Chichen
Itza
Before
1000 AD, the Maya
people of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and
Central America had very advanced civilizations in art, architecture,
mathematics, engineering and astronomy. The finest cities built by
the
Maya were Chichen Itza, in the Yucatan Peninsula. They were discovered
by the
American explorer John L. Stevens in the 19th Century.
Chichen
Itza is remarkable
for its careful mathematical proportions. A
fine example is the "Pyramid of Kukulcan" - 197 feet high. It has a
temple of sacrifice on top. Another fine architectural example is 'Ball
Court'.
It is 262 feet long and 121 feet wide and was used to play a ritual
game called
'Tlachtli'.
Chichen
Itza's two great natural wells gave the
city its name: Chichen means "mouth of the wells" and Itza were the
Mayan's who founded the city. One of these wells "Cenote" or sacred
well is 59 feet in diameter and 98 feet deep. This was famous for the
sacrifice
of women to please the rain God. The "Court of Thousand Columns"
had pillars with serpent head sculptures and has the figure of rain God
Chac
Mol.