacting with other states in the region. Chichen Itza and many other important Mayan cities were built in accordance with the sacred beliefs of the Indians - the cities were built to reflect the position of various astronomical objects in the night sky
So, who built this ancient city and its pyramids? The Mayans were an ancient civilization of southern Mexico and other South American countries - Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and El Salvador. Nowadays, about 6 million descendants of the Mayans live here, speaking many different dialects
The Mayan people were very knowledgeable about astronomy, and during the first millennium AD, they studied and mapped in detail the movement patterns of the sun, moon, and other planets and stars. Their religion and mythology were based on this, explaining the past, present and future. The Mayans also invented a brilliant mathematical system, a writing system, and a combination of three accurate interconnected calendars.
In addition to the city of Chichen Itza, the Mayans are also famous for a number of other temple cities, such as Palenque, Uxmal, Copan, etc. Many of these cities have been restored by archaeologists, while some remain underground and await their turn. It is also worth noting that the Mayans were able to navigate long distances across the ocean by developing a sophisticated method of navigating by the stars
Let us turn specifically to the history of the construction of the city of Chichen Itza. Proto-Mayan tribes inhabited the flat plateau of the Yucatan Peninsula for 8,000 years. Archaeologists believe that this place has been an important pilgrimage site for thousands of years.
Chichen Itza became the capital and social center of the Maya in the eighth century. First, the coastal territories of Yucatan were settled, then settlements spread throughout the entire peninsula. Thanks to two large springs of clean water that do not dry out throughout the year, Chichen Itza became the most powerful Mayan city.
In the 10th century, the city was captured by the Toltecs, making Chichen Itza the capital of the Toltec state, but was later recaptured by the united army of three Mayan cities. After the 12th century, Yucatan was mysteriously deserted as the Spanish conquerors destroyed Mayan manuscripts and priests. By the time of the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Chichen Itza was a complete ruin
As a result of excavations in the city, many architectural monuments were discovered, in particular, the famous pyramids of Chichen Itza. The most prominent among them is the Temple of Kukulkan - a pyramid of 9 steps 24 meters high. It is surprising that on the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes, the rays of the sun illuminate the stairs of the pyramid in such a way that they form an image of seven isosceles triangles, which, in turn, make up the body of a 37-meter snake, crawling as the sun moves to its head, carved in stone at the base stairs
The Temple of the Chichen Itza Warriors is located on a small pyramid of 4 steps, adjacent to it is the Temple of the Jaguars and the Mayan observatory called Caracol. Surprisingly, the Mayans played football. Naturally, not in the form in which it is customary to play this game now, but nevertheless, during the excavations, 7 large fields for playing ball were discovered. The length of the largest field was 135 meters
It was also possible to preserve statues of gods, with very interesting detail and execution style, as well as many handicraft items and various utensils. A sacred well 50 meters deep, probably used for sacrifices, has also been preserved.
In our time, the Mexican government bought a plot of land of 83 hectares on which the city of Chichen Itza is located in order to preserve it. This is one of the main attractions of Mexico, recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. In 2007, the city was recognized as one of the new seven wonders of the world.
The Aztecs also had similar cities in Mexico, for example the city of Teotihuacan, which looks no less majestic.
Chichen Itza. Pyramid of Kukulcan (Castillo). 8 12 centuries CHICHEN ITZA, city (8th-12th centuries) of the Mayan Indians on the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). Temples, houses, sculptures, including the Pyramid of Kukulkan. Chichen Itza is included in the World Heritage List... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
Chichen Itza- >). 8 12 centuries /> Chichen Itza. Pyramid of Kukulkan (). 8 12 centuries Chichen Itza. Pyramid of Kukulkan (). 8 12 centuries Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan and Toltec city on the Yucatan Peninsula (). Founded in the 8th century. At the end of the 11th century. The Toltecs captured the city, erected temples... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of World History
CHICHEN ITZA, city (8th-12th centuries) of the Mayan Indians on the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). Temples, houses, sculptures, including the Pyramid of Kukulkan. Chichen Itza is included in the World Heritage List... Modern encyclopedia
- (Chichen Itza), an ancient Mayan city in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula (in the territory of modern Mexico). Probably founded in the 8th century. n. e. In the XI-XII centuries. capital of the Toltec state. By the time of the Spanish conquest it was... Art encyclopedia
- (Chichen Itza) city (8th-12th centuries) of the Mayan Indians on the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). Temples, houses, sculptures, etc... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
An ancient Mayan and Toltec city on the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). Founded in the 8th century. At the end of the 11th century. The Toltecs captured the city, erected temples (which combined Mayan and Toltec architectural styles), houses, and sculptures. The famous Pyramid of Kukulkan.... ... Historical Dictionary
Coordinates: 20°40′58″ N. w. 88°34′09″ W d. / 20.682778° n. w. 88.569167° W d. ... Wikipedia
Chichen Itza- Chichen Itza. Statue of the god Chak Mool in front of the Temple of the Warriors. Chichén Itzá, an ancient Mayan city on the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), the capital of the Mayan Toltec state (XI-XII centuries). Founded in the 8th century. Ruins of classical and... Encyclopedic reference book "Latin America"
- (Chichén Itzá), city VIII-XII centuries. Mayan Indians in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). Temples on step pyramids, ball courts, observatory, sculpture, etc. * * * CHICHEN ITZA CHICHEN ITZA, city (8th-12th centuries) of Indians... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
- (Chichén Itzá) political and cultural center of the Maya in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). Probably founded in the 8th century. n. e. In the 10th century was captured by the Toltecs (See Toltecs). From the middle of the 11th century. Ch. I. became the capital of the Toltec state. In 1178... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
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In the north of Yucotan, in Mexico, there are unique buildings of the ancient city of the Itza Indian people, who once declared their power and subjugated other tribes. “Chichen Itza” means in the Mayan language - “At the mouth of the well of Itza” (its - sorcerer, ha - water). The ancient handwritten codex Chilam-Bolam, consisting of nine collections, mentions another, more ancient name of the city, but due to forgotten spelling it is not possible to accurately decipher it.
Historical information
Presumably, the city of Chichen Itza was founded around 455, during the heyday of the Mayan civilization, which became famous for its culture, architecture and quite significant, for that time, knowledge in mathematics and astronomy.
The buildings erected at Chichen Itza can be divided into two parts. One of them includes buildings of the 6th–7th centuries AD. e. This is the culture of the ancient Mayans. Buildings characteristic of the Toltec culture belong to another group. They captured the city in the 10th–11th centuries AD. and after some time they made it their capital. But already in 1178, Chichen Itza was literally defeated by the troops of three united cities: Itzmal, Mayapan, Uxmal under the command of Huanak Keel.
The Spaniards who invaded Mexico burned Indian manuscripts. But, despite the loss of historical data, archaeologists were still able to establish that in the 13th century the city was plundered and could no longer continue to influence the economy of the surrounding regions. In this regard, rich and noble citizens left Chichen Itza, and after them the rest of the inhabitants left the city. The Spanish conquerors discovered a completely empty city, around which there were small Indian settlements; their inhabitants treated the ruins of the ancient city as a sacred place. Centuries have passed, but the exact reason for the transformation of the once powerful city into one abandoned and forgotten by literally everyone has not been established.
Sights of the Holy City
Archaeologists worked for a long time on the territory of the ancient city of Chichen Itza, revealing unique Indian structures to the whole world:
1. The famous Kukulkan Temple.
2. Temple of Jaguars with unique paintings on the walls.
3. Temple of warriors with a base of 40 m, erected on a 4-step pyramid.
4. A group of a thousand columns - ruins of 4 colonnades arranged in the shape of a rectangle.
5. Karakol - an ancient observatory.
6. Seven stadiums built to host ball games and competitions - the largest of them is 135 m long.
7. The sacred cenote - a natural well, 50 m deep, was necessary for making sacrifices to the god of forests and fields Yumkash.
Near the historical monuments, statues of gods made with the stylization characteristic of the Mayan civilization, various reliefs that at one time were decorations of buildings and religious centers, as well as handicrafts were discovered.
Main temple of the city
The main structures of Chichen Itza were built during the period later called Mexican. The Toltecs, who captured the area, built a temple, which became the main one. It was created in honor of the Toltec god Kukulkan or the Feathered Serpent. Nowadays, it has become a real symbol of Mexico.
The building is a nine-step pyramid, 24 m high. Its base is square and very massive. The layout of the temple used the astronomical knowledge of the Indians, as well as the numbers of their calendar cycles. There are four staircases with balustrades leading to the top of the structure, which start from the head of the snake. The play of light on the days of the equinox allows you to observe the illusion that the powerful Serpent is slowly emerging from a secret hiding place.
The Temple of Kukulcan has four entrances. At the main one, oriented to the north, there are two columns in the form of snakes. There are exactly the same ones inside. This is a creepy place. Many years ago, human lives were sacrificed here.
Surprisingly, in the pyramid under the temple there is another one, the same, nine-step, only smaller. The entrance to it was discovered by scientists quite recently. The discovered artifact that was hidden there is truly priceless. This is a symbol of power of the Mayan Indians - the Jaguar Mat, the stone throne of the Supreme Ruler in the form of a jaguar. Inlaid with 73 jade discs, which are spots on the skin. Presumably the first owner of the throne was Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, the ancestor of the Toltecs.
To preserve the heritage left by the ancient people, the government of Yucotan made a deal with the owner of the land. 83 hectares were purchased, along with the holy city. UNESCO has awarded Chichen Itza the status of a World Cultural Heritage Site. Its sights are visited by tourists from all over the world, and for those who are interested in the history of the civilizations of our planet, this is a very important place, with a huge amount of unexplored information.